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Praying
for peace and paying for war? The question of paying war taxes has been with us for generations. How will we respond given the continuing making of war in our world? With increased travel and communication in our global village we can hear from brothers and sisters in other countries about the impact the increased military spending and actions of the United States government is having on their lives. From Colombia, Iraq, parts of the Middle East and other places come voices calling for less military intervention by the U.S. military. Given what we are learning from people around the world, how can we pray for peace and at the same time pay for war? Jesus invited those who questioned him to be discerning in what they gave to the emperor. What is the way of God for us regarding the paying of the military portion of our taxes? I hope that while we each ponder this question for ourselves, we will also discuss options with others in the community of faith. ~LHN Information on military spending - From the web site of National
Campaign for A Peace Tax Fund. The administration of President George W. Bush is requesting $399.1 billion for the military in fiscal year 2004 ($379.9 billion for the Defense Department and $19.3 billion for the nuclear weapons functions of the Department of Energy). This is $16.9 billion above current levels, an increase of 4.4 percent. In all, the administration plans to spend $2.7 TRILLION on the military over the next six years -- and this as both the Office of Management and Budget and the Congressional Budget Office project a federal deficit as high as $200 billion to $300 billion next year. CDI has some very detailed and comprehensive information about the US military budget for Fiscal Year 2004 on their web page, www.cdi.org, including links to government figures from the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Defense. How the Peace Tax Fund Bill would work Where the Peace Tax Fund money would go - The full federal taxes of conscientious objectors would be placed into a special trust fund in the Treasury, called the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund. The Treasury would be allowed to spend this money on any governmental program that does not fulfill a military purpose. The National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund, a national non-profit organization located in Washington, D.C., advocates for US federal legislation enabling conscientious objectors to war to have their federal income taxes directed to a special fund which could be used for non-military purposes only. This fund would be called the Peace Tax Fund and the bill we seek to pass is called the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund Act. Why we do it - The Peace Tax Fund is part of a long and distinguished history of religious freedom, freedom of conscience, and conscientious objection to war in the USA. We want to grant conscientious objectors the right to refrain from paying for war, just as they already have the right to refrain from fighting in war. Read about the Peace Tax Fund's background, why it is important that it be passed, and what effects it will have on our nation on the web site. The Campaign - The National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund represents a growing constituency of over 4,000 active members in all 50 states. Components of the Campaign include professional lobbyists, activist networks, and newsletter publications. Over 50 members of Congress have taken a public stand in support of the Peace Tax Fund Bill. Peace Tax campaigns, similar to the one in the United States, are gaining strength in a dozen other countries around the world. A dramatic increase of support for the concept of a Peace Tax Fund has been realized in recent years. Over 150 national and regional organizations have formally endorsed the legislation. Included in this diverse coalition are the historic peace churches; mainline Protestant denominations; Catholic, Jewish, and Unitarian organizations; peace groups and civil liberties organizations. The National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund is a 501(c)4, non-profit organization. Because the Campaign lobbies Congress, donations to the Campaign are not tax-deductible. The Foundation - Alongside the Campaign is a tax-exempt educational
organization, The Peace Tax Foundation. The Peace Tax Foundation is organized
to inform the public about the concept of alternative tax payment programs
that are based upon moral, ethical, and religious opposition to participation
in warfare. In pursuit of this goal, the Foundation does research, produces
publications, and conducts workshops and conferences. The Peace Tax Foundation
also serves as a liaison to the international Peace Tax movement. Because
the Foundation is educational and does not lobby, it is a 501(c)3, and
donations are tax-deductible. [top] Options,
Resources, and Actions 2. One Million Taxpayers for Peace join to oppose the government's escalating militarism. Learn more at www.monitor.net/~1mt/home.html 3. Write the President and your representative and senators and express concern regarding the increasing military budget. Join a day for advocacy May 14, 2004 in Washington D.C. For more information call (574) 534-4133. 4. Write a letter to the editor of your local paper. Send a copy of the National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund flyer available from the address below. 5. Refuse to pay the 3% federal excise tax on your phone bills. This tax has been used symbolically as a war tax since World War I. Nonpayment of the federal tax is between you and the IRS and should not result in cutoff of phone service. Though illegal, nonpayment of the tax is almost risk-free. See www.hanguponwar.org for details. 6. Refuse to pay all or part of your income tax. Though illegal, thousands of Americans are openly participating in this form of protest. You can take control of your paycheck and avoid contributing to the military. Contact us for information or referral to a war tax resistance counselor near you, and check out www.warresisters.org/wtr.htm. Contact the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee, PO Box 150553, Brooklyn, NY 11215, (800)269-7464; email: nwtrcc@nwtrcc.com. 7. Contribute resisted tax money to an organization working to help people (e.g., day care centers, health clinics, food banks, housing programs, human rights organizations) or to an alternative fund that pools tax money from resisters and gives grants to human needs and peace groups. 8. Support the Peace Tax Fund bill to allow 100% of your taxes to fund
nonmilitary programs: National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund and the Peace
Tax Foundation, 2121 Decatur Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 USA, Phone:
(202) 483-3751; Toll-free: (888) PEACETAX; Fax: (202) 986-0667; Email:
info@peacetaxfund.org
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© 2003 Mennonite Central Committee |