Civil Disobedience

The more I think about it, the more I like this idea. Controlling our government through mass tax rebellion: organized and systematic withholding, on principle. Thoreau, applied en masse.

I can sense the black helicopters circling, but stay with me if you dare.

When our founding fathers (and mothers) devised the United States government, they designed a number of checks and balances to prevent any one branch — executive, legislative, or judicial — from becoming overly powerful. Logical thinking, and it works well. I think what they did not forsee, though, is the idea our government — all three branches — could become too powerful...in relation to the people it represents.

Us. You and me.

Just to give some scope and scale, in 2002, the ratio of civilians to government employees was 11:1. So nearly one out of every ten people works for Uncle Sam. Quite significant, when you realize the salary/benefits/retirement/etc. costs of each government employee is borne by only eleven people. What's the median gov't salary, $45k? Now think about the political power those roughly 26 million gov't. folks have as an organized voting bloc: intentional or otherwise.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: I am not denigrating civil servants...this is my Libertarian thought exercise.]

Our only opportunity to steer this administrative behemoth is a presidential vote every four years. Lesser offices on a rotating schedule, every 2 or 6 years, etc. Details, ad nauseam.

Point is, Shrub (for example) gets the keys to the Buick for four years...and off he drives...we're along for the ride with no control over where he takes us. Half way through the trip he stops to change passengers — a Democratic Congress — who may or may not influence the direction of our road trip: we can ask them indirectly, but all of these representatives are in the cab. We're riding in the trunk.

We The People have no control.

Except.

Except...we...pay...for...everything. You trade your life, your time alive on this earth, for money. Money allows you to buy goods (food) and services (medical treatment), to survive. Money — your time, your life — is also taken from you in the form of taxes. Taxes finance our government.

Without taxes, our government can't...govern.

Very interesting.

So, what would our government look like if we:

1. Could, as individuals, determine by category each year where our taxes were used? Nasa? Military? Schools? Energy independence? Etc. — Check the appropriate columns by percentage on your IRS 1040. The size of each category of government is then determined directly by what taxpayers are willing to allocate. Vote your conscience with your money.

2. Had equal power, as civilians, to vote on spending bills? — Bush wants to fund an Iraq war...Congress must approve...AND we Civilians must approve. Sliding scale (percentage of funding based on percentage of vote).

No approval = No funding

PS: Submit a video with this idea to the next YouTube Presidential Debate?

Comments

[Raymond DeGennaro]

Nice read -- Been soapboxing the "vote with your tax dollars" concept for years -- Nice to see that there's more folks that have come-up with the same idea. There aren't many of us libertarian, environmentalist, voluntarily communist on a local scale, etc. (I've heard the term "compassionate libertarian" used) folks out there.

Ray

[Raymond DeGennaro]

I forgot to add "Artistic Engineer" to the list.

Ray