Jun 25, 2007

The Powers that Be: "Free Ed and Elaine Brown!" - Is the Income Tax Lawful?

The headlines at Drudge Report within the last 24 hours included one that stated "Tax Dodgers Taunt Police from Hilltop Compound". This sensational headline, linked to a CNN article of the same rhetoric, talked about these "dangerous" tax evaders, as if they represent a militant threat to society. Thus the "powers that be" control the media story through contracted press and, like Waco, Ruby Ridge, and other infamous incidents, the demonization of principled persons begins through the national media to make an example of those who dare resist the questionable "powers that be".

The controversy centers on the Income Tax and IRS powers, whether the 16th amendment was lawfully ratified (something questionable of almost every amendment since the Civil War), and also why there is "no law" that tells Americans that a mandatory income tax must be filed or paid, something openly questioned and disputed by former IRS agents (video clip below), with an increasing movement toward investigatory and open resistance unless the government can prove its case, without coercion or intimidation, in a court of law. Aaron Russo's latest documentary, worth reviewing on this subject and more, is entitled "Freedom to Fascism", where such former IRS agents are interviewed on this very subject. QUESTION: IF FORMER IRS AGENTS QUESTION AND DENY THAT THERE IS "NO LAW" TO MAKE AMERICANS LAWFULLY REQUIRED TO FILE INCOME TAX, WHY WILL THE ISSUE NOT BE ADDRESSED, AND WHY SHOULD AMERICANS OBEY SOMETHING MERELY LEVELED BY COERCIVE PROCESS AND DEMAND?




Bear in mind, the same questions could pertain to Social(ist) Security taxation--a communist transfer of wealth by seizure and national welfare scheme--and that the Amish and other parties have disputed, and do not pay! There is a valid legal argument that it too cannot be enforced as "mandatory" and also is a violation of religious liberty of conscience. Why should anyone pay what the law does not actually demand?

Even Kanawha Country Commissioner, Kent Carper stated on local WCHS talk radio over a year ago, and quite accurately, that an Income Tax is a key plank of Communism! Why do most flag-waving West Virginians not know this? Indeed, an excerpt of the Communist Manifesto from a source on the subject reads thus:

"Once again, in their foolishness, the American public has believed the lies of their "leaders" who applaud "the fall of Communism", while they have sold out the country to anti-Christian, anti-American statutes and regulations on the federal, state, and local levels. Posted below is a comparison of the original ten planks of the Communist Manifesto written by Karl Marx in 1848, along with the American adopted counterpart of each of the planks, The American people have truly been "buried in Communism" by their own politicians of both the Republican and Democratic parties. One other thing to remember, Karl Marx was stating in the Communist Manifesto that these planks will test whether a country has become communist or not.

1. Abolition of private property and the application of all rent to public purpose.

The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution (1868), and various zoning, school & property taxes. Also the Bureau of Land Management. (Consider who really owns your property, if you do not pay "property taxes", what the result will be, and just who will put a lien on it, or confiscate it! Thus property taxes have all the elements of land-lease from the government, as if the government owns the property. A key definition of freedom is the ability to possess private property freely, without intrusion or threat of confiscation).

2. A heavy progressive or graduated income tax.

Misapplication of the 16th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, 1913, The Social Security Act of 1936.; Joint House Resolution 192 of 1933; and various State "income" taxes. We call it "paying your fair share".

3. Abolition of all rights of inheritance.

We call it Federal & State estate Tax (1916); or reformed Probate Laws, and limited inheritance via arbitrary inheritance tax statutes.

4. Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels.

We call in government seizures, tax liens, Public "law" 99-570 (1986);

Executive order 11490, sections 1205, 2002 which gives private land to the Department of Urban Development; the imprisonment of "terrorists" and those who speak out or write against the "government" (1997 Crime/Terrorist Bill); or the IRS confiscation of property without due process.

This subject is legitimate enough that Congressman Ron Paul, republican candidate for President, is openly calling for the abolishment of the IRS and Income Tax (see video clip), as something that is contrary to the founding fathers vision in the Constitution, and contrary to freedom in America, when the government operated quite well for 150 years without one! Of course the "powers that be", the private so-called Federal Reserve banks, and big government supporters would object! Ronald Reagan had taken a swipe at them too (see video clip above).


So inquiring minds want to know much more than the contracted news propaganda that brands the Brown's as virtual terrorists in "a compound" (i.e. their home) who "taunt" police (a deliberate lie). It is more than clear by this deceitful rhetoric that the Brown's are being made into "public enemies" to justify the use of armed and military force (something hidden and attempted already) simply because they refuse to pay what is legally questionable! Here is a mainstream article from World Net Daily on the subject (linked), which shows that illegal immigrants have more freedom than Americans:


WorldNetDaily Exclusive Commentary
Posted: June 18, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern


Every now and again, I hear people being interviewed who believe federal income taxes are constitutionally invalid, and, as a result, they refuse to pay them. My first thought is usually "have fun in prison," but recent statements and proposals from some of our politicians have led me to believe that this is a cause worth fighting for.

Enter Ed and Elaine Brown, New Hampshire residents who don't believe in paying income taxes. As a result, the Browns have been sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison and ordered to pay more than $200,000 after being convicted of tax evasion and are now holed up in their home, complete with solar and wind power. So far, Al Gore has offered no defense of the carbon offset to his mansions and heated pools.

Federal authorities now have their property surrounded, and the standoff could last indefinitely – ending much sooner if the Clintons are elected and put Janet Reno back in the Attorney General's office.

CBS News reports that federal authorities have "cut phone, power and Internet service at the fortified compound" of the couple.

The terms "fortified compound" and "tax evasion" usually seem to go hand-in-hand in stories such as these. "Fortified compound" is a term applied by the government for psychological reasons that is repeated by the media out of psychiatric reflex.

The government has trillions of dollars, tanks and armies of heavily armed individuals at their disposal. Our politicians have access to around the clock protection and bunkers that can withstand a direct nuclear strike. Not only that, but try running into any mainstream media building in New York or Los Angeles without being tackled by armed guards and tasered until your nose gives off a 75-watt glow.

But a married couple who lives in a six-bedroom colonial that might have an extra bolt on the door are the ones who the government and media says have a "fortified compound."

The government and media parrot terms such as "fortress-like home" to imply paranoia, which implies mental illness, which implies there's a good reason for the government to move in and save the "fortified compound" dwellers from themselves and the rest of us.

What's gone wrong?

(Column continues below)

Taxes weren't always such a treacherous undertaking. For a long time, this country was run on very limited funds. Up until the early 1800s, the government was run purely on internal sales taxes and revenue from a gigantic powdered wig closeout sale. Then, in 1817, the government got rid of internal taxes and functioned completely on tariffs on imported goods.

Can you imagine running the bloated monster of a federal government we have today solely on the 4 percent we'd get from taxes imposed on imports of running shoes and plastic novelty poop?

We were created with the ability to create. All this is evidenced in the brilliance of many of our finest moments, from medicine to art to science – but that all came to an end with the adoption of the 16th Amendment in 1913. The amendment gave Congress legal authority to tax income and resulted in a revenue law that taxed incomes of both individuals and corporations.

At that point, all the creative energy that would have gone into curing disease, designing grand buildings, creating art and music and exploring the farthest reaches of the universe now goes into trying to figure out a way to write off our lawnmower as a dependent or simply to hide out in a "fortified compound" in New Hampshire waiting for the tear gas to come flying through the window.

Here's what is really irksome about Ed and Elaine Brown's situation. They are legal American citizens surrounded by their own government. In the meantime, many members of Congress, along with President Bush, are pushing to legalize 12 million "undocumented workers" (the artist formerly known as "illegal aliens") while forgiving them any back taxes owed, along with any IRS fines.

Ed and Elaine Brown should renounce their citizenship, declare themselves "undocumented workers" and then push for the passage of an immigration "reform" bill. Their tax problem would be solved, and they'd be free. Maybe we should all do this.

Until American citizens are afforded at least the same rights and privileges that our politicians seek for illegal aliens, the government must free Ed and Elaine Brown!

Now if you don't mind, I have to run along and repair the screen door on my "fortified compound."


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Doug Powers' columns appear every Monday on WorldNetDaily and various newspapers around the country. Doug's first book, "Because That's the Way God Decided to Do It! – A Conservative Father Fields Confusing Questions From His Confused Kids About A Confusing World" is available at Amazon.com.

Also, be sure to check out Doug's blog for daily commentary and responses to select reader email.

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