For many years I have refused to pay a portion of the federal income tax that I owe, instead remitting that same amount to an organization, such as UNICEF, that supports peaceful activites in the world. My employer withholds most of the taxes that I owe, but I make sure that I always owe something at the end of the year. After our marriage in 2005, Fran and I filed a joint income tax return and likewise refused to pay a portion of the tax due. As I have always done in the past, we sent a letter to the IRS with the tax return explaining the reason that the full amount was not paid. Click here to read the letter.
I also refuse and redirect the federal tax on my phone bill. This tax (3%) has recently been removed from the long distance portion of the phone bill, but is still charged for the local service. The phone company is not legally empowered to disconnect your phone service if the tax is unpaid. This is because the legal issue is between you and the government, not you and the phone company. Much of the power of this “holy obedience to conscience” comes from explaining all this to phone company employees, when you need to straighten out the billing. They are usually interested and understanding of the witness. Of course, it is still civil disobedience and the government does not look kindly on it. But I find it is better to live according to one’s conscience than necessarily according to government. And I can be be sure that this money is going to life-affirming purposes, and none of it toward war and preparations for war.
There is no WAY to peace. Peace IS the way.