From: Edward Agro <eagro@igc.org>
Subject: INFO: US Military Budget - Responses
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: daemon@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: University of Missouri
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1992 20:23:38 GMT

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Synopsis - The following material is p. 2 of the WRL flyer "WHERE YOUR 
INCOME TAX MONEY REALLY GOES." It gives WRL's suggestions for resisting the 
military budget. The first page of the flyer, giving the breakdown of the 
budget, has been posted previously  --  ed <eagro@igc.org>

[This material was first posted on Peacenet]
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                              DEEPER, DEEPER 

     ``This deep, and no deeper,'' said George Bush as he presented a new 
budget to Congress and the nation on January 28, 1992. He was referring to 
his proposed cuts in the military budget.

     We say ``Deeper''!

     * The world does not need a U.S. police force. Close the foreign bases 
     and bring the troops home.

     * The world does not need any nuclear weapons. Research money and 
     workers should be used to dismantle those horrific weapons, not build 
     more. Close the Nevada test site and clean up the environment.

     * The world does not need more guns. Teach peace and nonviolent 
     conflict resolution to governments and individuals.

     * The world does not need more soldiers. Take the money from ROTC, 
     JROTC, and recruiting, and give scholarships for college tuitions, 
     hire more teachers for high schools, and buy equipment for grade 
     schools.

     * The world does not need more military ships, submarines, tanks, or 
     planes. Spend the money for conversion of these industries to civilian 
     use and to retrain the workers.

     With the break up of the Soviet Union we have a tremendous opportunity 
to change our government's priorities. George Bush didn't offer the country 
a plan. His budget proposes more random cuts and shifts that leave workers 
out of work, take more from housing and mass transit programs, and give no 
relief to desperate cities and states.

     A study by the Department of Defense showed that with the closure of 
100 military bases from 1961-1986, civilian employment in nearby 
communities increased by 44% overall. With careful planning and help from 
federal programs these communities developed the bases for uses such as 
agriculture, aviation, colleges and vocational schools, housing, health 
facilities, and parks. (Nuclear Times, Summer 1990) Cutting military 
spending does not have to mean lost jobs and lost hope.

     Take action and demand change. Don't just silently and angrily write 
out that check to the IRS. See the ``What You Can Do'' list below. Your 
action makes a difference!

     Jobs created from $1 billion investment:

     Military Production (Ships, planes, tanks).... 25,000 jobs

     Mass transit.................................. 30,000 jobs

     Housing....................................... 36,000 jobs

     Health care................................... 40,000 jobs

     Education..................................... 41,000 jobs

     Figures based on 1990 fiscal year and 1990 dollars

     Source: Employment Research Associates, Lansing, Michigan


                              WHAT YOU CAN DO

     File the EZ PEACE form with the Alternative Revenue Service, a project 
of the War Resisters League. Use the EZ PEACE form to redirect money from 
the military to projects that serve human needs.

     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 does 
not result in a cut-off of telephone service. Though illegal, nonpayment of 
the tax is almost risk-free. The thousands of people now refusing this tax 
have made it virtually uncollectible. Please contact us for more details.

     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 more information or referral to a war tax 
resistance counselor near you.

     Contribute resisted tax money to an organization working to help 
people (e.g., day care centers, health clinics, food banks, housing 
programs) or to an alternative fund which pools tax money from resisters 
and gives grants to human needs and peace groups.

     Demonstrate and leaflet on April 15 at the IRS or a post office where 
returns are mailed at the last moment.

     Develop a community of support for those doing or contemplating war 
tax resistance. Resistance is strengthened if people can remove the sense 
of isolation and talk about their fears about resistance. Contact us for 
groups in your area.

     Write Congressional representatives and demand that the military 
budget be slashed--by $150 billion now, not $50 billion over six years as 
President Bush has proposed.

     Write for more information to the address below.


                                 RESOURCES

     The printed version of this file "WHERE YOUR INCOME TAX MONEY REALLY 
GOES" is available for .10 each (1-199), .07 each (200 or more), .05 each 
(500 plus) plus postage.

     Alternative Revenue Service EZ PEACE form. Single copies free.

     ARS Organizing packet $5.00.

     ``Our Tax Money, Our Choice: A Call to War Tax Resistance,'' basic 
brochure on how's and why's of war tax resistance. .10 each.

     ``Your Telephone Taxes Pay for War,'' explanatory brochure. Single 
copies are free. Cards to enclose with phone bills, 10 for $1.00.

     War Tax Resistance: A Guide to Withholding Your Support from the 
Military, a 130-page handbook on all aspects of war tax resistance, 
available for $12 plus 20% postage.

WAR RESISTERS LEAGUE  339 Lafayette St.  New York, NY 10012  <wrl@igc.org>

     Alternative Revenue Service 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012,
     1-800-955-PEACE (1-800-955-7322)   or  c/o <wrl@igc.org>
___________________________________________________________________________
Note: Online information about wartax refusal may also be had by email from 
the National War Tax Coordinating Committee  <nwtrcc@igc.org>
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Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive