Sunday, March 19, 2017

Simple Questions for an Introductory Video

We try to achieve cooperation, sharing, organization, and all that good stuff - the stuff of which joy and prosperity are made! - but we use a strategy of making rules and then hurting people for breaking them.  The strategy is counterproductive.  The tax situation in the United States is a great example of this on many levels.  You can help raise awareness of the problem...

Make a video of yourself asking these questions and comment on this post with a link to it.  Maybe we'll use it in our documentary!
  • Can you earn a living without having to pay the U.S. federal government?
  • Are there rules that apply only to those with who the federal government has an entirely voluntary relationship?
  • Are any of those rules called laws?
  • Is there anyone not in such a voluntary relationship who thinks they must follow those rules?
  • If people make money from a voluntary relationship with an institution, does it make sense for the institution to get a cut?
  • What is the legal definition of "income"? (Hold up your finger quotes!)
  • What happened to that senate hearing where the government was going to answer a bunch of important questions about the income tax back in 2001?
  • Did the Supreme Court use the term "erroneous assumption" (hold up your finger quotes!) to describe a particular understanding of the 16th amendment?
  • What happens when an appellate court decision contradicts a Supreme Court decision?
  • What protects people from kangaroo courts?
  • Is the difference between direct and indirect taxes important?
  • What does "apportioned" mean? (Finger quotes!)
  • What does "excise" mean?
  • Is the income tax really an excise tax?
  • Is it possible that the tax law is confusing on purpose?
  • Could an agency of the government deceive citizens into paying more taxes than they legally owe?
  • Could the people in government want more money than the Constitution allows them to demand?
  • Should a citizen decide how much of his or her own money goes to the government?
  • Shouldn't you be more obligated to give the government a cut if they helped you earn what you earned?