Posted on 02/12/2009 5:36:53 AM PST by Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus
Hi all,
I'm posting this under News/Activism because I'm intending for this to be a brainstorming session about activism - activism with regards to how we, as conservatives, can limit or even end our support for the corrupt, kleptocratic, elitist system we see in our country's government. We have a government that is definitely NOT "of the people, by the people, for the people." Instead, we have a government dominated by left-wing socialists and their RINO lackeys which is in the process of passing a massive pork-spending bill which the people have clearly said they don't want. But the politicians don't care. Unfortunately, there aren't enough "good" politicians - truly conservative - in Washington to be able to mount a serious effort to stop it.
So, what can we the people do about it?
Let's hear some ideas about *real* civil disobedience and other ways we can throw sand in the gears, and create enough of a ruckus that "they" will HAVE to listen to us. I'm talking legal stuff here - nothing about not paying your taxes (and before you start in with the "income tax is voluntary" line, you try to not paying them and see how voluntary it really is), vandalising gov't buildings, etc.
One idea I'd have, expanding on some things floated on FR yesterday: Economic warfare. Don't spend any more than you have to in Blue states or Blue counties. I realise that this may be difficult or even impossible for some FReepers, but for those of us that it is not, we can help cut into the income-by-stealing of Democrat counties.
My family will be buying our groceries across the border in a Red county. I'm going to buy my gas in the county I work in (Red) instead of the one I live in (Blue). Any big ticket items will be bought over the internet, out of state, with no sales tax. No more fast food in Blue counties. No more spending on either luxuries or necessities in Blue counties, as much as we possibly can. My clothing will be bought in a tax free thrift shop, and I'm going to be hitting Ebay, Amazon, and Craigslist for many items, instead of buying them from a big-box store. It's still legal (so far) for you to decide *where* you're going to spend your money, so let's spend it, as much as we can, in places that did not go for Obama (shoot, you may end up saving money b/c of lower sales taxes anywise!)
Any ideas people would like to throw out there, or even reasons why this all would NOT be a good idea?
How about investments?
I’ve often wondered why we don’t use their playbook against them.
Reckon we, as a whole, have been raised differently-we have manners and respect. But this situation may cause the worm to turn.
We will become them.
They are uncontestable, and worth cash.
He found one for a chainsaw left in a shopping cart - worth over $300 with the other purchases... since he is in the 30-40% tax bracket, this receipt was worth over $100 to him.
Imagine, finding $100.00 bills in shopping carts and in the weeds outside of Home Depot! That works and is impossible to trace or stop.
I would never do such a thing of course, but if I were a Democrat I would.
The idea:
Nobody cares about receipts, but if you have at least one rental property and can claim deductions for costs, repairs and the like, collect receipts from the parking lot and shopping carts!
Result: Less revenue for the tax thieves.
Number 1 - my pet issue - GET RID OF YOUR TV SUBSCRIPTION! Boycotting individual shows and sponsors is all fine and dandy but by canceling your entire subscription you end funding every liberal facet of entertainment and news, let alone the very financial enablers themselves - the sponsors. Get Netflix and cut the royalties, the ads, and the dilemma of wondering “What’s on?”
Heck, I'm moving to a red state! Probably Texas. I can't take living among these idiots any longer. Propery taxes for a modest home in my NJ county are the 15th highest out of ALL the counties in the country. They will get no more of my tax money. As soon as I can sell, I'm outta here.
Let the red states in the bread basket boycott sales to the Northeast coastal states and West Coast. This would eventually starve all the “ rats” and sanitize the areas making it a new frontier to inhabit .
I kind of agree on a sheer human level. The problem is that, irregardless of whether it was a Pubbie trying to steal the thunder of Obama/Dems, this sets a bad precedence and simply reflects reward for being in the spotlight.
Shop at the NRA Store http://www.nra.org
I’m starting a nonprofit “Institute” to try and siphon some money from the enviros.
filing an extension will not help. when you file the extension you must go ahead and pay what you owe or you will be subject to interest and penalties when you actually file the return. changing your w4 so you get as much money each payday as possible and don’t let the govt hold your money interest free and and then get a refund will definitely help. this will be huge if many taxpayers do it.
If you can find them, invest in things that don't throw off taxable distributions for a couple of years. Anything that makes sense to defer income so there is lass tax going to the Feds/locals.
Barter,I have not done this in a while but we can barter with another person or persons to get what we need..No taxes and lots of things we can use..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barter
++++”Number 1 - my pet issue - GET RID OF YOUR TV SUBSCRIPTION”++++
However, my FIOS Tv also includes a dozen or more Conservative, Christian channels as well as Fox business and Fox news channels.
Seriously, stop buying their products. That is the best way...AFA has been very effective doing this as they have 3 million people on their mailing list. They will ask people to stop buying certain products and it works!!
Actually I believe that it will as it will tend to burden the IRS and send a message to the politicians. If 50% of taxpayers did it, it would be a minor wakeup call.
” I’m wondering what us small retailers can do. “
A couple of quick thoughts come immediately to mind —
Barter...
Go ‘Cash only’ — do away with checks or plastic....
Sell products from local ‘cottage industry’ people...
Once your thinking ventures even slightly ‘out-of-the-box’, (Yes, this takes a bit of courage) the possibilites will become apparent....
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“ On a personal level I intend to stop smoking, to me it’s a patriotic act...funny how that has become the only convincing reason to quit for me. “
Especially in the context of this thread — knuckling under to the Nanny-Staters most assuredly isn’t a ‘patriotic act’.. It’s merely the ‘path of least resistance’....
There are any number of valid reasons to quit (and I say this as a smoker, myself), but this is nothing more than rationalization of abject surrender....
I'm ending all charitable giving. I know it's "unChristian," blah, blah. As long as government is getting the credit---not God---then government can do the charity. I think we need to utterly withdraw from all philanthropy as long as these people are in charge.
As Abbe Hoffman would say, we need to bring the system down. The sooner, the better.
That's better.
“Especially in the context of this thread — knuckling under to the Nanny-Staters most assuredly isn’t a ‘patriotic act’.. It’s merely the ‘path of least resistance’....”
???
By denying them the .65 tax per pack (or whatever it will be.)To me that’s my small contribution to the failure of their policies. I still have to purchase fuel, I still have to purchase certain hard goods for the household-all have sales taxes tacked to them. But the smokes are voluntary.
True, eventually when their plans fail, they will go after the next cash cow to fund their folly-sodas and overly sweet and/or salty snacks come to mind- and so on down the line of minor sins.
Perhaps my reasoning is faulty to you, and maybe it is. But sheer frustration leaves me thinking what can I do? I don’t see it as complying with the Nannies, they are counting on the addictive nature of tobacco to keep the revenue coming in, even though outwardly they wag a finger at us smokers.
They are counting on us smokers to keep lighting up...I don’t want to give them that.
Thank you for the suggestions, Unc, for the retail field, however. There are some good ideas for me to explore.
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