'Freedom Drive' to rally for Constitution

An organization best known for its "tax honesty" movement is planning a nationwide event to draw attention to and protest what it views as routine unconstitutional behavior by the federal government.

The event, called "Freedom Drive 2002," is being sponsored by the We The People Foundation for Constitution Government and is set to begin Nov. 11 – Veterans Day. Organizers say the plan calls for supporters to begin an automobile caravan in a few major West Coast cities, then pick up more supporters in various other cities on the way to the nation's capital.

By the time the caravan reaches Washington, D.C., officials say they hope vehicles – and participants – will number in the thousands.

"What this really comes down to is the Constitution and the rule of law," said Joseph Banister, a California accountant and former IRS special agent who is assisting in event planning. "If the government can be arrogant and non-responsive, if they're not held accountable, all of our rights are at risk. It's frightening."

According to published information, the first caravan participants will leave from Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and San Diego, proceeding eastward to converge in Salt Lake City. From there, the caravan will continue on to Denver and Kansas City, then to St. Louis, Lexington, Ky., and Charleston, S.C., before heading into Washington, D.C.

Once in the nation's capital, the caravan will "drive around the Capitol, the White House and the Supreme Court Building" before stopping "to participate in a rally at the Washington Monument."

"The groundswell of public support is coming, and we invite you to join us in making it happen," said promotional materials for the event.

Organizers would like to get a coordinator for the event in every county in the nation, Banister said.

We The People founder Robert Schulz was traveling on Friday and could not be reached for comment.

According to published information, the purpose of the event is to call attention to five major points:

"Many Americans have been quietly enduring their private frustrations as they have watched the steady erosion of their liberties, rights and freedoms. They have felt isolated and powerless. Some have even been ready to give in and give up," says information posted on the group's website.

"To all Americans we say join with us as we unite with those who have struggled for freedom in all generations. The willing sacrifice of life and treasure won America's freedom and will be required again to preserve it," says the site.

Prior to planning Freedom Drive 2002, Schulz led an effort to force Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service officials to participate in congressional hearing-like proceedings to answer questions about the U.S. tax code and the 16th Amendment, which authorized the federal government for the first time to collect taxes on income.

After initially agreeing to attend, government officials and one lawmaker – Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-Md., eventually backed out, leaving Schulz to instead sponsor a "tax honesty forum," which had far less impact.

Nevertheless, regarding the fall event, Banister said he hopes it "gets people's attention about the Constitution."

"If enough Americans get the message," he said, "maybe we can get something done."

While not necessarily disagreeing with any of the stated goals of this enterprise, I know enough about this organization and its leader to know that I WILL NOT be taking part.

Trying to convince folks that a) the 16th amendment was never properly ratified and/or b) that citizens don't have to pay the income tax, is counterproductive (at the minimum) to real tax reform. At its worst, it makes tax reformers look like lunatics and fools.

Robert Schulz is a self-promoting con-man, IMO, and does more to reinforce the status quo than anything or anyone else with his antics.

Before certain folks jump in to flame me, remember this; I have spent the last decade educating voters about why we need to repeal the 16th amendment, while promoting a common sense replacement.

EV

Shouldn't we participate even if we don't agree with this particular man? If people had refused to march in any of Martin Luther Kings marches because he was a womanizer or they didn't like his politics, he would be a foot note in history.

How about if MLK had been advocating a path that would have led to disaster for the Civil Rights Movement? Would it then have been a good thing to march with him and empower his message? I don't think so.

I would not lift one finger to empower the false hopes peddled by this man or his organization. They just make the true reformers look bad, and give ammo to the forces of the status quo.

At least the man is talking about getting out from behind his computer screen and taking a caravan to D.C.

We would all be better off if he would stay there.

Oh no. The TP loonies are at it again. They are doing a tremendous disservice to their followers and the tax reform movement, in general. Not only do their leaders make money selling their schemes to their gullible followers, but their antics give the government solid examples to use in painting even the people who are attempting to implement legitimate tax reform, as the same type of wackos.

editor-surveyor: The 16th, in particular, has been researched so thoroughly that there is no legitimate question; the 'ratification' was fraud, and is moot under many SC rulings in similar cases.

Most people who support tax reform realize that the 16th Amendment was never properly ratified, but they also know that it's far too late to do anything about it in the courts. But, the government loves the TP'ers. The more of their stupid antics they pull off, the easier it is for the government to attach the "wacko" label to legitimate tax reform supporters, as well.

The only way to get rid of the income tax is through legislation, such as HR2001 and/or an amendment that repeals the 16th Amendment.

MissAmericanPie: Shouldn't we participate even if we don't agree with this particular man? If people had refused to march in any of Martin Luther Kings marches because he was a womanizer or they didn't like his politics, he would be a foot note in history.

You picked the wrong example. King, though he did have some faults, was honestly trying to do something good for negro people and his image was a positive one. A more appropriate comparison to Schulz would be Yasser Arafat. After all, Arafat is doing more harm than good for the Palestinian cause and he, like Shultz, doesn't care, as long as he gets something out of it.

MissAmericanPie: At least the man is talking about getting out from behind his computer screen and taking a caravan to D.C.

That's the problem! Those goofballs are out in public, making the whole tax reform movement look like a bunch of nut cases. The tax reform movement would be much better off if the TP'ers would just stay home and play with their mental blocks.

Meanwhile, by setting in front of my own computer screen for a few hours each month, I have written articles (many on the subject of tax reform) that has generated over 208,000 hits to the Action America (http://www.ActionAmerica.org/) web site this month alone and hundreds of emails from both tax reformers and those who just want to know more about why tax reform is so important. I know that I have changed more than a few minds, by sitting in front of my computer screen. On the other hand, if Shultz's antics have changed even one mind, it has been to convince that person that all tax reformers are as nutty as he is.

Many people who read his books and followed his recommendations are behind bars now, for tax evasion. What he and his group advocate doesn't work and, in fact, there has never been even one court case where the finding or ruling supported any of his claims (even though some of his claims are true).

It was a good idea to begin with. But, it ceased being a good idea when his followers began going to jail for taking his advice. All that he is trying to do is sell more books or tax evasion schemes.

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