DEATH-FAST Protest Against IRS in Austin, Texas

http://www.in-austin.com/death-fast/story.htm ^

[Kowdawg]

One man's effort to get an answer...

What started as a reasonable question to authority has now become a cause with purpose! Texas state Citizen Gene Chapman wants to know: "Where is my tax liability in the law?" Beginning April 15 he was willing to at least lose some weight in the matter and possibly go further. As of May 19th, day thirty-five, Gene is resigned to go the distance if an bona fide answer is not received! Time has shown, this man is serious! See the DO-NOT-RESUSCITATE Advance Directive.

"Where is MY tax liability in the law?" A simple question to which anyone who is presented a tax - any tax - should get an immediate, specific and legitimate response. 'Show me authority!' No response = unresponsive government. No response causes a reasonable man or woman to presume that there is no answer? No answer = no legitimacy = no law = extortion! (First Corinthians 6:10)

Beginning on the symbolic date of April 15, 2003, Gene began his death-fast with the intention of getting an answer from the Internal Revenue Service to the question he's been asking for more than three years. "What makes Texas Citizen Gene Chapman liable for income tax? Where is this liability so stated in the law - specifically?" Simple questions. And now many inquiring minds want to know: Where are the answers?

Gene is a proud Texan, from Lewisville, with ancestry that goes back to the early days of Texas. Some of his kinfolk actually fought with Sam Houston in the battle of San Jacinto where Texas won its independence from Mexico on April 21, 1836.

A soft-spoken, modest, single, middle-age, working man with no desire to be a ‘cause celebre’, Gene just wants a bone fide, legitimate, documented response to his question. And he is willing to go all the way to death to get it! Being a sincere Christian and an admirer of Mohandas Gandhi (India, 1869-1948), and other devotees to peaceful answers, Gene is willing to submit himself to the now probable and definite perils of a prolonged food fast to achieve his goals. Several health professionals are checking on Gene during the day and he is allowing himself water. As of day 34, he has lost over 50 pounds - one attending nurse believes such a rapid weight loss is not beneficial for his heart. Austin, Texas weather is not being kind to him. April 24 saw a new record high of 95 degrees! And as virtually no rain fell during the month, April 2003 is now in the record books as being the third driest on record since the battle for the Alamo. To those of us who have shelter from the elements this may not seem like much to be concerned about - however, this author suggests that a reader spend just one day on a street corner without food wherever the reader may be and report back on the experience. Because of the kind donations Gene has thusfar received, he is able now to be indoors. The in-expensive motel that he is currently in doesn't offer many ammities - and he doesn't have the need for many. He is weak in his physical and yet his mind is clear! He appreciates the support he's been getting.

Dressed in a dhoti of Indian fabric, which he located with the help of Arun Gandhi, a grandson of Mohandas Gandhi, and seated on a donated lawn chair, as his original stadium seat was taken while he was indisposed, under what is now known as the “Liberty Tree” on the street corner of Parker Lane & Woodward Street, in south Austin, Texas, directly across from the Austin Regional IRS Unit - Gene gently smiles and waves at the various onlookers that go by. They wave, horns sound, some stop and talk. This particular area is well populated with University of Texas students and, before the end of the semester, many would stop and chat while they were waiting for the shuttle to take them to school. “Helps shorten the day” says Gene. An interesting note is the reaction he gets from the IRS employees as they leave work for the day – smiles, hand waves, horns, and thumbs up! "Do they know something that we don’t?" Also, in an apparent show of solidarity local police seem to be patrolling the area with a bit more frequency.

Gene has a modest camper unit which houses personal belongings and provides sanitary facilities. It was a place to sleep during the nights prior to getting a motel room.

Local media coverage so far has been adequate and yet sometimes misleading. In a short piece (two min.) during the 6:00 p.m. segment (Monday, April 21), the local talking head (Kenneth Vargas) for the I.R.S. gave the standard canned response to the TV news reporter (Quita Culpepper) about the IRS being legitimate and the tax being constitutional, etc., and nothing about Gene's question. Kenneth Vargas publically stated that he would be happy to help Gene - as of day 34 he has not visited, contacted or done anything (known) regarding Gene Chapman. Interesting side note that shows how sometimes media can be mis-leading -- the local announcer’s (Ron Oliveira) end statement said that if one wanted to change the tax they should attempt do so by talking with state law makers. State lawmakers? Duh... (State lawmakers have nothing to do with Federal taxes.) When told of this news coverage Gene just smiled. Visit Gene's blogger site and listen for yourself.

Well there you have it up til now. Gene says that various IRS/Treasury people have told him that they would meet with him and we’ll let you know what happens then. As of day 34 - nothing from live people. A couple of Agents told Gene they would attempt to 'back-channel' to try and help him - no word from them - yet. Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison's office after prompting requested Gene sign a release so that they might be of assistance - as of day 34 no response. Have you told a friend or two about Gene's death-fast? Have you directed anyone to this website?

Gene requests that others across America join him in solidarity by fasting Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays as the spirit leads. Gene says, “Let us cast wickedness where it belongs and working towards solidarity we can do that.” Listen to what else Gene has to say by visiting http://genechapman.blogspot.com/ by clicking the VISIT BLOGGER button.

[Kowdawg]

I first heard about this at the end of April and nothing afterward.

[CobaltBlue]

Why doesn't he just go to a tax attorney and get the tax attorney to explain it? Or a CPA?

My guess is that he knows the answer but he just doesn't like it.

What's his theory? That the 16th Amendment is unconstitutional? That dollars are not legal tender?

[Mister Baredog]

Darwin Alert!

[pax_et_bonum]

"the local announcer’s (Ron Oliveira) end statement said that if one wanted to change the tax they should attempt do so by talking with state law makers. State lawmakers? Duh... (State lawmakers have nothing to do with Federal taxes.)"

...and except that Mr. Chapman has been in no condition to travel to Oklahoma.

[MineralMan]

Yet another tax nut case. He might want to check out the Constitution, where Congress is given the authority to levy taxes. Pretty simple. We might not like them, but taxes are perfectly Constitutional.

But, if he wants to starve himself to death, who am I to protest.

[jbg]

"Where is my tax liability in the law?"

26 U.S.C. section 1.

[ICE-FLYER]

I think his question is to INCOME TAXES not to just any tax. If I am not mistaken the law says it is voluntary, but that is just from some readings I have done. I snicker at the thought of what the IRS has become. The code does say voluntary yet if you don't pay just wait and see how "voluntary" it really is.

I would like a government answer to this too.

[DonQ]

Gene Chapman's website and the We The People website both offer photos purportedly taken one-a-day during more than 33 days of his alleged "fast-unto-death".

Among the odd things is that Chapman is not wearing clothes; he has wrapped himself in a white bedsheet as a sort of toga. I assume that he has done this in order to ....
... look even flakier than absolutely necessary;
... conceal the fact that his regular clothes haven't gotten any looser during this purported fast;
... conceal the fact that all those photos were taken in one sitting, something that would be more obvious if he was wearing the same shirt in all the photos.
This last reason is very plausible: Even though these photos are supposed to show him through more than 30 days, his hair is the same length in all of them!

[MineralMan]

"I think his question is to INCOME TAXES not to just any tax. If I am not mistaken the law says it is voluntary, but that is just from some readings I have done. I snicker at the thought of what the IRS has become. The code does say voluntary yet if you don't pay just wait and see how "voluntary" it really is. "

Nonsense. Read the Constitution. It just says "levy taxes." It doesn't say any tax but income tax. It just says that Congress has the power to "levy taxes." And so they do. This guy's a total dweeb, and is starving himself for nothing.

BTW, this is not in the amendments; it's in the main body of the Constitution.

Tax cheaters cost _me_ money. I don't like 'em. If you don't like the income tax law, then change it. If you don't pay, then I'm forced to pay your share. Until you change it, pay your darned taxes like the rest of us do.

Sorry, no sympathy.

[elbucko]

My guess is that he knows the answer but he just doesn't like it.

I think you're right. HIMHO, I think he has the right not to like the tax code. It may be "legal", but it is also obfuscatory, confiscatory, and an onerous paperwork burden on many who pay their own and others taxes.

He has the right to an answer, if he has the obligation to pay.

[The Old Hoosier]

This guy should be institutionalized.

[Tacis]

When he passes, does anyone know where to send flowers? It sort of sounds like he'd be creamated (with the appropriate fragrances, spices, and offerings) and his ashes spread on San Francisco Bay.

[MineralMan]

26 U.S.C. section 1.


There's his answer, and any tax accountant can point it out to him. Duly passed by Congress, which has the power to "levy taxes" granted by the Constitution.

He should order his Big Mac now.

[The Old Hoosier]

The answer:

26 USC 1. - Tax imposed

(a) Married individuals filing joint returns and surviving spouses

There is hereby imposed on the taxable income of -

(1)

every married individual (as defined in section 7703) who makes a single return jointly with his spouse under section 6013, and

(2)

every surviving spouse (as defined in section 2(a)),

a tax determined in accordance with the following table:




If taxable income is: The tax is:
Not over $36,900 15% of taxable income.
Over $36,900 but not over $89,150 $5,535, plus 28% of the excess over $36,900.
Over $89,150 but not over $140,000 $20,165, plus 31% of the excess over $89,150.
Over $140,000 but not over $250,000 $35,928.50, plus 36% of the excess over $140,000.
Over $250,000 $75,528.50, plus 39.6% of the excess over $250,000.




(b) Heads of households



There is hereby imposed on the taxable income of every head of a household (as defined in section 2(b)) a tax determined in accordance with the following table:




If taxable income is: The tax is:
Not over $29,600 15% of taxable income.
Over $29,600 but not over $76,400 $4,440, plus 28% of the excess over $29,600.
Over $76,400 but not over $127,500 $17,544, plus 31% of the excess over $76,400.
Over $127,500 but not over $250,000 $33,385, plus 36% of the excess over $127,500.
Over $250,000 $77,485, plus 39.6% of the excess over $250,000.




(c) Unmarried individuals (other than surviving spouses and heads of households)

There is hereby imposed on the taxable income of every individual (other than a surviving spouse as defined in section 2(a) or the head of a household as defined in section 2(b)) who is not a married individual (as defined in section 7703) a tax determined in accordance with the following table:




If taxable income is: The tax is:
Not over $22,100 15% of taxable income.
Over $22,100 but not over $53,500 $3,315, plus 28% of the excess over $22,100.
Over $53,500 but not over $115,000 $12,107, plus 31% of the excess over $53,500.
Over $115,000 but not over $250,000 $31,172, plus 36% of the excess over $115,000.
Over $250,000 $79,772, plus 39.6% of the excess over $250,000.




(d) Married individuals filing separate returns



There is hereby imposed on the taxable income of every married individual (as defined in section 7703) who does not make a single return jointly with his spouse under section 6013, a tax determined in accordance with the following table:




If taxable income is: The tax is:
Not over $18,450 15% of taxable income.
Over $18,450 but not over $44,575 $2,767.50, plus 28% of the excess over $18,450.
Over $44,575 but not over $70,000 $10,082.50, plus 31% of the excess over $44,575.
Over $70,000 but not over $125,000 $17,964.25, plus 36% of the excess over $70,000.
Over $125,000 $37,764.25, plus 39.6% of the excess over $125,000.




(e) Estates and trusts



There is hereby imposed on the taxable income of -

(1)

every estate, and

(2)

every trust,


taxable under this subsection a tax determined in accordance with the following table




If taxable income is: The tax is:
Not over $1,500 15% of taxable income.
Over $1,500 but not over $3,500 $225, plus 28% of the excess over $1,500.
Over $3,500 but not over $5,500 $785, plus 31% of the excess over $3,500.
Over $5,500 but not over $7,500 $1,405, plus 36% of the excess over $5,500.
Over $7,500 $2,125, plus 39.6% of the excess over $7,500.

[SERE_DOC]

"Yet another tax nut case."

So mister MineralMan all he is asking is a response from anyone in authority (silence so far)

Do you believe everything that the gov says?

Perhaps you should question why things are the way they are.

Or do you prefer to live in a methane environment?

[CobaltBlue]

It never ceases to amaze me. We've got the most powerful government on earth, but these guys are absolutely convinced that it's too danged dumb to figure out how to pass a valid tax code.

But wait, there's more!

They not only believe that the US Congress is too danged dumb to pass a valid tax code over the past few decades, but it takes a truckdriver to straighten them out.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if all of a sudden Congress and the President and the federal courts all came to their senses and said, "why, yes sir, Mr. Truckdriver, you're absolutely right -- there is no valid income tax. Give everybody a refund retroactive to the 19th century!"

[MineralMan]

Link to the law:

http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/26/1.html

[mountaineer]

Why does he have to dress in goofy garb and conduct his fast outside, by the IRS building, rather than just doing it from home? Why is he staying in a motel (gee, I wonder if it has room service)? I love the way people who can't be outstanding at anything settle for being outlandish. If you can't be famous for having accomplished anything, they just strive to be infamous, I guess.

[AppyPappy]

In the picture I saw, he looks kinda well fed to me