Posted on 05/19/2003 12:42:57 PM PDT by 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.
Dressed in a dhoti of Indian fabric, which he located with the help of Arun Gandhi, a grandson of Mohandas Gandhi
Secondly...for those who asked about the hotel room...it was provided by supporters.
Finally...yes, those pictures are taken as the death fast is proceeding...he shaves his head, so there goes your "theory".
We get constant updates on his condition on KTSA (San Antonio), he calls in daily. He is only drinking water with a pinch of salt in it, the way Ghandi did. Last I heard, he had lost 50 lbs.
Now...while I do not agree with his methods...and do not know enough about the legal/Constitutional aspects of income tax to be able to debate on it, I have to respect him for standing up for his beliefs by asking for a Petitions for Redress of Grievances. He follows We The People Chairman Bob Schulz who went on a similar hunger strike in July, 2001. The Govt. promised Schulz a forum, but the DOJ and IRS later reneged on their agreement and have refused to answer the questions since. It is their obligation to answer these questions under the law. What do they have to hide?
If anyone wants more info, his website is:
Where does it say that?
"The Govt." never promised anything. One U.S. House member (the name escapes me) made some promises about giving Schulz & company a forum and a captive IRS lawyer to play with, but didn't have the clout to pull it off.
There is no obligation for any government employee or elected official to explain the law to people who refuse to accept it. Government lawyers especially refuse to give any such advice or interpretation because if they accidentally mis-state something, they will be quoted by everyone who has a bone to pick with the particular law.
Nothing more?
Personally, when I think of paying my taxes, I find it very soothing to think of them going to pay for the salary of a soldier out there fighting for my liberty - or maybe paying for one teeny-tiny piece of an aircraft carrier.
Usually the aircraft carrier. I have a thing for aircraft carriers, with full battle group. Can't have too many of those these days, and they aren't cheap.
No. But thanks anyway. The guy sounds like a disciple of David Ickes. He postulates that most of the world's leaders are shape-shifting reptiles from outer space.
He's probably right.
Well if you put it that way, it sounds reasonable.
I have the uncontrollable urge to have a pizza delivered to him.
No. Just an observer. I don't care for the impression this sort of stuff gives legitimate tax reform, but if a Secretary of State can say she has confidence in a President that's about to be impeached, than I can voice support for this guy's "drift" if not his substance.
Then he should run for Congress.
You bet! But he won't get elected, because he's not Maxine Waters. She's as crazy as this guy is, but it's acceptable on the Left.
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
The Govt. promised Schulz a forum, but the DOJ and IRS later reneged on their agreement"The Govt." never promised anything. One U.S. House member (the name escapes me) made some promises about giving Schulz & company a forum and a captive IRS lawyer to play with, but didn't have the clout to pull it off.
The Congressman was Roscoe Bartlett, a Republican from the panhandle of Maryland. And he actually arranged - not for a forum and a captive IRS lawyer - but for a "briefing" on the tax laws to be given to Schulz and his buddies by a DOJ lawyer - not IRS (the IRS is one agency that Congressmen are not supposed to try to squeeze for favors). This amounted to arranging for a lecture with Schulz as part of the audience. This positively was not the "debate", or the "hearing" or the "trial" that Schulz demanded and claimed it was.
Even though this briefing was supposed to take place in an available room in one of the House office buildings, Schulz started trying to collect money from his followers as if somehow he was paying for it. Then he claimed to have absolute control over the attendance list, then he claimed that he had absolute control over any questions that could be put to the lecturers (it was never clear that the lecturers would entertain questions) - if you wanted your questions asked then you'd better send Schulz money, etc., he even tried to set up a pay-per-view webcast of this event. And he claimed, contrary to fact, that the IRS was sending representatives (plural), when there was reason to doubt that the IRS was going to be involved in any way in this lecture.
The last straw came when Schulz started talking about this as an official Congressional hearing - which it definitely wasn't; it wasn't even clear if any Congressman would be in the room - that would lead to dramatic new legislation - which was never even hinted at - and finally he started referring to this event as "putting the IRS on trial", and then telling his followers to refrain from sending in their tax returns, "Don't File Before the Trial". When the IRS and DOJ got wind of this, they complained to Bartlett, who cancelled the lecture altogether. Schulz has only himself to blame.
Wrong....there was a written agreement, a scanned copy can be found at:
In addition...Congressman Bartlett stated in another letter...
“The constitution that I love and have sworn to uphold and defend grants citizens the right to petition our government for redress of grievances. It is my duty as an elected representative to the United States Congress to insure that once a petition, such as yours, is properly framed, our government timely and properly responds."
I also said that they take a good chunk of our hard-earned money and waste it. Am I wrong? I did not say that I thought that we shouldn't pay taxes.
I agree with paying taxes to provide for military and infrastructure, that doesn't mean that the code is magically coherent. I am former military and I think they should be paid a hell of a lot more than they are for some of the jobs performed.
We have re-scheduled the forum (symposium) for February 27 and 28 in the Science and Technology Committee Hearing Room in the Rayburn House Office Building beginning at 9:00 a.m. each day. A letter of support and confirmation signed by myself and other members of Congress has been drafted, circulated, and will be sent to officials at the Department of Justice, Treasury and the IRS, informing them of the dates and times and requiring their attendance. I will personally chair the event and have invited other members of Congress to attend and sit on the panel.You have my word as an elected member of the United States Congress that I will do all within my power that this event go forward, the IRS and the DOJ attend as they have promised to do, and are compelled to do by the Constitution.
From a previous letter:
It will be a Congressional briefing like hearing with appropriate controls.You might want to take a gander at Assistant Attorney General Dan Bryant's note at the bottom of that letter which refers to a "Congressional Briefing".
I'm not saying Schulz and his cohorts are right, just that your interpretation of the events are wrong.
Since the IRS has the power to destroy a family and ruin one financially, just who would you ask?
The judical system? (you don't have enough horse power)
The elected officals? (you don't have enough money, and they are not going to give up power to ANYONE,especially a lowlife commoner like us)
The IRS? (they don't answer to anyone)
So have a nice day, huff more methane and keep believing the GOV is here to help you.
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