The more I look for it, the more I see a resurgence in civil disobedience that is meant not simply to get protesters arrested, but to obstruct what protesters see as the machinery of injustice. On March 19, 2008, 32 protesters with the War Resisters League were arrested as they blockaded the entrance to the Internal Revenue Service in Washington, DC.
For some time, the WRL has identified war spending by the government as a major block to economic justice within the United States, and has sought to bring the military-industrial complex to Americans’ attention by focusing on the tax dollar drain of military and military-related budgets. (You may have seen their long-running series of annual posters on the War budget — this year, they report that by their analysis military priorities swallow a monstrous 54% of the federal budget). This explains their targeting of the IRS.
You see, there are people out there who are actively, even obstructively, protesting the current system. We just have to do a better job of spreading the word. And then…
… is it time for a renewed surge of fiery protest by those who have had enough?
Hooray for these brave citizens!
And in response to your last question:
ABSOLUTELY!
Remember, if MOST OF US DON’T pay our taxes as a protest, they can’t fund the war!