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Project Insomnia

Project Insomnia is many things, but in this context it is simply a "braindump" of whatever I happen to be thinking/reading/watching/doing at the moment. Parental guidance suggested.

Friday, December 09, 2005

I knew about the tax, vaguely, but not where it went

Not paying phone tax becomes war protest -- David Lazarus, SFGate
Thousands of people are protesting the war in Iraq by refusing to pay federal phone taxes -- and in many cases, phone companies are helping them do it.
...
The federal excise tax on phone usage dates back to 1898. It was adopted under the War Revenue Act as a temporary levy to help fund the Spanish-American War. The war ended in October of that year. The tax was repealed in 1902 but didn't stay gone for long.

It was reintroduced during World War I and was subsequently used to fund the nation's military activities during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

The tax was given permanent status in 1990 and now stands at 3 percent of a consumer's monthly phone bill. It raises about $6 billion a year for general federal expenditures, including military spending.
I don't know if my anti-war sentiment raises to the level of tax evasion, no matter how small. The IRS can mess up your life permanently. Of course, so can a war.
|| Andrew, 6:37 PM || ||

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