Blog

Everyday Nonviolence

Juanita speaking next to an image of her partner Wally with a sign saying "You Don't Gotta"

“Activating Everyday Nonviolence: Juanita Nelson’s 100th Birthday Celebration and Gathering” is coming up August 17–20 in Western Massachusetts. Although Juanita died in 2015, fellow activists and friends (many associated with Pioneer Valley War Tax Resistance) were inspired by her life’s example to offer a weekend of exploration into everyday nonviolence and the nonviolence of everything…. Continue reading

Tax Day Reports 2023

Tax Day was Tuesday April 18, 2023 and folks throughout the US gathered around this date to raise awareness that nearly half of federal income taxes are directed toward war. They also encouraged others to resist paying taxes and redirect money to community needs. You can use these links to find 2023 Tax Day Report… Continue reading

War Tax Resistance Gathering at Joyfield Farm

Gorgeous weather accompanied the first in-person NWTRCC conference in over three years (5-7 May 2023). Many of us camped on green patches of grass on Joyfield Farm, about one hour west of Fort Wayne, Indiana. In addition to a few local folks, eleven people traveled to Joyfield Farm to attend the conference. About nine people… Continue reading

The Bottom Line

Since World War II, the percentage of Federal funds from income taxes that goes to the military in the United States has varied from about 45% to 90%. While spending on the pandemic has skewed the numbers to the lower end, the average taxpayer paid around $2,200 to the military in 2022. While it is… Continue reading

Beyond Tax Day

Just like the Vernal Equinox, Tax Day came and went. As the national deadline to pay federal income taxes settled back into April, the frenetic energy seemed to be more prevalent this year. Over 20 public actions took place across the US to raise awareness that close to half of personal income taxes goes towards… Continue reading

The Season of Growth and Resistance

Image of a bomb with the words 'They got money for war' and a hand with tbhe words "but can't feed the poor." attibuted to Tupac Shakur

“…we cannot turn a blind eye to the people within our community whose basic needs go unmet, knowing that more will join their ranks with budget cuts. What if instead we insisted upon diverting $20,000 to 2,800 homeless households a month? What if, since no one is listening to our pleas of no intensified war… Continue reading

Change Is Hard, Change Is Possible

David Gross - war tax resisters aren't buying it

An article about how climate change is going to impact federal spending caught my eye today. Mostly it got me vaguely thinking about how difficult it is to change — especially on the national scale. The article is about the Biden administration’s warning that climate change is going to cost the federal government a lot… Continue reading

Yes Love, No War

Robert Randall, a long time war tax resister (WTR) was remembered on Valentine’s Day by some of the communities that he was instrumental in being a part of in recent decades. The memorial was organized by members of the King’s Bay Plowshares action that took place near Robert’s home in Brunswick, Georgia. Robert rose to… Continue reading

Beauty Will Save The World

Weeds grow through cracksPhoto

Anniversaries allow for a period of reflection upon the past and contemplation about the future. As we approach the year anniversary of the war in Ukraine, there has been much discussion of the war and the lack of an end in sight. It was a few days before Russia invaded Ukraine that they pulled out… Continue reading

Pie Chart Prognosis

I’m rather caught up in the past lately, what with working on the War Resisters League 100th anniversary and helping finalize an unpublished autobiography by WWI resister and war tax resister Max Sandin. So, lacking any other ideas for a post here, I decided  see what was in the NWTRCC newsletter 10 years ago. The… Continue reading