My tax dollars buy bullets and bombs. Am I to blame?

[truthpusher]

I am not a Christian but I find a lot of wisdom in the teachings of Jesus. I found this passage regarding war:

Matt. 26:52 "Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword."

I like this statement, to me it rings true; but this brings to mind a question regarding our situation: who is this passage referring to? Is Jesus only talking about the person who does the actual killing? or are all of us guilty for the war?

My tax dollars buy bullets and bombs. Leaders that I have allowed to be elected or steal an election, are using my tax dollars to kill 10's of thousands of innocents.

Whether I like it or not, I am part of why we are in Iraq killing today. Am I destined to die by the sword? Is America destined to die by the sword? Just a thought...

[wtmusic]

1. In a nutshell, yes

And at a certain point you must say no more and take action. All of us are living by the sword, and we share the guilt.

[truthpusher]

3. What should I do, move? stop paying taxes?

[Peak_Oil]

4. I guess it depends on how serious you think it is.

If you feel that without your tax dollars fewer innocent people will be killed, then I guess you have a number of choices to make.

Of course, if you bail, then there will be one less voice of dissent.

This is probably a gray area.

[Senior citizen]

5. I live below the poverty line and don't pay taxes.

Many people do, and many have simplified their lives so that they could.

When it comes right down to it, most of the expenses people have are in support of their jobs. In other words, for many people, their major expense IS their job. They pay a high rent in order to be near work, when they could live cheaper elsewhere, they pay high transportation costs to commute to work, they spend money on clothes and food that they wouldn't have to spend if they weren't working, and they spend a lot of money on entertainment to try to combat the stress of their jobs.

Not everyone can simplify their lives to that extent, but there are many books and websites with advice for those who would like to try.

High-income people who itemize often find that they can give money to charities and deduct it, instead of giving it to the government. I knew long ago that I didn't want to pay for killing indigenous peoples and stealing their resources. I consider myself fortunate that I don't have to, instead of feeling sorry for myself because I'm poor. I feel sorry for people who are supposedly better off, but have no say in where their tax money goes.

[wtmusic]

7. No one can answer that question

except for you

[tandot]

2. My tax dollars pay Bush's and Cheney's salary

and I don't even have the right to fire them for their complete incompetence.

[Crowdance]

6. Yes. At the end we will all be called to account

and I, for one, will be found wanting. I'll be asked why I didn't do everything in my power to stop the genocide that Bush is leading. I'm doing the same soul-searching now that I am completely powerless, and finding myself seriously lacking.....