http://disc.server.com/discussion.cgi?id=149495&article=4724
Joseph Farah

Answer Schulz's questions

Tue Jul 17 12:21:24 2001

© 2001 WorldNetDaily.com

NEW YORK – Today marks day 17 of a hunger

strike by tax-activist Bob Schulz whose sole

objective is to gain an audience with

government officials who can address his

arguments that income taxes have no legal

basis.

I'm not only concerned about the health of a

well-intentioned American citizen who pledges

to continue the hunger strike until he gets some

answers or dies. I'm even more concerned that

our so-called "representative government"

steadfastly refuses to be accountable to a citizen

who represents far more constituents than

Washington probably imagines.

Schulz has submitted a formal remonstrance

and five-page cover letter to President Bush at

the White House, where he met with staff.

Similar materials were provided to Senate

Majority Leader Tom Daschle and House

Speaker Dennis Hastert.

Schulz, a former radio talk-show host from New

York, is founder and chairman of We the People

Foundation for Constitutional Education. He

wants and deserves to have his compelling

arguments addressed. Period. End of story.

Schulz believes earnestly – as do perhaps

millions of other Americans – that the federal

income tax is unconstitutional and that

enforcement of the income tax is illegal. But he

is not a "tax protester," as the Internal Revenue

Service likes to dismiss such critics. Bob Schulz

pays his taxes – even though he disputes the

obligation to do so.

The issues raised by Schulz and others with

regard to the illegality of the income tax were

dealt with in depth in the April issue of

WorldNet magazine. Every American would be

well-advised to become familiar with those

issues and to demand accountability and

answers to the sensible, common-sense

questions raised by the critics.

Perhaps if more Americans were asking the

same questions, IRS Commissioner Charles

Rossotti – a Clinton appointee – would do his

duty and meet with a national representative of

a growing movement to deal with specific and

important charges.

As Schulz says, "If they've got these answers,

then there should be no problem with them

discussing this. They should just be able to

blow them away."

By not answering Schulz's charges, preferably in

a public forum and on the record, Rossotti and

company only lend credence to the charges that

the federal government is running a con game

on the American people.

The height of arrogance was displayed by IRS

officials when WorldNetDaily sought comment

on Schulz's hunger strike and his allegations. A

spokesman, who refused to be identified,

indicated the IRS would "probably not"

respond.

"IRS doesn't comment on individual taxpayer

matters," the anonymous spokesman said.

Well, I've got news for you. Bob Schulz is not

inquiring about an "individual tax matter." He is

raising issues of concern to all Americans –

matters of grave public policy.

It's time for government officials to stop

dodging the big issues – pretending they will

go away. It's time for government officials to

stop sweeping uncomfortable ideas under the

rug. It's time for government officials – who are

supposed to be accountable to the people in a

free republic – to meet with constituents, out in

the open, in the light of day and deal head-on

with controversy.

The IRS hopes people like Bob Schulz will

continue to labor in obscurity. The agency and

those to whom it reports want to leave well

enough alone. Compliance with the income tax

is relatively high. They are undoubtedly afraid

that more information – more debate – will lead

to less compliance.

But assumptions like that are not enough to end

America's experiment in self-government.

Effectively, that is what happens when the

people – even a minority of people – cannot get

the time of day from elected and appointed

government officials.

Bob Schulz has lobbied. His organization has

demonstrated. The group has organized

conferences in Washington and invited officials

of the IRS to participate. Why does the IRS

continue to bob and weave? Why does the

government continue to play games with this

issue? Why can't we the people get some

straight answers?

Related offer:

Americans are challenging the IRS and the 16th

Amendment. Find out how with this in-depth

WorldNet magazine report, TAX REVOLT!

Joseph Farah is editor and chief executive officer of

WorldNetDaily.com and writes a daily column.

http://wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=23655