I took a slight departure from my charming little world to "expand" my horizons and attended the Freedom Law School Conference specifically to hear Mr. Joe Banister speak... I learned about him while watching Aaron Russo's documentary that investigates the history of the IRS, "From Freedom to Facism".
I was a bit taken back by Mr. Banister. He was very mild-mannered and had that sweet neighbor-next-door-with-the-nice-wife-and-2.5 kids look. He comes from a good family. His brothers are firemen and police officers. His dad was in the military as well as his granddads and Mr. Banister was the rebel that decided to become an accountant when he grew up.
The man has a fascinating story and you can learn more at his blog. While working as an investigator at the IRS he came across a speaker on a radio show that spoke about the "unconstutionality" of the income tax. Having listened and respected the radio show's host for a couple of years, the IRS man didn't tune the show off as rubbish but instead ordered the reading materials that the guest speaker offered.
Since he was an investigator, Mr. Banister thought he was doing his job in reading the materials so that he may refute the arguments after doing his research. But since his supervisor wasn't being helpful in answering his questions to validate the IRS' position, Mr. Banister found himself at a quandary. The IRS put him on administrative leave followed by his walking papers. Mr. Banister never got his answers as to what specific law Americans were following to pay income taxes and he never received an argument to contest the materials that he was reading on the unconstituationality of the income tax.
And so was born as WHISTLE BLOWER of the IRS.
I listened to a quite a few at the Freedom Law School Conference. My head is still spinning. What to make of this information? What to do? Even my reading on the internet has brought up some interesting theories that Mr. Banister is simply a plant working the in tax protestor movement in order to take it down. But in listening to him speak in person, I must say that he looks like a real "joe". The bottom line is he is a threat to a structure and system that is making billions out of the ignorance and fear of American citizens. Mr. Banister is unafraid to challenge the powers that be and use the law and his rights.
I returned home with a new education. Question everything, think for yourself and be an educated citizen was what I gained from the conference...
Liberty Education... I feel like a baby but I don't feel vulnerable in a state of ignorant bliss... I have quite a bit to share and I am still digesting the information. I'll be processing and writing about the speakers over the next week or so...
Please watch "Loose Change" and "From Freedom to Facism" to get a primer... Pass on the links (per request of the filmmakers) get in the know and get involved....
JNET
While these arguments may seem convincing, fascinating, and logical, they only amount to trouble.
ReplyDeleteNo matter how you justify the illegality of the income tax, the courts do not support these arguments and I've seen many people destroy their families and lives behind these arguments.
Thanks for stopping by, Shane, and sharing your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteThough I don't understand all the complexities on the subject and have only "heard" about the subject in passing conversations. This is my first time to meet people who are addressing the subject as well as tackling the system. From listening to them, it's not only the subject of taxes that they postulate... but also the growing dynamic of choosing fear over educating one's self to know and challenge the system which uses information, knowledge, facts over ignorance and fear. Not many congressmen know the Constitution or Bill of Rights like many of the citizens it represents. When it's the business sector and lawyers who know most how to create systems in their favor and not for the country and its citizens, it will be harder to call an uneducated citizenry a democracy.
Thanks again for your thoughts. I agree with you, it is much easier to follow the system.
False Evidence Appearing Real (FEAR) -- yada yada yada -- is the classic mantra of tax protest/information groups. Behind all of these groups is the underlying scheme to profit off of the outrage of others who have been "hoodwinked" by the U.S. Government. They sell books, information kits, etc. etc.
ReplyDeleteI can share that it's not an enjoyable experience to receive a subpoena to testify as a witness in front of a federal grand jury and be cross-examined by multiple U.S. Attorneys while you sit on an elevated witness stand speaking into a microphone.
I would go with your original hunch to stay away.
Thank you again, Shane, for sharing your thoughts. Please be aware that I personally am not selling anything here and I have not bought anything except for the price of admission to attend to a conference upon a very fascinating subject.
ReplyDeleteI am simply sharing my thoughts of my experience for the open-minded reader. When I think of fear, my reaction is not to think "yada yada yada"... I want to listen to both sides and learn something here... If you have some personal experience of being a mislead consumer of educational products please share that experience :)
Thank you again for sharing.