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'When I was working a man asked me 'Why does a fellow like you, with an education, and who has been all over the country, end up in this out-of-the-way place working for very little on a farm?' I explained that all people who had good jobs in factories, etc. had a withholding tax for war taken from their pay, and that people who worked on farms had no tax taken from their pay. I told him that I refused to pay taxes. He was a returned soldier and said that he did not like war either, but what could a fellow do about it? I replied that we each did what we really wanted to.'

Ammon Hennessey#9

ResistanceWarChoicePeaceTaxesWork

About this quote

What does it mean?
The speaker refuses to pay war taxes and chooses farm work to avoid funding conflict, while urging others to act on their true desires.
In plain terms
He avoids war taxes by working on a farm and tells others to do what they really want.
What can you take from it?
Align your work and choices with your deepest convictions against war.

Where it applies

  • tax refusal
  • career choice
  • anti-war activism

Putting it to work

  • tax resistance
  • work choices
  • conscientious objection

Questions to consider

  • What would you refuse to fund?
  • How do you align work with values?

Another view

Refusing taxes can lead to legal consequences or social isolation.

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