Obey not

Heretofore, my tax resistance strategy has been within the confines of civil law. As outlined on the manifesto page, Jerry DePyper has taken the "reduced income" approach, reducing or eliminating income tax liability by reducing or eliminating my income. But as I consider the looming "health care" tyranny being pushed by Democrats even as I write, I have come to realize that the time has come to take the next step.

Since tax-funded abortion is baked into all viable versions of recent U.S. "health care" legislation proposals, it necessarily becomes grist for the pro-life strike mill. With federally mandated coverage, legal and passive resistance now seems to be inadequate.

So today I called the local office of my congressman, David Obey (pronounced Oh-bee). After a few busy signals, I got through and talked personally with a staffer named Matt Rudig. My message was that I would refuse to obey any health care mandates, and would hold Democratic Congressman Obey responsible for any legal ramifications, if he supports it with his vote. Mr. Rudig sounded a bit surprised at the message, a declaration of intent instead of a docile plea or an outraged demand, but he took my name and address, and promised to relay the message to Obey. Well, then: Jerry DePyper is now officially on record as being a potential outlaw, and an actual law-breaker if any of these tyrannical measures pass.

I do not take lightly the decision to disobey my government. Think of St. Thomas More, who obeyed his king for as long as he could, without disobeying God. But in the end, when forced to choose his first loyalty, More declared, "I die the King's good servant, but God's first." St. Thomas, pray for us.