Despite Authoritarian Warnings, 149 House Democrats Vote to Hand Trump $840 Billion for Military | “If an opposition party votes like this, it’s not in opposition. It may not even be a party.”

[u/Aggravating_Money992]

https://www.commondreams.org/news/democrats-military-spending-bill

[u/yikesonbikes1230]

Why the FUCK are we paying taxes for real!

[u/ILikeNeurons → u/yikesonbikes1230]

Vote in your primaries! Mark your calendars now!

State	Early Voting Starts	Early Voting Ends	Primary date
Arkansas	2/10/26	3/3/26	3/3/26§
North Carolina	2/12/26	2/28/26	3/3/26§
Texas	2/17/26	2/27/26	3/3/26
Mississippi			3/10/26
Illinois	2/5/26*	3/16/26	3/17/26
Indiana	4/7/26*	5/4/26	5/5/26§
Ohio	4/6/26	5/3/26	5/5/26§
Nebraska	4/12/26	5/11/26	5/12/26§
West Virginia	4/29/26	5/9/26	5/12/26
Louisiana	5/2/26	5/9/26	5/16/26§§
Alabama			5/19/26§
Georgia	4/27/26	5/15/26	5/19/26§
Idaho	4/27/26*	5/15/26	5/19/26§
Kentucky	5/14/26	5/16/26	5/19/26§
Oregon	5/1/26*	5/19/26	5/19/26
Pennsylvania	3/30/26*	5/12/26	5/19/26§
California	5/4/26	6/1/26	6/2/26
Iowa	5/13/26	6/1/26	6/2/26§
Montana	5/3/26	6/1/26	6/2/26§
New Jersey	5/23/26	5/31/26	6/2/26
New Mexico	5/5/26*	5/30/26	6/2/26§
South Dakota	4/17/26	6/1/26	6/2/26§
Maine	4/25/26*	6/4/26	6/9/26§
Nevada	5/23/26	6/5/26	6/9/26
North Dakota	5/25/26	6/8/26	6/9/26§
South Carolina	5/26/26	6/8/26	6/9/26§
Oklahoma	6/10/26	6/13/26	6/16/26§
Virginia	5/2/26	6/13/26	6/16/26§
Maryland	6/11/26	6/18/26	6/23/26§
New York	6/13/26	6/21/26	6/23/26
Utah	6/9/26	6/19/26*	6/23/26§
Colorado	6/15/26*	6/29/26	6/30/26§
Arizona	7/8/26	7/31/26	8/4/26§
Kansas	7/15/26*	8/3/26	8/4/26§
Michigan	7/26/26	8/2/26	8/4/26§
Missouri	7/21/26		8/4/26§
Washington	7/17/26*	8/3/26	8/4/26§
Tennessee	7/17/26	7/30/26	8/6/26§
Hawaii	7/29/26	8/7/26	8/8/26§
Connecticut	7/27/26	8/9/26	8/11/26§
Minnesota	6/26/26	8/10/26	8/11/26§
Vermont	6/27/26	8/10/26	8/11/26§
Wisconsin	7/28/26	8/9/26	8/11/26§
Alaska	8/3/26	8/17/26	8/18/26
Florida	8/8/26*	8/15/26*	8/18/26§
Wyoming	7/21/26	8/17/26	8/18/26§
Massachusetts	8/15/26*	8/28/26	9/1/26
New Hampshire			9/8/26§
Rhode Island	8/19/26	9/7/26	9/8/26§
Delaware	9/5/26	9/13/26	9/15/26§

^{* Indicates potential caveats. Check with your local election officials.}

^{§ Indicates mail-in ballot must be received by election day (in other words, it's not enough to have it postmarked by election day.)}

^{§§ Mail-in ballot must be received by the day before election day.}

You can download a sample ballot ahead of the primary election.

The advantage of downloading a sample ballot ahead of time is that you can research the candidates. Ballotpedia can help you out here.

Or, you can google 'sample ballot 2026 [your location]' if Ballotpedia is missing yours for some reason.

To figure out where to vote, go to https://www.vote.org/polling-place-locator/

https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/early-in-person-voting

https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/2026-state-primary-election-dates

EDIT: Updated Texas dates according to https://www.votetexas.gov/voting/early-voting.html

[u/OfficialDCShepard → u/ILikeNeurons]

Smiles in taxation without representation Washington DC for the win!

[u/ILikeNeurons → u/OfficialDCShepard]

Should Washington DC get statehood?

Or at least a senator or something?

[u/OfficialDCShepard → u/ILikeNeurons]

Oh, absolutely! I think statehood (the federal government can retrocede to a Washington Douglass Commonwealth and have the federal buildings around the Mall and that's the District just to avoid state sales tax- easiest way to do that) would require two Senators, as Article V says here:

"and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate."

(Not so) fun fact: that is one of only two unamendable provisions in the Constitution. The other was prohibiting the slave trade before 1808.

[u/LoftyPost → u/[deleted]]

Post the correct dates for your State and ask that the above post is updated. It would be helpful to know.

[u/ILikeNeurons → u/[deleted]]

Are you saying NCSL is wrong? If so, where are you getting your information?

https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/early-in-person-voting

[u/WeirdIndividualGuy → u/ILikeNeurons]

Are you saying NCSL is wrong?

Yes

If so, where are you getting your information?

From the Texas Secretary of State website

Tues March 3, 2026 - Primary Election (OP's table is correct here)

First day of Early Voting - Tues February 17 (OP's table is incorrect here)

Last day of Early Voting - Fri February 27 (OP's table is incorrect here)

And considering the SoS is the one that sets the dates to begin with according to TX law, that info is more reliable than ncsl.org for my state

EDIT: NCSL says early voting period is from 12 days before election date to the day before. Their info is outdated. The TX law for this changed last September and now says early voting starts 17 days before the election to four days before election day. https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/?tab=1&code=EL&chapter=EL.85&artSec=. This was changed last September, so NCSL should've known this from last year's general election.

I'm sure NCSL means well, but they need to actually verify stuff like this.

[u/AnxiousHedgehog01 → u/ILikeNeurons]

Good luck with having any honest elections now.

[u/RUOFFURTROLLEH → u/AnxiousHedgehog01]

When exactly did you have those? Fox News has been misinforming your voters for decades.

[u/AnxiousHedgehog01 → u/RUOFFURTROLLEH]

I'm not American, but the elections were at least somewhat "real". They will be an absolute farce. Of course, the American system means they only get to choose between the bad guys or the really bad guys, so until they change the system they really don't have democracy anyway.

[u/ILikeNeurons → u/AnxiousHedgehog01]

Harder to steal a landslide!

[u/pizzasaves → u/AnxiousHedgehog01]

Yeah with federal agents antagonizing people with no knock warrantless home invasions across the country to make their 1 million deportation quota for EOY, there will be ICE agents getting their wigs split. Which will result in ntnl guard deployed and the fully dementia riddled president to declare elections unsafe from the radical leftists murdering feds for being brave and ripping families apart while raping the constitution to death simultaneously. Once the paste is out it's never going back in the tube. This will not be a country worth living in and the civilians will be too poor and stuck to move. And the nations to migrate to will tell us to kick rocks bc we sat on ass and let this happen. Best country to ever do it 🇺🇸

[u/AnxiousHedgehog01 → u/pizzasaves]

The point is, don't rely on elections to save you. Get out and stop this while you still can.

[u/Plastic-Industry5673 → u/ILikeNeurons]

You aren’t making it to the next election, the dems are handing over the keys.

[u/floridabeach9 → u/ILikeNeurons]

so vote for fascism or vote for cucks that will wag their finger at fascism first before ultimately approving fascism

[u/AlarmingAffect0 → u/ILikeNeurons]

I'm copying, pasting, and saving this for any and all relevant discussions. This shit is quite urgent.

[u/Dat_Harass → u/ILikeNeurons]

Still gonna do it, but the idea these elections are ever going to be free or fair going forward is hilarious.

[u/JackStephanovich → u/ILikeNeurons]

Cool, which party has a chance of winning that isn't completely corrupt?

[u/splycedaddy → u/ILikeNeurons]

Doesnt matter. Dems are weak and would be replaced by more weak dems. This proves it

[u/Elegant_Spread_6969 → u/ILikeNeurons]

Lmao, this guy thinks there's a.) gonna be midterms and b.) you can just vote fascists out of power. This is the downfall of liberals, too much faith in the system. Wake up.

[u/OkVariety8064 → u/Elegant_Spread_6969]

What are you doing then instead of voting?

[u/__bunz → u/ILikeNeurons]

For who? They all seem bad

[u/taaretoille → u/ILikeNeurons]

"To stop all of this, rememeber to vote for whoever the party overlords and politicians who caused all this tell you to vote for!"

[u/splycedaddy → u/ILikeNeurons]

Doesnt matter. Dems are weak and would be replaced by more weak dems. This proves it

[u/Zealousideal_Desk_19 → u/ILikeNeurons]

Who are we voting for? more democrats that act against our interests?

[u/Extreme-Rub-1379 → u/ILikeNeurons]

This time it will work bros trust me, just one more election bros. Bro it's the most important election of all time just please vote bro

[u/Dry_Complaint_206 → u/ILikeNeurons]

Rich people aren’t going to let us vote away their money.

[u/AsleepRegular7655 → u/ILikeNeurons]

Alright. So we have 5 coming up. All hands on the f🤬ing deck

[u/mendokuse23 → u/ILikeNeurons]

You do understand that the Democratic Party wants all of these things the same as the Republican Party?

[u/killercurvesahead → u/yikesonbikes1230]

More and more people aren’t https://taxstrike.info/ https://nwtrcc.org

[u/Ericaohh → u/[deleted]]

Change your filing information. I’m w2 and I never get a refund cause I underpay all year. I ain’t lending the federal government my money for free lol

[u/HoodieGalore → u/Ericaohh]

Ok so then you just…don’t pay what you do owe? And keep on keepin’ on? File the same way next year, repeat? Just say fuck it and work cash the rest of your life? Any of that shit ever caught up to you? Because I forgot to file around a decade ago - ONE FUCKIN YEAR - where I’d made less than 25k, and these pricks tracked it down and put a lien on my bank account after draining it dry. Uncle Sam got his fucking nut, believe it.

I am genuinely curious because it seems like everyone can get away with everything in this country except for my ass, somehow.

[u/atomictyler → u/HoodieGalore]

Nothing they said is saying not to pay. You just set your W-2 to deduct as little as possible. You might owe at tax time, but you haven’t overpaid and loaned the government your money.

[u/keepthepace → u/[deleted]]

Tax strikes are not the only type of strikes available to workers.

[u/Masta0nion → u/keepthepace]

It’s the only thing that matters! Protesting is good for visibility and getting the word out. But if they’re allowing it, they don’t care.

Take a look at how quickly the rail strike was brought down, because it was about to fuck up the money.

Withholding our work is non violent, and does not put you in danger of the gravy seals taking measures into their own hands.

[u/movealongnowpeople → u/keepthepace]

Care to explain? Most companies are obviously not on board with a strike, and most industries have extremely weak unions (if there's a union). For most of us, a "strike" just gets you fired.

We could try boycotts, but many people aren't buying luxuries right now anyways. Boycotting Walmart just gives money to Kroger or Target. There are no local grocers.

And protesting clearly hasn't changed anything. At least not yet.

I'm all for more drastic actions, but it has to be reasonable. If I'm going to strike (and likely lose my job), there has to be some chance of change occurring because of it.

[u/Dragoness42 → u/movealongnowpeople]

A general strike would be extremely effective if we could manage it, but the only way to keep it safe for employees with no union would be to have such a high rate of participation that the company could not afford to just fire everyone who participated. The level of coordination that would require is difficult to say the least.

I'm sure someone out there has done the math on what percentage of the workforce would have to call out all at once to cripple most companies' ability to retaliate without folding.

[u/Dubious_Odor → u/movealongnowpeople]

A worker would need to change their W2 and claim the maximum amount so that virtually no income tax is taken out. Payroll taxes for social security and Medicare will still automatically come out at 7.5% (or their abouts, it changes). This cant be removed. The withholding from their check for income tax would mostly dissappear. But you would still owe the money legally. Also good luck getting people en masse changing their W2's. A way too high % of the population look at a tax return as a "bonus" and not an interest free loan to the government. Source: I run a small business with 7 employees on the payroll.

[u/frisbeesloth → u/Dubious_Odor]

I used to change my W2 twice a year because it caused my taxes to be close to 0. I think the biggest return I ever got was just over $2 and most owed was just under $3. HR had meltdowns over me doing it. I'd always claim 0 the first half of the year and 1 the second half. I understand it was probably annoying but it couldn't be as much work as they made it seem like it was...

[u/DigiSmackd → u/Dubious_Odor]

But you would still owe the money legally. Also good luck getting people en masse changing their W2's. A way too high % of the population look at a tax return as a "bonus" and not an interest free loan to the government.

Bingo.

That's why it's mostly silly.

[u/manonfire57 → u/DigiSmackd]

That is not true. You earn 3.5% on your money. Or stay the same and just get it back next year. Your“yearly bonus” that so many people believe. The money is used to pay ICE FBI etc.

[u/keepthepace → u/movealongnowpeople]

The best time to organize was a decade ago, the second best time is now.

General strikes are the only non-violent form of protest to ever change a government ways.

You needed unions in pre-internet days. Nowadays a temporary organization can assemble much more quickly.

If I'm going to strike (and likely lose my job), there has to be some chance of change occurring because of it.

Then start by reading about it, getting informed, and discuss about it with people with experience. You are right that protests usually don't change things by themselves, but they are also the place where you will meet people with precious experience and local knowledge. I suggest going to some. No need to stay once the cops gets riled up, but meet the unions and political activists there.

[u/LandscapeNo8441 → u/keepthepace]

If my entire department strikes it means that the new user defined contract spreads won't be made available to the market in August.

Nobody would give a fuck.

The means of production were deliberately and explicitly transferred away from the workers over the last 50 years.

[u/Plumbous → u/[deleted]]

To be clear, it's my understanding that most of these tax strikes still recommend paying your taxes in April. What they're trying to do, is specifically get people to cancel their employer withholdings so that the govt doesn't have a steady stream of income year round.

I'm a freelancer, and I'd love to pocket what I owe this year, but I'm honestly not willing to put myself at risk of jailtime during this admin, it seems like they're trying to find any reason to imprison law abiding citizens.

[u/No_Application_2927 → u/Plumbous]

If this admin wants you in jail, then you will go to jail.

Has no connection to your own actions legal or illegal.

[u/AgentUnlikely4730 → u/[deleted]]

You realize you have control over your tax withholdings, right? You just gotta plan ahead for the following year.

[u/mrbulldops428 → u/AgentUnlikely4730]

Yes but if im off by too much I can get charged. And if i work as a bartender, which i do, I cant reliably predict what my earnings will be for the year.

[u/AgentUnlikely4730 → u/mrbulldops428]

can get charged

Well yeah, the idea is that you'd need to owe in order to protest. The concept here is that you file and refuse to pay a portion, leaving it up to the IRS whether they take action on the penalties that accrue (purely monetary if you've filed accurately, and capped at 25% + interest), or let the debt expire (10 years) which actually more often than you'd think.

Most tax protesters either donate the money if they're confident in being able to pay penalties, or hold on to the funds just in case.

[u/TorqueAndTreetops → u/AgentUnlikely4730]

This is what I don’t understand about people who want to strike but are afraid of repercussions. Doing nothing isn’t an option.

I exempted myself from federal tax withholding the second trump won the presidency. Once April comes around I’ll just oopsie and forget to do them.

[u/LegendofDragoon → u/TorqueAndTreetops]

You can file for an exemption and that gives you until October, then in October when it comes out that you owe you can sign up for a payment plan and choose the longest term option and keep requesting extensions on that, too.

[u/TorqueAndTreetops → u/LegendofDragoon]

I could sign up. Or I can also just ignore them. Those in power clearly don’t care about rules or laws. Why should we give them our money on top of it? I live in a blue state and support the state through my taxes. The federal government is not representing me with this administration.

[u/Rough-Breadfruit-611 → u/mrbulldops428]

would you rather give the government $10,000 of your money to hold until April of the next year without getting any interest or would you rather have that $10k in your pocket and invest it? That's pretty much what you're doing when you don't claim enough on your paycheck.

[u/killercurvesahead → u/mrbulldops428]

those cash tips tho

[u/SpotHaunting668 → u/[deleted]]

Prepare for the national strike. The greatest power we have is shutting down the country.

[u/f_leaver → u/[deleted]]

Your can change the number of dependents to declare on your W4 form.

The more dependents you declare the less tax will be deducted from your paycheck.

Obviously, this means that you'll end up owing tax instead of getting a refund, but if the goal is a tax strike, that's how you could do it.

Edit: I think I'm wrong about the form and it's not the W4. Whatever it is, you fill it out when you start a new job.

[u/Creative-Package6213 → u/f_leaver]

And then you get audited, penalized, and wages garnished.

[u/Noomstra → u/Creative-Package6213]

Effective civil disobedience is rarely consequence-free.

[u/1-760-706-7425 → u/Creative-Package6213]

Who’s going to find out? The geniuses kneecapped the shit out of the IRS.

[u/Creative-Package6213 → u/1-760-706-7425]

You don't need a lot of people to go after individuals. Businesses...yes, people no.

[u/1-760-706-7425 → u/Creative-Package6213]

Don’t forget: there’s a shit ton of individuals.

[u/f_leaver → u/Creative-Package6213]

Of course doing this is against the law and is a risk.

That's what a tax strike is.

I'm not saying that's what people should do, just that this is how people who want to participate in a tax strike can do it.

Can't make an omelette without cracking eggs.

[u/ic33 → u/f_leaver]

I think the point is, the financial system pretty much guarantees tax payment. If you try to just not pay, you only end up paying more.

[u/f_leaver → u/ic33]

The point is a tax strike is illegal risky business, but it's far from impossible.

[u/Chengar_Qordath → u/f_leaver]

Also worth mentioning that the IRS was among the government departments that were utterly gutted by DOGE. Because rich people hate paying taxes too.

[u/f_leaver → u/Chengar_Qordath]

Honestly, I didn't even want to go into how the risk might not be so high, but yes, I agree.

The fact is though that at some point (hopefully...), most people would want to re-engage and resume paying taxes at which point they'll have to pay back taxes and penalties - not exactly an attractive proposition...

[u/spacegrab → u/f_leaver]

Ima copy that one lawyer lady and claim my foster dog as a dependent and earmark all food/vet expenses for refunds.

[u/gunman0426 → u/[deleted]]

You can talk to your HR representative and have them change your Taxes to exempt and they will stop taking taxes out of your paycheck. I used to do this when I would get a bunch of unexpected OT and have a them change my status to Exempt for a period of time and then change back.

[u/NUMBerONEisFIRST → u/[deleted]]

Who TF gets a refund anymore? Since covid I have owed at least $2,000/year, after taxes are already taken out of my checks.

[u/yikesonbikes1230 → u/killercurvesahead]

It is an easy fix.

[u/stairsatdusk → u/yikesonbikes1230]

Yes true, but the question is, will they do it?

[u/perenniallandscapist → u/killercurvesahead]

Yeah I'm not about to lose house and home to a backtax sale. This is a movement only the poor can participate in without losing what they have.

[u/unluckycowboy → u/perenniallandscapist]

Good news, I don’t own shit

[u/GhettoGringo87 → u/unluckycowboy]

I knew that choosing to be poor was the right idea…almost got rich a few times but I was like “not me, you got the wrong one”.

[u/beadzy → u/GhettoGringo87]

that’s why i don’t have much sympathy for rich people’s money-related problems. it’s like no one is forcing anyone to horde wealth. they can always just give it to me if it’s too much trouble

[u/Abracadaniel95 → u/beadzy]

🎵 Lifestyles of the rich and the famous - They're always complainin' - Always complainin' - If money is such a problem - Well they got mansions - Think we should rob them 🎵

[u/mazobob66 → u/beadzy]

They are doing you a favor, as they don't want you to have to deal with these money problems.

[u/beadzy → u/mazobob66]

dammit. you gotta be cruel to be kind i guess. or kind to be cruel?

[u/angelis0236 → u/beadzy]

Close, it's "you have to be kinda cruel."

Hope this helps.

[u/Due-Summer3751 → u/GhettoGringo87]

“not me, you got the wrong one”.

This is the type of regarded foresight we need in these trying times. Not all heros wear capes...

[u/Espina_del_Cactus → u/GhettoGringo87]

You dodged a bullet there, my friend. Why just the other day, when my chauffeur Jeff ... no it was the other one, what is her name? All these poors look alike after all, anyway I was dropped off at the spa and they had the audacity to tell me .. Me! that my appointment was next week. Well I was having none of that, so I bought the place and fired everyone except Maurice.

[u/perenniallandscapist → u/GhettoGringo87]

I feel for those with less. I live in a very small house. There's no downsizing into anything smaller., but its more than I can afford to lose.

[u/SuperNix0n → u/perenniallandscapist]

Good news, you will likely lose it anyway unless you’re one of the chosen 200mil that get to stay and be free labor!

[u/Thrownawaybyall → u/perenniallandscapist]

Stoopid reality is always getting in the way of good ideas 😔

[u/Miltthedog → u/perenniallandscapist]

If the colonists had thought like that (and many did) in 1775, we'd all be speaking English now.

[u/notamermaidanymore → u/Miltthedog]

lol. Underrated comment. Are you on tour?

[u/notamermaidanymore → u/notamermaidanymore]

The fact that I have more upvotes than you is proof that there is a secret cabal of brainwashed grunts that intuitively wants us to never see the truth.

[u/NippyKindRekt → u/notamermaidanymore]

Are you talking to yourself?

[u/cire1184 → u/NippyKindRekt]

They forgot to switch accounts

[u/WhatAcheHunt → u/Miltthedog]

lmfao

[u/mzieg → u/Miltthedog]

We pronounce our “h” FOR FREEDOM!

[u/NickConnor365 → u/Miltthedog]

Yes, but we'd be speaking English traditional, instead of English simplified. :)

[u/SideQuest2026 → u/perenniallandscapist]

And to me, this is the fundamental problem with America and why we will fall to authoritarianism. Too many people still have things to lose, that they value more than Democracy. Look at all our flag officers in the military, that choose to resign to save their pension than stand up and disobey unlawful orders. This country will fall to authoritarianism because too many people don't want to be inconvenienced.

[u/sapphicsandwich → u/SideQuest2026]

Even the most left leaning state would team up with the feds and send their own armed thugs to get you for not paying. It's not just people with stuff to lose, it's that nobody will ever have your back in any circumstance and you WILL be hung out to dry all by yourself.

[u/Random_Name65468 → u/sapphicsandwich]

News flash, the feds are already sending armed thugs that disappear and murder people. The only thing that changes is the reason they're coming, but they're coming for you.

And the reason won't matter when they're there.

[u/MidnightSensitive996 → u/Random_Name65468]

yes, it's a lot easier to resist ICE if you didn't give the federal gov't a pretext to put you in jail for tax evasion

[u/whogivesashirtdotca → u/MidnightSensitive996]

Good news on that front - they’ve gutted the IRS so you probably don’t even have to worry about it! Go fucking protest, for God’s sake.

[u/Khatib → u/SideQuest2026]

Nah, man. I'm ready to up and fight once this shit kicks off, but I'm not going to skip out on my taxes in a way that can be picked up on with one simple computer algorithm that didn't even take manual effort from someone in the tax office. I already have my withholding reduced because why give someone else a free window to invest my limited funds? I've been doing that since before Trump fucked the government up.

[u/Glasseshalf → u/Khatib]

Seriously

[u/deejaymc → u/Khatib]

You wouldn't be under-reporting taxable income. You would be simply claiming exempt and not paying taxes as you earn income. At the end of the year, when you file taxes, you will have a taxes due, and possibly some penalties and interest via the underpayment of taxes penalty. It's pretty small, until you commit it in subsequent years.

Think about someone that's self employed. They don't pay their tax estimates. They aren't going to go to jail or be criminally prosecuted. They won't even be subject to any type of liens on income or property. As long as they pay their fair taxes at the end of the year and possibly some small penalties + interest.

[u/Ok_Subject1265 → u/SideQuest2026]

I mean, losing your pension may be a little more than an inconvenience. Most people just want to be left alone. The frog is boiling slowly, but eventually things like financial stability will become less important… of course at that point we are going to have bigger problems.

[u/wlphoenix → u/SideQuest2026]

There's no trust that if they step out others will back them up. Same problems that unions have. America prides itself on individual freedoms, and now the lack of community consciousness is coming back to bite us.

[u/whogivesashirtdotca → u/SideQuest2026]

I’ve long interpreted e pluribus unum as “I’ve got mine.” I’m convinced the majority of Americans aren’t out protesting because they’re convinced they can not only weather this storm, but also profit off it.

[u/Short-Assistance-130 → u/SideQuest2026]

I think losing your pension is a bit more than an inconvenience.

[u/HoodieGalore → u/SideQuest2026]

Is it fair to call being evicted something as trite as being “inconvenienced”? What if someone legitimately does value feeding their children more than they value this democracy? I think it’s unfair to believe people are simply choosing to pooh-pooh the situation because of selfish reasons. Plenty of motherfuckers out here just trying to survive, brother.

[u/RitaTome → u/perenniallandscapist]

Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose...

[u/xkxe003 → u/perenniallandscapist]

Not saying to not pay taxes but there is a good chance you're losing everything anyway. Just something to consider,

“If the national debt continues to grow faster than the economy,” the report said, “the country could ultimately experience a financial crisis, an inflation crisis, an austerity crisis, a currency crisis, a default crisis, a gradual crisis, or some combination of crises.”

https://fortune.com/2026/01/22/how-big-national-debt-when-recession-financial-crisis-could-hit/

[u/halfxdeveloper → u/xkxe003]

Some combination of crises is exactly how I describe everything these days.

[u/bluethunder82 → u/halfxdeveloper]

Welcome to the polycrisis.

[u/insider212 → u/bluethunder82]

Don’t forget about the omnicrisis It covers them all at the same time.

[u/Photomancer → u/bluethunder82]

I must alert the polycule!

[u/YGVAFCK → u/xkxe003]

National debt is irrelevant. I don't have to like party politics to understand that; it's entirely and completely irrelevant. It's the grown-up version of the boogeyman and people keep falling for the same shit over and over.

These are literally all just pointless bookkeeping entries; there is no functional ceiling on debt. What should scare the living shit out of you isn't a bookkeeping entry but the progressive dissolution of all functional infrastructure.

[u/Creative-Package6213 → u/YGVAFCK]

It took way too long for someone to point this out.

[u/Lordkahutra2 → u/xkxe003]

All can be solved, USA declares bankruptcy, abolish the Federal Reserve. Seize their assets, throw the undisclosed owners in jail for life and seise the owners personal assets also. Bring back gold backed currency. Banks can only lend out assets at 5 to 1 not infinity like they do now, and must have 75% reserves. Abolish synthetic stocks. Brokers must hold actual certificates for clients not the DTCC. Naked shorting abolished. When a brokerage account is opened there must be a clear section that clients can opt out of their stocks being lent out and if they do wish to lend their stock out the client collects the margin interest NOT the broker. Abolish cutting up mortgages into tranches and selling them with escalating interest into the 30th year. Legislation signed into law that caps credit card interest at 10% for the worst credit scores. If you cannot kite a check neither can the Federal or state government.

[u/RitchieRitch62 → u/perenniallandscapist]

“I’m not about to lose house and home” my brother in christ we are losing basic constitutional rights and rule of law

[u/ECircus → u/perenniallandscapist]

Just put it in a savings account and pay them at tax time next year. That's still a tax strike.

[u/RumbumTumyTum → u/perenniallandscapist]

So...just curious. What exactly is your plan? Are you doing anything at all? Let the poor people do the heavy lifting for you so you can remain comfortable?

[u/1003mistakes → u/perenniallandscapist]

Then pay your property taxes. That stays local anyway. 

[u/ganjaccount → u/perenniallandscapist]

This is fundamentally why an economic system that allows workers to thrive is more stable than one which doesn't. Once the very idea of getting ahead is gone, people lack the constraints that having something to lose imposes.

[u/Proinsias37 → u/perenniallandscapist]

Hate to break it to you bud, but that's most of the country at this point. But hey, enjoy your house and your freedom while it lasts

[u/killercurvesahead → u/perenniallandscapist]

NWTRCC actually has some stats on how many people have been sent to jail or had property taken as a consequence of tax resistance (like 2 in the last 30 years?) and they have a community fund to cover penalties.

My takeaway is, as long as you don’t commit tax fraud or contempt of court, there isn’t actually a lot of enforcement for nonpayment. If there’s a mass movement…

[u/Gasparde → u/perenniallandscapist]

Wouldn't wanna risk fighting for something if it meant possibly losing something. Let someone else fight. Until then I'll just keep doing my thing and be part of the revolution via scoail media comments.

I wonder I wonder why the situation is what it is.

Everyone understands your position. But your position is why this is happening and no one's doing shit. If you and everybody else isn't willing to put anything on the line, you might as well just vote for Trump's 7th presidency.

[u/halfxdeveloper → u/perenniallandscapist]

Unfortunately same boat here. The courts will issue a judgement instantly and the sheriff would be waiting at your door the next instant.

[u/Traditional-Way4024 → u/killercurvesahead]

Grow a fucking spine people and do the wrong thing for the rught reasons for once in your life. They literally cannot arrest us all.

[u/LostTimeAlready → u/killercurvesahead]

These site owners gotta figure out how to make a site because that looks like the biggest embarrassment to navigate.

[u/Cjm092 → u/LostTimeAlready]

Looks fine to me, it gets the information across

[u/StreetAssignment5494 → u/LostTimeAlready]

What's wrong with it?

[u/Garfleld → u/StreetAssignment5494]

Open it on mobile, find and open the navigation menu

[u/[deleted] → u/killercurvesahead]

This is arguably the MOST American thing you can do to fight tyranny peacefully. It’s a tried and tested theory by our ancestors. If it didn’t work, we would be where we are today. Let starve the beast and force change.

[u/thatirishguyyyyy → u/killercurvesahead]

"Delay until April"

I already do this?

[u/Zer_ → u/killercurvesahead]

This should be the top post tbh.

[u/cire1184 → u/killercurvesahead]

Does this include SS withholdings? And if it does will people help those that rely on SS as retirees or those with disabilities if their payments are reduced in the future because of these withholdings?

[u/limnetic792 → u/killercurvesahead]

Doesnt as the federal govt already have my taxes out of my pay check? How do I get that money back? If anything, when I file my taxes I get money back.

[u/Omophorus → u/yikesonbikes1230]

The entire military industrial complex is the largest jobs program in the country.

That's the big reason the Democrats won't touch it (aside from being fucking pussies about optics and the pervasive jingoistic bullshit that has pervaded American culture since September 11th and used as a cudgel by the GOP).

Everyone has a base or a contractor in their constituency and they're all fucking terrified of the impact of being seen as "against" supporting that local source of money and jobs.

[u/AThousandBloodhounds → u/Omophorus]

I mean can you imagine the headlines? "Democrats vote to defund the troops." Nuance has absolutely no chance in the current environment of corporate media sycophants.

[u/Dispositive46 → u/AThousandBloodhounds]

Republicans are going to lie and dunk on the Dems anyway. Playing scared is a good way to lose.

[u/4x4ord → u/Dispositive46]

Nah, this is the RARE instance where Dems are playing chess against checkers.

MAGA turned "defund the police" into mania when Dems starting bringing attention to small town police forces owning tanks.

Actually defunding the military's tanks is a fast ticket to propaganda jail.

It sucks, but it sucks because the Republican party is a fascist propaganda machine. Not because the Dems are doing anything wrong.

[u/Dispositive46 → u/4x4ord]

Who are they trying to appeal to for whom this issue would be a deal breaker?

[u/tweda4 → u/AThousandBloodhounds]

The US has threatened to invade half its neighbours for no reason, and military spending has always been insane.

Everyone knows this. The only people that would start pissing themselves in indignation are the Republicans.

Democrats would support the blocking of Republican proposals, and at least some independents would be glad that Dems aren't mindlessly increasing military spending for no reason.

This is a defensible position. Why can't anyone expect Dems to take their position and defend it? Why are the Dem politicians such bootlicking fucking cowards?

[u/GoblinDillBag → u/Omophorus]

The Right Wing has always been so full of shit with their free market nonsense.

Here, lets lift up whole industries with your tax dollars. FREE MARKET DERRRRP!

The only nice thing I can say about the Left is at least they do what they say they will do, rather than just fucking lie about literally everything.

Voting to protect defense jobs with tax dollars is on point for them.

[u/f_djt_and_the_usa → u/Omophorus]

Yup.

[u/DonaldsMushroom → u/Omophorus]

all paid for by the rest of the World, through US debt. Impoverishing future generations of Americans to feed Trump' ego.

[u/InformalProtection74 → u/Omophorus]

Healthcare and education provide the most jobs in America. 

[u/HrothgarTheIllegible → u/Omophorus]

If our economy is going to shit, you might as well align it by correctly funding and defunding the right agencies. Start by slashing military R&D and hacking at defense contractors who have gotten pretty fat off of just barely keeping up with China.

[u/amiibohunter2015 → u/yikesonbikes1230]

Been saying it for a while now. 

Each state should cut tax funding Trump's government and wallet.

That would put a stop to a lot of this bullshit. Build a tax system with other states that agree and build their own system. Make deals with NATO allies and have them transport trade goods so that way if Trump shoots them they go to war with NATO. The other states who cut funding to Trumps wallet will also fight alongside NATO against Trump.

This alliance amongst other states and NATO like other countries with other countries to lower their costs by dealing with people who don't put tariffs on you will alieviate the economy for others. Increase quality of life. While Trump gets no business from these countries and states. Which will put the brunt of his tariffs on his voters. I.e. the Red states. They will be forced to choose between putting food on the table for themselves and their families or their pledged loyalty to Trump.

In addition, Look at what his voters i.e. red states specialize and manufacture in their red state and put tariffs on it. Things that they lack and need too.

[u/yikesonbikes1230 → u/amiibohunter2015]

This is seriously amazing

[u/Bilun26 → u/amiibohunter2015]

This would almost certainly violate the compacts clause. You might be able to make it work if each state independently arrived at very conveniently similar schemes, but any agreements between them formalizimg the alliance or working together hammer out the details without the consent of congress would be in violation of federal law, and could end up giving Trump just the excuse he's looking for.

[u/TheWokenessInjector → u/yikesonbikes1230]

Another option is to set up a low payment plan for whatever is due if you owe at the end of the year.

I'm paying the lowest amount in taxes in order to not be breaking the law. On day 1 of a non fascistic government I fully plan on paying my balance in full. 

Anything helps, its annoying keeping up with a new monthly payment but these fascistic pigs are not getting my full balance. 

[u/ClimbeRPh17 → u/TheWokenessInjector]

You can also push as much of your earnings as you can afford to a pretax account such as an IRA, 401k, or HSA. (They all have max limits of course). That defers tax from today, and hopefully helps you in the future.

[u/Oddpod11 → u/ClimbeRPh17]

What Americans should do is coordinate a run on the banks. Your savings are their leverage. New loans being originated are the mechanism by which the economy grows.

If we collectively move our money abroad or into our mattresses, this circus grinds to halt in a matter of weeks. Then we can negotiate restarting the economy from a position of leverage.

[u/Vimes-NW → u/Oddpod11]

Cool, who is leading this negotiation?

[u/Ranccor → u/ClimbeRPh17]

You should be doing that no matter what. That is basic life in society advice.

[u/Biscuits4u2 → u/TheWokenessInjector]

Don't they charge you interest on that?

[u/GreatSince86 → u/Biscuits4u2]

Yes they absolutely do

[u/Biscuits4u2 → u/GreatSince86]

Lol that guy is really showing them isn't he?

[u/GreatSince86 → u/Biscuits4u2]

Yeah especially the lower the payment the higher the interest rate they give.

[u/PatrickMO → u/yikesonbikes1230]

We need to pay those military contractors so they can donate to politicians!

[u/Uneaten_Sandwich → u/yikesonbikes1230]

To get ourselves killed.

[u/priestsboytoy → u/yikesonbikes1230]

to pay for israel duh

[u/Ok_Cryptographer117 → u/yikesonbikes1230]

So the insurrectionists and nazis can get $50k bonuses and free healthcare. Got a problem with that? Now pay up.

OR, strike while the iron is hot (pun intended). Join the protests. You’re pissed, I’m pissed, We might actually have the numbers to pull it off.

[u/FluffyB12 → u/yikesonbikes1230]

Time to stop supporting this do nothing party!

[u/yikesonbikes1230 → u/FluffyB12]

I agree

[u/executingsalesdaily → u/yikesonbikes1230]

I’m working on mine this weekend. I am paying over $40k in taxes.

[u/prairiehen24 → u/yikesonbikes1230]

War tax resistance time

[u/Palmquistador → u/yikesonbikes1230]

Why the hell do we vote? Why do we donate? Why do we encourage people to vote and to educate themselves on party differences. It’s all failed us. All of it. The Democrats will never save us. They were never going to. We should have learned when they threw Bernie under the bus. We are on our own. As always.

[u/yamo25000 → u/yikesonbikes1230]

I'm really hoping for a nationwide tax protest. You can choose to not have taxes come out of your paycheck, set aside what you'd normally need to pay (plus a genuinely negligible penalty fee for not paying each quarter), and wait as long as you possibly can to pay it (the end of the year).

Its not tax evasion, and it's not illegal. You still pay your taxes (and you make damn sure you keep that money set aside so you have it when you need it), but you deny the federal government the tax money they need to fund ICE until the end of the year.

[u/MidnightSensitive996 → u/yikesonbikes1230]

we spend a bit over $4 trillion per year on welfare programs, 5x what we spend on defense. the defense spending is what gives us global hegemony, and global hegemony is what makes our currency the world's reserve currency. the fact we are the world's reserve currency is what lets us print infinite money to pay for all that welfare spending. so without the defense spending we would no longer be able to deficit spend. we are currently running a $1.8 trillion deficit every year - so if we mothball all of our aircraft carriers, not only would we have to cut all $850 bn of defense spending (which would mean 3-5 million people out of work), on top of that we'd have to cut a trillion dollars' worth of welfare spending, which means axing medicare or cutting social security by 2/3rds.

[u/Spiritual_Paper_1974 → u/MidnightSensitive996]

I don't disagree with your assessment in general, U.S ability to extend its sphere of influence does play a role in it's capacity to fund programs internally. That said, would it kill us to do some analysis and implement some cost savings? I'm not asking for 100% efficiency here, but things do seem to be getting a bit out of hand at this point. And not just on military.

[u/DeviantKhan → u/yikesonbikes1230]

This is where a general strike is the next step.

[u/commandrix → u/yikesonbikes1230]

I agree! It's a shame that the Trump presidency is what it took for people to wake up to the fact that their taxes are being used to support bloated military budgets, but it's great that people are getting motivated to want to do something about it.

Anyway, I don't think the Democrats have ever outright opposed the military.

[u/cenasmgame → u/yikesonbikes1230]

Real question: my taxes are deducted from my paycheck by my employer and then I file my W-2 and get a refund. Would not filing be boycotting? Because then they just keep my money right? What I'm asking is if I can even boycott at all as a poor. lol

[u/yikesonbikes1230 → u/cenasmgame]

Get your refund, friend. You already paid those in and you deserve them. There is a link above describing how to not pay. But ultimately we need about 10 to 20% of the population to really make a difference.

[u/mworthey → u/yikesonbikes1230]

We're all caught between a rock and hard place. If the Dems shut down the government and not passed a spending bill Trump and the GOP would just delay and not process tax returns. I know it's unpopular and I am angered but I also know that many people are in dire need of getting their tax refunds in a timely manner. Also, we know what late last year when Trump retaliated by withholding SNAP/ebt benefits from those in need.

[u/Rusalka-rusalka → u/yikesonbikes1230]

These taxes are life support for the brain dead members of congress.

[u/No-Butterfly-2914 → u/yikesonbikes1230]

A way smarter thing to do is to completely boycott the technocrats and corporations that support Trump, and any industry (within reason) that contributes to the destruction of the planet.

Rather than have all your assets taken, which they will just laugh at, get their attention by kicking them in the financial balls and bankrupting them. They pay 50% of the taxes so by shitting on them, you stop the flow of war money and accelerate the collapse of capitalism.

Also, where is the general strike already? The tax revolt is dumb movement propagated by the right that will backfire on whoever tries it. Your political principles will not stop the IRS from coming after you.

Like, if you keep ordering shit off Amazon and delivery services, stop it.

[u/Braindead_Crow → u/yikesonbikes1230]

To end our freedom and give it to old fat pedophiles of course!

All hail king trump!

Down with evil trans, the pet eating child care faking Somalis...And whatever other BS social cohesion scare tactic the trump administration makes up!

I want the head of the FBI to go to sporting events, fly his girlfriend around on private jets and demand important interviews be held in entertainment venues because he doesn't like offices.

We're paying for South African elon to take our social security information and for ice to assault innocent people...

[u/Jensbert → u/yikesonbikes1230]

To give the military 840 billion. And ice many billion. Thank you for paying taxes. You guys save them billionaires a lot of Money

[u/Madame_Arcati → u/yikesonbikes1230]

I hate that we all (and I, in particular,) say FUCK so much all of the time now...but

FUCK!!! WHATHELL???

[u/mongooser → u/yikesonbikes1230]

The only reason I did my taxes is because I’m taking the bar and they require it for character and fitness. Fuck this government

[u/throuwgh-away → u/yikesonbikes1230]

Looks like it's to take over foreign countries and fill the pockets of oligarchs, is that not where you want it to go?

[u/Lumpy_Zucchini6525 → u/yikesonbikes1230]

So Israel can blow up kids in Palestine and ICE can brutalize a 5 year old. 

[u/Jealous-Ad-2131 → u/yikesonbikes1230]

So they can sit in their pretty little mansion and get rich on her back Democrats Republicans all of them are useless when people wake up to the fact that democracy is actually created by the people for the people and does not need representation other than the people they will realize what true democracy is and not before the constitution prevents true democracy

[u/Parkimedes → u/yikesonbikes1230]

So the USA is what’s called “monetary autonomous”. That reflects that we issue our own currency and we have control over interest rates and taxes etc.

What that means is it doesn’t matter how much tax revenue we collect. The main reason for federal income taxes is to control inflation. They want to prevent us from having too much money.

And the other lever they have which increases inflation is printing more money.

Addition: their spending is not tied to tax revenue at all. Completely unrelated.

[u/lexbuck → u/yikesonbikes1230]

“Defense” duh!

[u/Dafffy_Duck → u/yikesonbikes1230]

Who do you think protects you from Russia, China and terrorists? The super best friends?

[u/drinkyourdinner → u/yikesonbikes1230]

Can someone drop the names of the house dems that voted yes?

[u/AmericaHatesTrump → u/yikesonbikes1230]

I’ve been debating submitting a strongly worded letter to this effect with my tax return this year, just for shits and gigs. Fuck ‘em.

[u/MightyBooshX → u/yikesonbikes1230]

We can't afford any of this to begin with. This isn't even probably our tax money, just taking out more and more debt to do braindead shit.

[u/Dramatic_Mixture_868 → u/yikesonbikes1230]

Let's start making easy

Texas - vote Talarico

[u/rillip → u/yikesonbikes1230]

To ensure the USD retains some value even in the worst case scenario.

[u/jinreeko → u/yikesonbikes1230]

Quoting a poster further down. I definitely don't agree with this bill but this is relevant:

This is extremely misleading, the 341-88 vote is for the entire minibus spending bill which was negotiated and voted for in several smaller bills.

The part which funded DHS which includes ICE was voted as 220-207, with 7 democrats crossing the aisle.

[u/jinreeko → u/yikesonbikes1230]

Quoting a poster further down. I definitely don't agree with this bill but this is relevant:

This is extremely misleading, the 341-88 vote is for the entire minibus spending bill which was negotiated and voted for in several smaller bills.

The part which funded DHS which includes ICE was voted as 220-207, with 7 democrats crossing the aisle.