Paul,


You're the one worthy of everyone's respect, and you sure have mine! It's not about "winning" (defined only as having OUR way). It's about standing up for what you believe AND being willing to suffer the consequences.


You're fighting fear,&ignorance, and&brute force. It's the stuff of "true" battles, that of the "one" versus the "many."


More truth than humor in the old saying "Never under estimate the&power of stupid people in large groups."


My introduction into all this was the same as yours: Terminated after almost 13 years&with same employer for&"requesting"&employer to NOT withhold income tax. That led to a battle with the Virginia Employment Commission over unemployment compensation. (Employer initially agreed to the compensation, then--in open violation of state law--changed his&mind, appealed, and WON. Two years of appeals and I still had to repay the money.)


The tragedy is that men of honor and integrity, such as yourself, have to suffer at the hands of fools who possess only money and power.


Don't fall into the trap of thinking this so-called "patriot movement" is an all-or-nothing thing. It's not. (I resent the label of "patriot movement," simply because "patriot" implies an acceptance of,&and allegiance to, this country and the way it IS, not the way it's "supposed" to be. Personally, I loathe everything about the way it "is," and what all of us are fighting for is the way it is "supposed" to be. So, me? I'm "anti-patriot.")


Accept that the "secret" to agents' power is to be found in your experience: The use of the very noble characteristics of a man who wants nothing more than to enjoy the rights associated with his own life. Agents deal in usually unspoken ultimatums: Do this or else!


I don't like ultimatums. Cost me that job I mentioned. With hindsight, I sometimes think I might do things differently. My experience, however, serves only to convince me that it is still true that everything that happens does happen for a reason and that, sooner or later, things always do "work out for the best."


So approach these matters from the viewpoint of expediency. (I've not used the word "compromise" is decades, and never will use it again. It's an evil word and means simply "you lose, they win." Think only of its medical meaning: "The patient's condition has been compromised.")& I.E., don't "compromise" your principles, values, and ideals.


But accept the reality that it is indeed expedient that you, well, work. If you have to sign a dumbass w-4, sign it. Give yourself 9 exemptions/withholding thingies. Perfectly legal. And you'll bring home 100 per-cent of your pay.


THEN you can continue the fight. After all, you will have already begun your personal war with a demonstration of "good faith," right?& Having started there, the rest is a process of "due diligence," i.e., slowly and methodically developing your "affirmative defense."


One "battle" at a time is enough for any man, right?


Nothing but the best to you, Paul. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to say so. E-mail me if you need to. Remember: Agents win because THEY stick together. Time for us to start doing the same.


Randy