National Campaign for a ========================= Peace Tax Fund ========================= "For the Sake of Conscience" Series 5: Writing a Letter to the Editor Sample Letter Dear Editor, Each pay check causes those taxpayers morally opposed to supporting war a dilemma between following their conscience or obeying the IRS code. The US Peace Tax Fund Bill would provide an alternative and enable conscientious objectors to follow both their deeply held moral/religious beliefs and the US tax laws. Currently one-quarter of the federal budget goes for current military expenditures. The individual income tax accounts for three-quarters of federal tax revenue. Conscientious objectors, morally opposed to any participation in war, are forced to violate either the Federal Income Tax Code or their deepest convictions and values. Before World War II the US government established an alternative for conscientious objectors to military service. This corrected an injustice from World War I when four hundred conscientious objectors were imprisoned. The U.S. Peace Tax Fund Bill (HR 1402 and S 1663 in the 104th Congress) would raise the IRS code to the same moral standard, enabling conscientious objectors to pay 100% of their taxes without violating deeply held beliefs. Write (your legislators' names) calling for their support for this needed bill. John Q. Public 123 N Main St. Anytown ST 99999 555-1234 Writing a Letter to the Editor When your letter appears on the editorial page, you probably have the largest audience you will ever address. More than one-third of the newspaper's audience regularly reads the editorial pages in their newspapers. A letter to the editor is a great way to educate people about the Peace Tax Fund Bill. It also has an impact when it is clipped and sent to your Congressperson. Points to Communicate Taxpayers face a dilemma. Those morally opposed to their taxes supporting the military are forced to choose between violating deeply held religious or moral beliefs or breaking the law. According to the Friend's Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), 22% of the Federal Budget will go to current military expenditures this year. Alternative service to military service is legal. In 1940, legislation was enacted allowing alternative service for COs to military service. Conscientious objectors need an alternative to military taxes. The Peace Tax Fund Bill would establish a special fund for the current military portion of conscientious objectors' taxes. COs would still pay 100% of their taxes. The only difference would be that the current military portion of the conscientious objectors' taxes would be used for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition project and Head Start. Write your legislator. Legislators need to hear the depth of support for the protection of basic freedoms in this country: freedom of religion and freedom of conscience. Practical Suggestions Type letter double-spaced on 8.5" x 11" paper. If you hand write your letter, be sure that it is easily legible. Use only one side of the page. Plan your first sentence carefully. Grab your reader by referring to a current event, such as Tax Day, April 15. Limit your letter to a discussion of the dilemma of the CO taxpayer and the solution offered by the Peace Tax Fund Bill. Other subjects can be dealt with in other letters. Keep the most important information in the opening paragraphs. Newspaper editors may cut your letter to fit available space. Meet requirements regarding length noted on the editorial page. Write in the active voice, using short, declarative sentences and action verbs to express your thoughts as clearly and precisely as possible. Use personal experiences of conscientious objection to military taxes to illustrate the need for a Peace Tax Fund. Appeal to the readers' sense of fairness and religious freedom. Challenge the readers to write to their members of Congress about the Peace Tax Fund Bill. Sign your name and type your name, address and telephone number. Include your legislators' names in the letter. This will ensure that your legislators will see it. _________________________________________________________________ Next in the Series: 6: Visiting Your Legislators "For the Sake of Conscience" Series 1: Conscience, A Compelling Force 2: Your Beliefs and Military Taxes3: There Ought to Be a Law4: Writing to Congress5: Writing a Letter to the Editor6: Visiting Your Legislators National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund Homepage _________________________________________________________________ EXPLORE THE NONVIOLENCE WEB Maintained by The Nonviolence Web:nvweb@nonviolence.org Last updated July 15, 1996. NVWeb, Philadelphia USA