Progressives Turn Out to Demonstrate On Tax Day Too!

It turns out that Republicans aren't the only ones who will be out demonstrating on tax day. But unlike their ridiculous tea parties, some folks will turn out to counter the rightwing propaganda machine. They will be out at post offices to remind people that the price of a democracy is citizen support for government. After all, it our government, freely elected by us. As Oliver Wendell Holmes observed, "taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society. As Julie Blust, the press secretary for the Campaign to Renew and Rebuild America wrote me:

We are holding events at local post offices on tax day highlighting President Obama's plan to close off-shore tax havens and ensure that corporations are paying their fair share. The main thrust of these events would be to ask ordinary Americans to call their Senators and support Obama's transformative economic plan, which calls for more fairness in the tax code.

The thing is ordinary Americans are already bearing the brunt of taxation. The people the Republicans are fighting for are the top one percent, the large corporations, the businesses that have long benefitted from off shore tax havens. If we get all of them to pay their fair share, then you and I will actually pay less and still have that decent society. Every citizen has the obligation to pay his or her fair share.

Here's the information to participate:

WHO: Campaign to Rebuild and Renew America-a coalition of 110 progressive organizations dedicated to supporting the President's budget priorities. See website for complete list organizations www.rebuildandrenew.org

WHAT: Tax day event this coming Wednesday, calling to attention the tax loopholes that allow corporations to avoid taxes by setting up offshore accounts and PO Boxes. Obama's budget would stop this practice.

WHEN: 12:00 noon to 1:30 pm Wednesday April 15th

WHERE: in front of Arlington Main Post office, 3118 Washington Blvd Arlington, VA 22201 (Metro accessible)

WHAT WE NEED: Turnout! We need to have a large presence of concerned citizens, activists and community leaders. We will be providing all the materials and will be engaging people as they go into the post office to drop off their returns. We will be encouraging them to call their members of Congress to support the Obama's budget provisions that would stop these tax loopholes. Please come out and join us on your lunch breaks! And spread the word!

CONTACT: Julie Blust 267-242-1752 cell, blust@americansunitedforchange.org (please RSVP so we have an idea of turnout for the media)

Here is a more detailed description of the event:

NOVA Tax Day Event Description

We are holding an event on tax day highlighting President Obama's plan to close off-shore tax havens and ensure that corporations are paying their fair share. The main thrust of these events would be to ask ordinary Americans to call their Senators and support Obama's transformative economic plan, which calls for more fairness in the tax code. This will help frame the discussion of Obama's plan as more than just spending, but also a means to take on special interests who have historically taken advantage of the system.

We hope to turn out between 15 and 100 supporters at the main post office. They will stage such that they can greet taxpayers coming to turn in their tax returns, but potentially also stage along the main road entrance with hand-made signs on our message. These supporters will ask taxpayers to call their Members on their (or our) cell phones on the spot with a pro- Obama's plan message for closing off-shore tax havens for corporations."

Events will happen at noon, taking advantage of the busier lunch hour, possible live feeds for the noon news cycle, and the packaging up evening stories around