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Anti-IRS Rant of Software Engineer who Today Flew Plane into IRS Building

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Re: Anti-IRS Rant of Software Engineer who Today Flew Plane into IRS Building

#111

Post by mbrubeck »

So, was this related to the changes reported in today's front-page New York Times story, "U.S. Cracks Down on ‘Contractors’ as a Tax Dodge," or is the timing just a coincidence?

"Federal and state officials, many facing record budget deficits, are starting to aggressively pursue companies that try to pass off regular employees as independent contractors. President Obama’s 2010 budget assumes that the federal crackdown will yield at least $7 billion over 10 years."

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/18/business/18workers.html?em

Re: Anti-IRS Rant of Software Engineer who Today Flew Plane into IRS Building

#112

Post by grandalf »

scott_s wrote: post #67
grandalf wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why is it terrorism? Are you now living in terror that it will happen again?

Ineffective terrorism is still terrorism.

Who was the attack intended to strike terror in?

Re: Anti-IRS Rant of Software Engineer who Today Flew Plane into IRS Building

#113

Post by Retric »

kelnos wrote: post #99
scott_s wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Read the final two paragraphs of his screed (posted in this thread). He says that he wants his act of violence to initiate change - I assume in the IRS specifically, but also in American politics in general. That's the definition of terrorism. Terrorism does not have to be initiated on behalf of a group or a specific ideology. The definition is "the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, esp. for politi…

"He says that he wants his act of violence to initiate change - I assume in the IRS specifically, but also in American politics in general. That's the definition of terrorism." Tell that to Thomas Jefferson and George Washington...

Terrorism is a strategy not a sin, just because you happen to agree with what they are saying does not mean they are not terrorist's. Also you don't need actually kill people to induce fear, setting fire to an empty building can also count.

Re: Anti-IRS Rant of Software Engineer who Today Flew Plane into IRS Building

#115

Post by robak »

Quarrelsome wrote: post #27
lliiffee wrote: post #11

I urge everyone not to read this. We should not reward murderers (or attempted murderers) with out attention.

I disagree, it is information (although poor quality information tbf) about what motivated this guy to do this. The information should be public so people can come to their own conclusions about the event, otherwise the story is one sided. HOWEVER due to copycats and the general suggestability of the public, organisations who broadcast should think twice before broadcasting this text. This is because it provides a "r…

of course, maybe you should hire Mr. Goebbels to help? Would be adequate for your point in history.

Re: Anti-IRS Rant of Software Engineer who Today Flew Plane into IRS Building

#116

Post by grandalf »

mos1 wrote: post #49
grandalf wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why is it terrorism? Are you now living in terror that it will happen again?

By that definition there are pretty much no terrorists, anywhere. I'm not in a state of terror about Osama, are you?

I'd argue that terrorism is largely a term to describe an opponent whose tactics go beyond what its adversary's population regards as appropriate... and so the term is mostly intended to marginalize an opponent and paint him and his cause as morally bankrupt.

The term can be used to describe asymmetrical warfare techniques whose objective is more to motivate fear in the target population than to achieve a classic military objective, but if you think about it, the neighbor kid being sent home from the front lines in a body bag also has that effect, albeit a bit more indirectly.

I think by definition an asymmetrical conflict that doesn't result in the weaker side quitting outright must include some sort of different moral standard about things like civilian life, soldier sacrifice, etc.

Re: Anti-IRS Rant of Software Engineer who Today Flew Plane into IRS Building

#117

Post by grandalf »

DannoHung wrote: post #66
grandalf wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why is it terrorism? Are you now living in terror that it will happen again?

Terror? No, but I'm reasonably sure that there will be a large number of off-balance nutters who are upset about corporations and taxes and the gubment who will use this event as a rallying call for further violence.

You hit on an important characteristic of asymmetrical conflict, which is the propaganda aspect of a particular campaign (contrary to the traditional military objective of capturing territory, causing large scale surrender, etc.)

I think the guy is nuts, and i think the best description is that he chose a really screwed up way of committing suicide.

Re: Anti-IRS Rant of Software Engineer who Today Flew Plane into IRS Building

#118

Post by tome »

petercooper wrote: post #78
BigZaphod wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It sounded to me like he made a lot of really stupid money choices in his life and blamed all his losses on the IRS, the government, and anyone else of "power" that happened to be nearby at the time rather than taking personal responsibility and manning up.

I think his distaste was that when he made some mistakes, he got caught and shafted by arcane laws, yet when some richer folks deliberately committed fraud, the government barely did anything about it or rejigged the laws for them.

Did he not hear about Bernie Madoff?

Re: Anti-IRS Rant of Software Engineer who Today Flew Plane into IRS Building

#119

Post by nandemo »

volomike wrote: post #19
colinplamondon wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Guy dicks around with forces he doesn't have the free cash available to dick around with, blames IRS. Later finds himself losing work due to working in aerospace as Air Force bases are closed in the 90's, leading into 9/11 and a meltdown in his ability to generate personal revenue. Blames IRS. Runs out of money, blames IRS. Flies plain into IRS building with the intent to indiscriminately murder anyone who happens to…

I tell you, I can be sympathetic to a letter such as his, to some of the things any of us can easily see are wrong right now in the USA, but of course I do not condone his extreme by any means. However, here was the kicker for me: "But here I am with a new marriage and a boatload of undocumented income". Let me get this straight -- he was in love and married. Forget all the money stuff, tax liens, unemployment, whate…

Meanwhile, local television in Austin, the Texas capital, said Stack's house was fully engulfed in flames this morning just before the crash into the IRS building, and that Stack's wife and 12-year-old daughter had been pulled out distraught but unscathed.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/feb/18/austin-plane-sui...

Re: Anti-IRS Rant of Software Engineer who Today Flew Plane into IRS Building

#120

Post by jrockway »

jcromartie wrote: post #108
tc wrote: post #73

Problems that this creates: 1) Because of how governments deal in collective punishment, private aviation is likely to suffer further regulatory decimation even though events of this type are extremely rare, statistically speaking. 2) His rambling, narcissistic screed will be broadcast widely, and his immature and senseless actions used to paint those with legitimate and sensible criticisms of our tax system or syste…

> rambling, narcissistic screed Maybe to you. Most of his rant just sounded honest and true to me.

Maybe you are a rambling narcissist?
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