Comments on: Brown Trial July 9, 2009: The Verdict

By: Rick Fitzpatrick

Rick Fitzpatrick — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:29:53 +0000

To all those above, and those who believe that Taxes pay for your freedoms, I only can say this. BULLSHIT. Apparently you’ve never read the Grace commission and are in total denial. Afterall, the government just handed your taxes for the rest of your and your future progenys lives over to the Bankers, while the gov simply creats money out of thin air to keep the government moving…ie..the National Debt is 10+ TRILLION dollar status…um..which means you just sold your children, childrens children, and their childrens labor down the tubes for umteen generations. The Browns knew this, and tried to make a stand against it. Unfortunately, you nor the majority of American morons don’t have a clue. Let me give you one. Its called The TWO TIERED JUSTICE SYSTEM.
Which has existed in this country from the time of the Founders. The Political Elite in this countrys OWN YOU. Lock…stock…and..barrel. When is the last time you saw any of the Political Elite held accountable for THEIR crimes…hmmmmmmm?

By: UCSPanther

UCSPanther — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 06:09:07 +0000

Serves them right. The IRS gave them plenty of chances to smarten up and stop being fools, all of which they squandered. Ed wanted to go out with a bang which was why he was so gung-ho to pick a gun fight with the Federal officers, but was outsmarted (Which wasn’t hard for the Feds to do), and after making an idiot of himself at the trial and having his claims that they were trying to kill him shot down, he now has a long prison sentence to serve.

Now that his lifelong Rambo fantasy has come to an end, Ed now has to fantasize about being a POW or a political prisoner instead.

By: Ed and Elaine Brown trial verdict « Adventures In Frickintardistan

Ed and Elaine Brown trial verdict « Adventures In Frickintardistan — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:05:31 +0000

[...] July 10, 2009 by ElfNinosMom Brown Trial July 9, 2009: The Verdict | Bombs, Taxes, and Red Crayons. [...]

By: Mrs. W

Mrs. W — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:01:35 +0000

I am so glad this is over. Finally over. Time to pick up pieces and try to find normalcy.

I really feel for the Browns. This is a tragic ending to something that should have never happened. What a way to end your life.

Thank you for all your efforts in covering this JJ.

By: Tygrehart

Tygrehart — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:16:16 +0000

I’ve been following this case with more than a little passing interest (being a Granite Stater myself) and I am struck by several things.
First and foremost the irony. The Browns wanted to live “free” and now they will probably never see the outside world for the rest of their natural lives. Neither is exactly what you would call a spring chicken and even with minimum sentences, completely remorseful allocations (not likely especially in Ed’s case), and good behavior they are going to be living on Uncle Sam’s dime for at least a few decades. Their lives are, in effect, over.
The second thing I find interesting was who was there for the verdict (and the trial for that matter). Where were all the “friends” they made while they were entrenched at their house and throwing a party? Where were the bloggers and forum posters who declared their support? Where were all the tax denier gurus who helped start them down this path of destruction? Nice to see a “community” that often bleats the mantra of people standing together against oppression providing nothing but a chorus of crickets when the hammer falls. Oh true, they will probably show up for the sentencing where they can stand next to their latest martyrs for a photo op. The Tax Denier forums will most likely be ablaze with tirades about the “injustice” and “tyranny” of the Browns case. But the damage is done. Two lives have been destroyed. Safe behind their computer screens and away actual consequences everyone who “supported” the Browns is right now, deep down, thinking the exact same thing: Better you than me sucker.
Lastly, and most heartbreakingly, the thing I take away from this case is how unnecessary it all was. Like Kenneth Branagh in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein raging as he watches his loved one’s life slip through his fingers, all I can think is “It need…not…happen!” Desperate times make desperate people do desperate things and for those who find themselves on the wrong side of the law because they have no choice, no options, I can at least feel a touch of empathy. For the Browns however I can feel nothing but disgust. Everything that went wrong in their lives was of their own conscious doing and could have been completely avoided by doing one simple thing: paying their taxes. That was it!
Ultimately I hope the Brown’s case has a deep cultural impact. I hope it serves as a harsh reminder to the tax deniers how futile their cause ultimately is and warning to any novice entering that world as to where that path ultimately leads. I also hope it helps give some credibility to our law enforcement officials. For all the dangers they faced and potential for disaster the standoff had it was ultimately ended without firing a shot or spilling a drop of blood. Props too should be given to Judge, Prosecutors, and even Defense attorneys who handled the case professionally and expediently. Those dealing with a case like this could easily taken the appearance of going through the motions everyone did their best to see that the law was upheld.
My final thought on the whole situation, both the Brown’s case and the Tax Denier movement in general, is this. I personally don’t like paying my taxes anymore than anyone else. I think the system stinks sometimes and yes, sometimes the little guy does get the short end of the stick. However, paying taxes it is the price I pay for living in a civilized society. They fund our social services, our schools, our roads. They build the things that bring our communities together and keep it safe. Paying taxes may not be our duty but they are our responsibility to our society and to each other. To every Tax Denier out there I’m going to make this simple: I pay my taxes promptly, in full and don’t try to cheat the system. I’m walking around in the outside world right now, enjoying the sun and good food and all the creature comforts America has to offer. The Browns didn’t pay their taxes and they are now in jail. Stand before me, right now and tell me which of us is “free.”

By: wserra

wserra — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:53:30 +0000

“There were no family members or supporters in the room” – after all the gnashing of teeth, the railing against the ebil goobermint, the wasted electrons – nobody shows up. Not even Joe Haas. Oh, yeah, he was “boycotting”.

What an incredible bunch of narcissistic bozos.

Thanks, JJ.

By: CKB

CKB — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 03:50:49 +0000

Based on the minimum sentence for Counts 3 & 4, even with all other counts earning minimum sentences, today was the last day that Ed and Elaine are likely to ever see each other, face-to-pace and in person, ever again. So avoidable too, from start to finish. Glad to see they sparked that fervent anti-tax fire across the land. Both tossed away their lives for greed and hubris.