# Does Ed Brown have legal standing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 5, 2007, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-ed-brown-have-legal-standing/390904 "2007-02-05T09:00:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2007, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-ed-brown-have-legal-standing/390904/41 "2007-02-23T17:50:30Z")
[QUOTE=Vinyl Turnip] Perhaps, but when everybody around her says “actually, Lois, Clark Kent _is_ Superman,” and Clark Kent himself says “yeah, it’s true, I _am_ Superman,” and he demonstrates by removing and redonning his glasses several times, rearranging his forehead curl, and unbuttoning his shirt to reveal the big **S** logo on his chest, and she _still_ stamps her foot and refuses to accept it, it might be appropriate to begin questioning her sanity, or at least her sincerity. [/QUOTE] A somewhat faulty analogy, since any schmuck who sorta looks like Superman could do that much. Now, if he bent a hefty chunk of steel in his bare hands and she **still** refused to believe (equivalent to this joker still refusing to believe that it’s the law after being convicted and sent to jail for breaking it), you’ve got something. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Runestar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/74df32/32.png) [@Runestar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runestar)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2007, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-ed-brown-have-legal-standing/390904/42 "2007-02-23T19:13:21Z")
Maybe Ed issued a signing statement declaring that the law (U.S. Tax Code) as written didn’t apply to him. After all, that approach works for the current occupant of the White House… ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2007, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-ed-brown-have-legal-standing/390904/43 "2007-02-23T19:27:15Z")
He wants paralegals, but No Lawyers. Heh… ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2007, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-ed-brown-have-legal-standing/390904/44 "2007-02-24T02:26:23Z")
“Send para-legals, guns and money!” Just doesn’t have the same rhythm to it. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2007, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-ed-brown-have-legal-standing/390904/45 "2007-02-27T18:54:40Z")
I’m reminded of the final scene from the Marx Brothers’ [_Duck Soup,_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duck_Soup) where Freedonia is under attack by Sylvania and Rufus T. Firefly (Groucho) gets on the radio: RUFUS T. FIREFLY: Calling all nations! Calling all nations! We have three men and a woman under siege! Send help! If you can’t send help, send two more women! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2007, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-ed-brown-have-legal-standing/390904/46 "2007-04-14T19:46:29Z")
Say, what ever happened with this story? Is Brown’s house still under siege? I can’t find anything recent by googling his name, nor by searching the archives of the New Hampshire [_Union-Leader._](http://www.unionleader.com/) ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2007, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-ed-brown-have-legal-standing/390904/47 "2007-04-15T00:54:54Z")
Well, [Here is a link that keeps an eye on things…](http://questforfairtrialinconcordnh.blogspot.com/). ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2007, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-ed-brown-have-legal-standing/390904/48 "2007-04-15T01:33:28Z")
And [here is an actual news story from March.](http://www.wmur.com/news/11311431/detail.html) ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2007, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-ed-brown-have-legal-standing/390904/49 "2007-04-15T01:51:48Z")
[QUOTE=DSYoungEsq] I believe I established their fundamental reasoning on the whole issue in my first post. They (perhaps, no likely, unrealistically) believe that federal government should not be financed through personal income taxes. [/QUOTE] With all due respect, no, you did not establish anything of the sort. You asserted that it was the case, which is not the same thing. While I acknowledge that tax evaders usually have some sort of tortured rationalization, I will have to respectfully disagree with you. I think they’re actually just greedy and don’t want to pay taxes because they want to keep the money, and they use tortured rationalizations to justify it. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2007, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-ed-brown-have-legal-standing/390904/50 "2007-04-15T02:52:24Z")
[http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0228-10.htm](http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0228-10.htm) Evasions comes from all directions. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2007, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-ed-brown-have-legal-standing/390904/51 "2007-04-15T04:57:34Z")
[QUOTE=gonzomax] [http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0228-10.htm](http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0228-10.htm) Evasions comes from all directions. [/QUOTE] But still the same reason-greed. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2007, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-ed-brown-have-legal-standing/390904/52 "2007-04-15T13:05:28Z")
[QUOTE=RickJay] With all due respect, no, you did not establish anything of the sort. You asserted that it was the case, which is not the same thing. While I acknowledge that tax evaders usually have some sort of tortured rationalization, I will have to respectfully disagree with you. I think they’re actually just greedy and don’t want to pay taxes because they want to keep the money, and they use tortured rationalizations to justify it. [/QUOTE] You can _think_ all you want. But you have no proof. It is a belief, and one that is unsupported. My proposition is, at least, supported by evidence. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2007, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-ed-brown-have-legal-standing/390904/53 "2007-04-15T16:24:03Z")
> **[3-Minute Civics: A different – and problematic – way to amend the Constitution...](https://www.concordmonitor.com/2020/01/26/article-v-convention-32227378/?AID=%2F20070414%2FREPOSITORY%2F704140315)** > > You may have been hearing news reports and citizen input about the proposed House Concurrent Resolution 9 (HCR 9), introduced at the State House this month and presently under consideration by the State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs... > [@The Article](#): > > The couple formerly known as Ed and Elaine Brown are not judges and do not have the authority to dismiss their own criminal case, according to Judge Steven McAuliffe, who oversaw their trial and will decide their sentences later this month. > > The Browns, of Plainfield, recently ordered the clerk to close their case, citing themselves as “the court” and “judge.” They signed their filings using the names they have recently adopted: Edward, a Living Soul in the Body of the Lord, of the House of Israel, and Elaine, a Living Soul in the Body of the Lord, of the House of Israel. I’m sure they’re just fine. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2007, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-ed-brown-have-legal-standing/390904/54 "2007-04-15T16:44:15Z")
[QUOTE=DSYoungEsq] You can _think_ all you want. But you have no proof. It is a belief, and one that is unsupported. My proposition is, at least, supported by evidence. :dubious: [/QUOTE] What evidence is that? You’re just presenting opinions. The only difference is that my assessment of human nature is one hell of a lot more grounded in reality. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2007, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-ed-brown-have-legal-standing/390904/55 "2007-04-15T19:08:41Z")
[QUOTE=Paul in Saudi] You have GOT to see his MySpace page: [here](http://www.myspace.com/time2makeastand) Please send gas masks, body armor and "1 Female 2-4 yrs old Doberman Pitcher dog " This is not going to end well. [/QUOTE] I liked the line, “You do not need Social Security!” Why did I picture him in a long hooded cloak, waving his hand and saying, “You don’t need Social Security…these aren’t the droids you’re looking for?” ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2007, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-ed-brown-have-legal-standing/390904/56 "2007-04-15T21:01:50Z")
[QUOTE=RickJay] What evidence is that? You’re just presenting opinions. The only difference is that my assessment of human nature is one hell of a lot more grounded in reality. [/QUOTE] The person in question takes a stance: Don’t pay taxes. You assert that this stance is grounded in a personal desire to avoid paying money. I assert that this stance appears grounded in a personal aversion to the concept of anyone having to pay income tax to the federal government. In support of your assertion you offer nothing. In support of my assertion, I offer the statements of the person in question, which support my assertion. That, friend, is evidence. It may be evidence you choose to disbelieve, but it is evidence. Should the matter be being heard in court, for example, if the burden of proof was upon you, you would lose; if it was upon me, you would have to make an argument to convince the court that the evidence was unbelievable, i.e., provide something to counter it besides, “I don’t believe him, and neither should you.” Further, simply look at the lengths to which Ed Brown is willing to go to keep from paying federal income tax. Your normally impecunious person isn’t willing to bar the door and threaten to shoot anyone who tries to come and get him simply to avoid taking out the old wallet. When people get like this, some underlying misguided principle is at stake, something that takes them out of the realm of reason into the realm of fantasy. My statement holds; if you wish to punch holes in it, feel free. But bring some evidence, or some dazzling logic, else you are simly putting your fingers in your ears and saying, “I don’t hear you…” ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2007, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-ed-brown-have-legal-standing/390904/57 "2007-04-15T23:46:11Z")
[QUOTE=E-Sabbath] > **[3-Minute Civics: A different – and problematic – way to amend the Constitution...](https://www.concordmonitor.com/2020/01/26/article-v-convention-32227378/?AID=%2F20070414%2FREPOSITORY%2F704140315)** > > You may have been hearing news reports and citizen input about the proposed House Concurrent Resolution 9 (HCR 9), introduced at the State House this month and presently under consideration by the State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs... I’m sure they’re just fine. [/QUOTE] This tends to support **DSYoung’s** position in the above post. If they can afford that much LSD, they can afford to pay their taxes. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2007, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-ed-brown-have-legal-standing/390904/58 "2007-04-15T23:58:35Z")
[QUOTE=DSYoungEsq] I assert that this stance appears grounded in a personal aversion to the concept of anyone having to pay income tax to the federal government. [/quote] It appears their aversion is to the concept that there IS a federal government. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-ed-brown-have-legal-standing/390904.md?page=2)