The Spin on Joseph Stack

It is a sad and alarming day when a supposedly educated, WASPish American gets so desperate and angry that he takes it out on his family by torching their home and goes out in "kamikaze" fashion flying his own plane into the local IRS offices in Austin, TX. I've known some angry Americans in my time, but this guy takes the cake. Then again, it seems like there have been a rising number of people going "ballistic" lately...literally and figuratively.

I can find no justification for his extreme actions even though I have read his "suicide" note online and unfortunately I am not shocked that something like this has happened. There is more and more desperation in America with a government that doesn't act or listen unless it is something in THEIR best interests...and a growing sentiment that it is every person for himself in America and the rest of the world in building or re-building their financial futures. With increasing government obligations and budgets being passed during a time when there are significant reductions in taxable income...it becomes quite evident to most reasonable thinking persons that the numbers aren't adding up for the long term economic health of America. While some sectors are rebounding a bit from the last years of recession, I can't help thinking of an analogy with yesterday's final hockey game of the Olympics where the USA came back from behind to even up the score at the end of regulation, but only to run out of gas in the extra period and get beat in overtime. I think there is great courage being shown by many Americans in fighting the current recession, but I am afraid there will be too little too late to truly count on a full rebound or return to the financial greatness and independence we once knew.

I think there are more "Joseph Stacks" out there though they may not all show themselves in such fashion or boldness. Yet, what bothers me most beyond this man's pathetic fatalistic thinking is the spin government and media have put on this event.

Noted quotes from articles I read in the aftermath from mostly government "mouthpieces" were...

Joseph Stack is part of a multi generational line of tax evaders

We don't define this act as Domestic terrorism...

Lets look at further regulating and controlling private aircraft...

"The poor IRS..."

Jeesh...talk about looking at the symptoms and not the cause of someone's actions. And how about the obvious pandering and spinning with these headlines...

Headline..."IRS worker killed in crash was a loyal family man"

Headline..."Attack on IRS part of long line of tax protesters"


Government agencies and their media cronies have been in overdrive to label this guy a "tax evader" and "government protester" without evidence of taking his whole statement and history to heart. I don't think this guy was part of any significant "movements", yet I also find it interesting they are pooh poohing the idea of calling this a "terrorist" act. If the guy had been part of Islam or of Arab descent, that term would be used and stick regardless of fact. No one, including the government, wants to think in terms of their own "constituents" being driven to terrorist type actions, yet the more the federal government and their agencies continue to get further out of touch with their constituents...the more they will be forcing some of the most fundamentalist believers in constitutional government to take serious actions against them.

It is amazing how fast Mr. Stack's statement was taken down from his website...it will probably become "banned" or labeled "pornographic" by the government. So much for "free speech", even postmortem. What are "they" so afraid of in letting his statement remain for pondering? Can we not learn and potentially make some changes based on this man's obvious disillusion with the "system"? Do they really think his is an isolated case of extreme vehemence? Sure, not everyone is going to be as bold and fatalistic as him in their reactions...but one has to wonder how many thousands...maybe even HUNDREDS of thousands in America...share the ideals and reactions of this misguided and delusional human being.

While I hope we see no more of this extreme "acting out" in such a futile, violent way...I do hope some positives come out of the situation. I do hope the government entities will wake up to the growing discontent in America with the current conditions and lack of leadership. I do hope patriotic protesters who have similar versions of Joseph Stack's mantra will find more productive, progressive ways to display their displeasure and seek real change. Yet, I hope that no one in America misses what to me is the most significant message in this terrible, unhappy story from the man himself...the strong sense of helplessness and futility...

If you’re reading this, you’re no doubt asking yourself, “Why did this have to happen?” The simple truth is that it is complicated and has been coming for a long time...

I know I’m hardly the first one to decide I have had all I can stand. It has always been a myth that people have stopped dying for their freedom in this country, and it isn’t limited to the blacks, and poor immigrants. I know there have been countless before me and there are sure to be as many after. ... I choose to not keep looking over my shoulder at “big brother” while he strips my carcass. I choose not to ignore what is going on all around me, I choose not to pretend that business as usual won’t continue; I have just had enough....Joseph Stack (1956-2010)