Someone flew a small plane into the IRS bldg in Austin, TX.

[Brian Hamilton]

Yes, it's true.

The pilot apparently set his house on fire in town, then went and got his plane and filled it with fuel and flew it into one of the IRS field offices in Austin off 183 & Mopac Blvd. More details to follow as I get them.

Laters,

Brian

 

[Ron Earp]

Maybe he was after his tax refund?

 

[Doug S.]

The guy had IRS problems and posted a 5 page manifesto somewhere on the internet.

He started with "Desperate times require desperate measures" and ended with an encouragement to the "tax man" to take his pound of flesh and be happy. He also set the house he owns on fire, two individuals rescued from that house, no information as to their condition.

Sounds like an act of suicide with revenge in mind.

Doug

 

[Paul Thompson 'Hooligan']

Link to google search on quotation...

Well Mr. Big Brother IRS man... take my pound of flesh and sleep well.

 

[Jack]

Two individuals were wife and daughter (12 yrs old).

 

[Ron Earp]

No doubt, and it looks like a big fire on CNN coverage.

 

[Garry]

It is a shame that he felt the need to put people in jeapordy to get some satisfaction dealing with the IRS. I can tell you, having had some dealings with that agency, they are the most unreasonable, cut-throat, Gestapo-tactics agency in the US. All government agencies are intractable by nature, but the IRS is especially heinous to deal with. I can understand how people would get frustrated in looking for just rulings from these people. Some would say they are doing their jobs, but in truth, they automatically assume that every person who owes taxes is Al Capone-a notorious gangster from the 1930's. So every poor soul who gets in their sites either pays exactly what they demand without a chance to get a hearing, or the IRS will levy all money in the bank, levy paychecks, social security checks, diability payments, etc., and leave the poor citizen without a nickel to find a lawyer to help them defend themselves. If you do take them to court, prepare to meet the full power of the US Treasury with your meager legal funds and watch how justice is meeted out in this fair land. The guy with the most money in court usually wins over here. I avoid problems with the IRS like the plague.
Garry

 

[RichardH]

Paul - Link has been shut down.................

"This website has been taken offline due to the sensitive nature of the events that transpired in Texas this morning and in compliance with a request from the FBI. To see an archived version of the original letter, please go here: Plane Crash Suspect's Online Diatribe - February 18, 2010. Please visit our forum if you wish to discuss anything related to this incident: Texas crash pilot left suicide note on Web site - embeddedart.com. "

 

[Paul Thompson 'Hooligan']

Hmmm - interesting how it says the site was closed down or taken offline at the request of the FBI - and yet they then go on to provide a link to an archived version of the note...

The site only had a copy of the note on it from what I saw so what's the point of taking it offline but effectively hosting it elsewhere, if the FBI were bothered about the original site, would they not be about the alternative...?

Whatever the reasons for him feeling he should take such action, it's a sad day for those involved or affected.

 

[Terry Oxandale]

Or try this (good at 2135 Zulu):

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/02/18/stack.letter.pdf

 

[Brian Hamilton]

Here's the link to the Austin American Statesman who quoted the whole manifesto the guy posted. He makes very valid points and basically it seems he sacrificed himself in order for the country to wake up to the crooked government we have running our lives. I guess he felt he needed to be a martyr.

Austin news, sports, weather, Longhorns, business | Statesman.com

 

[Roark_John]

Hmmm...where do I begin? I have read the note 3 times now. I'm no psychologist, but he is coherent in his thoughts, is cognizant of his actions, and attempting to exorcise some demons. My personal conclusion is that he certainly was not crazy. Frustrated, yes. Moved to action...moreso than any self-help guru could possibly envision one of his followers to become...

What does that leave? Was it right? Or better yet...was it wrong?

I have to agree with several points he made...taxation without representation is tyranny. Denial of constitutionally guaranteed rights is tyranny. American citizens are not only asleep at the wheel, they are complacent, apathetic and focused on the inane, whimsical and novelty rather than anything of substance or purpose. Government is the servant...when it becomes the master, we are subjects.

Are you citizens...or subjects? This is certainly a fence where the grass may not be greener on the opposite side, but at least on the right side you aren't chained to it....

 

[Cliff Beer]

Is it just me or does it seem like there's an extraordinarily high level of frustration right now held by the public in general? Corporate bailouts, partisan games, Wall Street hysteria, real estate flops, crooked politicians, high unemployment.......it all adds up, and some folks start to crack.

I can't recall a time in history (in my lifetime) in which is has been quite this intense....

 

[Jack Houpe]

Is it just me or does it seem like there's an extraordinarily high level of frustration right now held by the public in general? Corporate bailouts, partisan games, Wall Street hysteria, real estate flops, crooked politicians, high unemployment.......it all adds up, and some folks start to crack. I can't recall a time in history (in my lifetime) in which is has been quite this intense....[/QUOTE You are absolutely correct Cliff! I just hope its enough to get people off their ass and do something about it. 2010 elections are coming up, the sad part is I don't know of anyone who I would vote for yet.

 

[Roark_John]

We don't need to elect anyone. We need to clean house. Things will not change until the power elite and their ilk "feel the pain". Civil War II? Or simply pressure one of our own Representatives or Senators to sponsor a bill imposing the death penalty for failure to perform satisfactorily....hmmm, not a bad idea that...

Is it just me or does it seem like there's an extraordinarily high level of frustration right now held by the public in general? Corporate bailouts, partisan games, Wall Street hysteria, real estate flops, crooked politicians, high unemployment.......it all adds up, and some folks start to crack. I can't recall a time in history (in my lifetime) in which is has been quite this intense....[/QUOTE You are absolutely correct Cliff! I just hope its enough to get people off their ass and do something about it. 2010 elections are coming up, the sad part is I don't know of anyone who I would vote for yet.

 

[Terry Oxandale]

The IRS is relentless, they make you well aware that you have no power and that you are insignificant. The feeling of helplessness exacerbated this problem, and these kinds of IRS tactics are not out of shear coincidence. Most problems in this world are a result of the lack of any perceived control in any given situation. Let someone feel he has even a small amount of control, and he usually stays in the game. Take it away and they WILL resort to their own measures.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
<o> </o>
This guy no longer felt he had any control at all in his situation and thus turned to a different tactic in which he had full control.<o></o>
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Okay, so any bets on how long it will take before the government now reduces our rights or privileges regarding civil aviation?

 

[Roark_John]

That's the crux of the problem...the government doesn't have the authority to GIVE, TAKE or REDUCE my rights. Flying, driving and boating are forms of travelling...and a FREE country does not restrict the movements of its citizens. The government should never have been allowed to assume control over PUBLIC airspace. We are the public, not the District of Criminals. I do not need to have my hand held, or have a choke-chain around my neck.

<o></o>
Okay, so any bets on how long it will take before the government now reduces our rights or privileges regarding civil aviation?

 

[Keith]

Sorry guys, I see nothing in his diatribe that remotely excuses his ulimately selfish and potentially murderous actions.

There are all the signs that he was a "Poor Me" character that thought the world owed him something - no mention of his family (presumably left for dead) or whoever else might die in this futile gesture.

I believe the gene pool will be the better for his demise.

 

[Brian Hamilton]

Well it honestly doesn't matter what the Government has or doesn't have the authority to do, it's what they're GOING to do. I guarantee they will restrict the hell out of civil aviation. I also guarantee that this story will run it's course in about a week and it'll be covered up and this guy will be labeled "A Nutjob". I for one, after reading his letter, see someone who was so fed up with the way out government and offices associated with our "well being" are run and basically are there only to help the lazy, or the over privelaged. Lazy being the Welfare class who has everything handed to them and is ENCOURAGED not to work if they want to keep getting free government money. Over privelaged being, as he mentioned, the American Corporate Giants who can do nothing wrong in the eyes of the government even if they are raping and pillaging their own employees livelihoods. As mentioned before, this guy was super motivated to change something or at least make a mark that would serve to wake the public up.

I do not think this guy was crazy. I do not think this guy was a nutjob. I think this guy had just about all he could take and saw the utter futility of trying to play ball with the government unless you're one of the special exceptions. Reading how he and some of his friends were following tax rules to the letter of their law and direction, were still screwed out of HUGE sums of money because they were just a couple of guys? I don't doubt it. This man was at the end of his rope and as pissed off as could be and did the only thing he could to make a statement and get back at the government office that had hurt him so much and, as he felt, destroyed his life and everything he had ever worked for.

Call ME crazy guys, but I think this guy was a 100% true patriot. Someone who sacrificed everything he was for the good of the USA. Someone who used his own life in HOPES that the American public would wake the hell up. Honestly and unfortunately, this will be covered up quickly and made to be forgotten and we'll all go back to being the sheep we have been programed to be. Those of us who continue to fight for our rights and the way of life we are GUARANTEED by the Constitution but are having it taken slowly but surely from us by our government who is extremely out of line will be labeled as "Nutjobs".

Well, call me Mr. Nutjob then.

 

[Keith]

Well OK Brian whatever but he didn't have the right to take other peoples lives in the pursuit of his own sorry salvation. Doing it for the USA? Christ on a crutch you'll be telling me that he had 100 virgins waiting for him on the other side of the IRS building next!

Tell you what, you've given me an idea. Why don't we ALL kill ourselves in an equally futile and selfish gesture. THAT'LL show 'em eh? :veryangry:

If you're right Brian, and they put up a Hero's Statue to celebrate his "Martyrdom" for the USA and they subsequently remove your right to fly light aircraft within 1,000 Kms of a Federal Building, then perhaps The People could show their disapproval by flying straight into it...