An interesting anti-government scheme is suggested by members of the LDS Liberty group. Since their libertarian roots are supposedly offended by any form of socialism, some of them show their belief by refusing to obtain a social security number, which some of them refer to contemptuously as a "Socialist Security Number". They soon discover that they supposedly need not file a US tax return without one, which has the effect of saving lots of money, and they cannot register for the draft, which they don't support anyway. Here are some members of the group discussing the virtues of being an anti-government activist.
Rock Waterman says:
It is not widely known that a person who
does not have a social security number cannot be called up for the
draft, just as they cannot be compelled to pay the federal income tax.
Your social security number is the means by which the government lays
claim to your future earnings and your service to pay the obligations
of the federal government, including your duty to act as cannon fodder
if needed. When FDR effectively moved the United States into bankruptcy
in 1933, he pledged the future earnings of the people as collateral on
the debt. We were all tricked into obtaining social security numbers,
believing it was mandatory to hold a job. It is not. But it is the
nexus by which the government claims ownership of the people living
within the states. It takes you out of the protection of the state and
makes you a U.S. Citizen.
Of course, today it is extremely difficult to function without a
social security number, but some manage. The rest of us are in pretty
deep, I’m afraid. We’ve sold ourselves to the devil.
Over ten years ago my sons became ALMOST
eligible for the draft. I called the Draft Board or whatever they are
called and told them that my sons were old enough to register but that
they did not have Social Security Numbers and asked if my sons could
register without them.
The nice guy told me how to get them Social Security Numbers.
I informed him that I had religious objections to such numbers and so
did my sons and that they would NOT be applying for Social Security
Numbers.
I was told that my sons COULD NOT register for the draft without Social Security Numbers. Naturally they never registered.
Did you know that without a Social Security Number that you cannot file a 1040 Tax Return either?
The Income tax is “voluntary” because you have to volunteer just like
you have to volunteer to be drafted. The prophets and apostles have
repeatedly told us to eschew Socialism. A Social Security Number is how
you become a Socialist.
To him that has eye to read let him understand.
A few words of counsel from one of the Lord's anointed addresses the issues raised here.
First, Elder Oaks refers to "one note hobbies":
...My first example concerns Satan's efforts to corrupt a person who has
an unusual commitment to one particular doctrine or commandment of the
gospel of Jesus Christ. This could be an unusual talent for family
history work, an extraordinary commitment to constitutional government, a
special gift in the acquisition of knowledge, or any other special
talent or commitment.
In a memorable message given at the 1971 October conference, Elder Boyd
K. Packer likened the fulness of the gospel to a piano keyboard. He
reminded us that a person could be "attracted by a single key," such as a
doctrine they want to hear "played over and over again." He explained:
Some members of the Church who should know better pick out a hobby
key or two and tap them incessantly, to the irritation of those around
them. They can dull their own spiritual sensitivities. They lose track
that there is a fulness of the gospel, . . . [which they reject] in preference to a favorite note. This becomes exaggerated and distorted, leading them away into apostasy. [Boyd K. Packer, Teach Ye Diligently (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1975), p. 44]
Next, he cites the example of one who favors certain isolated words from selected prophetic counsel:
...A related distortion is seen in the practice of those who select a few
sentences from the teachings of a prophet and use these to support their
political agenda or other personal purposes. In doing so, they
typically ignore the contrary implications of other prophetic words, or
even the clear example of the prophet's own actions. For example, I have
corresponded with several Church members who sought to use something
President Benson is quoted as saying as a basis for refusing to file an
income-tax return or to pay income taxes. I have tried to persuade these
persons that their interpretation cannot be what President Benson
intended, because both he and his predecessors in that sacred office,
and all of the General Authorities, have faithfully filed their
income-tax returns and paid the taxes required by law. The servants of
God are under the Master's commands to follow him and to be examples to
the flock (1 Timothy 4:12; 1 Peter 5:3). We should interpret their words
in the light of their walk. To wrest the words of a prophet to support a
private agenda, political or financial or otherwise, is to try to manipulate the prophet, not to follow him.
Lastly, he warns against those who takes too much pride in a particular individual strong point. Note that he makes specific reference to
spiritual gifts:
...A person who engages in self-congratulation over a supposed strength has
lost the protection of humility and is vulnerable to Satan's using that
strength to produce his or her downfall. In contrast, if we are humble
and teachable, hearkening to the commandments of God, the counsel of his
leaders, and the promptings of his spirit, we can be guided. We can be
guided in how to use our spiritual gifts, our accomplishments, and all
of our other strengths for righteousness. And we can be guided in how to
avoid Satan's efforts to use our strengths to cause our downfall.
