DeathBlog 2003

Blogging is catching on. Why, even a dull-witted tax protestor who claims he's starving himself to death has his own blog. Texan Gene Chapman is on a "death-fast," refusing to eat until someone answers to his satisfaction the question "Where is MY tax liability in the law - specifically?" Apparently, Mr. Chapman is sitting outside an Austin IRS office in his bathrobe for at least an hour a day, and watching Oprah in his motel room during his downtime. And he's blogging his little head off, too.

He's also granting audiences to the press, although so far that snob Tom Brokaw has given him the brush-off.

Chapman's only down to 190, from 230, so it seems he still has some spare pounds to burn.

It's not clear why this genius thinks he doesn't have to pay taxes, although he links to a letter from some chump who claims that only foreign income is taxable. (The chump's full thesis is here. (Note: .pdf file)) Unfortunately for Chapman, the IRS says this argument is rubbish.

I think some of Gene's supporters -- the ones who aren't fasting -- need to get Gene some help rather than encouraging him to kill himself for some wing-nut pipe dream.