Revoking My Membership in...

[K. Darien Freeheart]

I was driving home from work today on the I-270 stretch that is metro DC reflecting over several things, some even liberty minded.

Two things jumped out at me, both epitomized by posts I made here yesterday. The first was essentially convincing a friend to "Get active" and telling him that the only way we'd lose is by not getting active NOW. I believe it.

Then, there was this post where I essentially made excuses to do nothing.

No more.

I live in Maryland today, so doing the community building activism I spoke of isn't possible yet, but I support secession which means that I need to cut the ties. I can cut federal ties today just as easily as when I'm in New Hampshire, so I've decided to begin my personal secession by revoking my membership in federal programs like Social Security. Below is a letter I'm currently writing to the Social Security Administration. I would happily welcome any input you might have.

***

Kevin M. Dean
123 South Foo St.
Apartment #987
Frederick MD, 21701


Social Security Administration
Suite 204
10 N. Jefferson Street
Frederick, MD 21701

July 10, 2008

Dear Reader,

This letter serves as my intent to withdraw from the program created by 42 United States Code, Chapter 7, commonly known as "Social Security Act".

Today, 7 days after celebrating the Independence Day holiday, I am thinking more and more of the doctrine laid out by the Founding Fathers, a doctrine enshrined in the Declaration of Independence that said, among other things, "Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed".

In my reflection, I have come to find that I am a peaceful man, wishing no ill-will or harm upon others. I enjoy being left unmolested by others, and enjoy the ways that I am able to come to mutually beneficial agreement by creating and contributing wealth which is voluntarily exchanged with others. I enjoy the lack of coercion and force I show towards others, and others show towards me.

It is for that reason that I write today. It has become more and more clear to me that, as a free man, that I am the sole owner of my labor, just as you are the sole owner of yours. When one person tries to avail themselves of the fruits of another's labor, that person has committed an injustice and harmed the other. For that reason, I feel it it unethical for me to be involved in a program where the fruits of other people's labor are used to provide me so-called "security". Surely, depriving one person of their honestly earned wages can not ever go towards ensuring his or her security. Just as surely, security for the many can not be obtained if security for the individual is infringed upon. Therefore, due to the ethical conflict I see in such a system or program, I must hereby withdraw my consent.

Let this letter serve as my intent to withdraw from the wealth distribution program commonly known as "Social Security". Let this letter also serve as my intent to relinquish all future claim to any benefits that might be available to me under such programs.

Enclosed is my membership card for such program, labeled "Form SSA-3000". By withdrawing from the program "Social Security", I fully expect that the recurring membership dues for such programs, listed on my paycheck receipt as "Social Security" shall be immediately ceased, and such dues for payment into the program be returned to me as rightfully earned income.

I expect that within 90 days (October 8, 2008) my enrollment in said "Social Security" program shall be terminated, and by virtue of estoppel by acquiescence, my employer shall be entitled to cease the involuntary collection of such dues, and rightfully deliver that portion of income to myself.

Cordially,

Kevin M. Dean

[Lex]

Good luck. I doubt they will even read your letter (in its entirety), much less respond to it (other than a possible canned letter explaining why you can't do what you're asking).

The fact that you are acknowledging their importance and your obedience to them (by sending them pleas to release you) I think they have ever reason to simply ignore you.

[memenode]

Awesome. I wish you good luck!

This sort of thing might cause a bit of amazement among those who receive the letter, as rarely do beaurocrats think of any possibility of someone actually deciding to withdraw self as a recepient of their services. They're used to unquestioning customers. So this sort of thing may catch them off guard, and the more people do it the more curious a phenomenon it may develop into, with more and more people finding out about it and becoming curious..

But then, I might be feeling a bit overly optimistic tonight.

That said, their probable reaction may be that you're just nuts or that you are playing a joke on them hoping they'll send you the money or will just respond like drones with some generic statements..

Can't wait to see what they do.

Cheers

[K. Darien Freeheart]

I doubt they will even read your letter (in its entirety), much less respond to it (other than a possible canned letter explaining why you can't do what you're asking).

That's kind of the point. I mentioned estopple by acquiescence in there, which is a common law "rule" that essentially means "I'm claiming this, dispute it or accept it as valid". Ignoring this will (assuming the government people continue to pretend their laws mean something) confirm my withdraw.

I FIRMLY expect them to reply, honestly. Frederick is kind of a smallish city and this kind of request is something they probably get three of in any generation. I expect my response to be a bit more elegant than, but equal to, "Can't happen".

This blows that "consent of the governed" myth out of the water. That's just as useful to me as getting the money included in my paycheck.

their probable reaction may be that you're just nuts or that you are playing a joke on them hoping they'll send you the money

In the USA, this money is extracted by your employer because they're afriad of the government thugs coming down on them. This means that a portion of my paycheck I never get to touch. Someone who knows that this is common procedure can (I hope... If this isn't clear, please let me know!) tell that I'm not asking for money. They can keep what I've paid in before, I don't really care to fight for that amount. I simply want them to recognize that I'm not part of the program anymore, and provide some sort of comfort for my company so they'll stop taking it from me after October 8th.

[Lex]

This blows that "consent of the governed" myth out of the water. That's just as useful to me as getting the money included in my paycheck.

That reason I can understand. You want undeniable and personal proof.

[error]

Be sure to send a copy of the letter to your employer.

[Kat Kanning]

Cool.  Can I put that in the paper also?

[Russell Kanning]

cool
I really like it that you are going ahead with stuph now. We don't know the future. You might never make it to NH. The time to take steps is now ... and you are doing it.

Some people ask the SSA to get out .... if done just right ... and if you are lucky ... they will say ohtay

[JAC]

I really like the letter and the idea man.  Is there any way for a 17 year old to get out of SS while I'm still young?

This girl I was talking to one time, she was a marketing major or something similar to that, asking for donations for DARE outside the store I work at.  And we got into a little talk about politics and she mentioned her dad was a huge Ron Paul guy and that he "divorced" the Federal Government and doesn't have a social security number anymore.  Sounds similar to what you're trying to do here, and if there's any validity to her story then you may just be able to succeed with your attempt as well.  Good luck. 

[John Edward Mercier]

If you were to be granted 'independent contractor' status, the tax question would no longer involve your employer.

[K. Darien Freeheart]

Cool.  Can I put that in the paper also?

Yes, I just wanted to wait till I actually sent it before saying "Yes".

I sent it in to the local SSA office this morning, requiring a signature and with tracking. I also took a picture of the UPS shipping label, the letter and the social security card going into the envelope so there's documented, visual proof of what was in the letter, that it was sent, the time of sending and that it was recieived.

I used UPS because I like free market solutions rather than government ones. One interesting thing to note was that when I asked for a signature, I was told "This is to a business, it requires a signature". I thought this was an interesting thing to note, though it may simply be that they classify anything non-residential as "business". The Social Security Administration, according to UPS, is a business. Maybe that means there's more chance they'll not balk at my voluntary request to end membership in the program?

I also noticed something... odd. The back of that SSA-3000 form (Commonly called "Social Security Card" ) says "This card is property of the SSA" and then proceeds to say "If you find a card that's not yours." If everyone's card says the same thing, then shouldn't EVERYONE return then, since none of them are "yours"?

[Free_Marketeer]

Be sure to send a copy of the letter to your employer.

This.

Please post updates!  :-)

[mackler]

no way! you live on south foo street?  do you know a guy named dave?

[K. Darien Freeheart]

no way! you live on south foo street?  do you know a guy named dave?

Foo is a generic used in programming tutorials. The letter contains my real address. And no, I don't know Dave.

[Kat Kanning]

I also noticed something... odd. The back of that SSA-3000 form (Commonly called "Social Security Card" ) says "This card is property of the SSA" and then proceeds to say "If you find a card that's not yours." If everyone's card says the same thing, then shouldn't EVERYONE return then, since none of them are "yours"?

You're waaaay too logical for government