Brooklynites began thinking about taxes when they saw our Penny Poll. Ms. Gizmo attracted a crowd, including small children, and everyone thought carefully about where they wanted their tax dollars to go.
We provided twenty pennies to each voter and asked them to divide the pennies among eight tubes, representing categories in the Federal Budget. “Pretend you’re a Congressman, and these are twenty billion dollars,” we told them. After they voted, we provided these active citizens with information [on the War Resisters League flyer] about where their taxes are really being spent. Education is our game and pennies and tubes are our tools.
– Edith Cresmer
for the Granny Peace Brigade
Photos: Eva-Lee Baird