47 ms·

I don't think it's the same as getting paid to do it like a job. It's more along the lines of your group or committee or activism organization gets sponsorship

by zo1 10y ago

I don't think it's the same as getting paid to do it like a job. It's more along the lines of your group or committee or activism organization gets sponsorship from someone. The assumption being that now you(the group) are getting money, you're 'funded' therefore you need to 'do something' that your group advocates or represents. If you are a pro environmental rights organization you would have to send someone to protest a pipeline for example.

geofft 10y ago
That's not what's being claimed: > paid protestors who are going to get in trouble for working in North Dakota and not filing their taxes The only way you'd be liable to state taxes in ND is if you are literally paid to do it like a job.
- zo1 10y ago
  Isn't it more likely that that individual was just being a bit facetious rather than seriously claiming these people are getting a "paycheck" for protesting? That is how I took it, and was more trying to expound on how "paid protesting" could at the very least work hypothetically.
  - geofft 10y ago
    No, I don't think that's more likely. The accusations of "paid protesting" have been very consistent that they literally mean getting an individual paycheck to go and protest. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jan/30/north-dakota-wants-hired-pipeline-protesters-to-pa/ http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jan/30/north-dakota... The Washington Times (note that the Times is a Unification Church-run paper, not the Post) quotes the North Dakota Tax Commissioner as saying he's "looking at the entities that have potential paid contractors here on their behalf doing work," and writes that he's "keeping an eye out for tax forms from environmental groups that may have hired protesters to agitate against" the pipeline. http://heatst.com/politics/north-dakota-may-take-tax-action-against-professional-protestors-at-standing-rock/ http://heatst.com/politics/north-dakota-may-take-tax-action-... Heat Street also quotes a spokeswoman for the tax commissioner as saying, "Since the protesters earned income in North Dakota, they would owe income tax to the state on that income tax per North Dakota tax law. If they do not file for tax year 2016, they would be subject to penalties and interest." https://twitter.com/foxandfriends/status/828570204670091264 https://twitter.com/foxandfriends/status/828570204670091264 Sean Spicer says that protesting is "a profession" and it's become an "astroturf-type movement", and specifically contrasts it with the Tea Party protests (which consisted of funded organizations, like you suggest—enough funded organizations that the IRS could flag them). https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/796900183955095552 https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/79690018395509555... The president refers to "professional protestors". http://abcnews.com.co/donald-trump-protester-speaks-out-i-was-paid-to-protest/ http://abcnews.com.co/donald-trump-protester-speaks-out-i-wa... Literal fake news website "abcnews.com.co" (i.e., not "abcnews.go.com") has a story about a protestor receiving a $3,500 check. I appreciate that you're trying to extend good faith, but the way to do that is to believe they mean what they say. If the mechanics of "paid protesting" don't make sense to you, that's because the people you're arguing with are wrong, not because you're misunderstanding them.
    - deleted 10y ago
      [deleted]

by zo1 10y ago

geofft 10y ago

That's not what's being claimed: > paid protestors who are going to get in trouble for working in North Dakota and not filing their taxes The only way you'd be liable to state taxes in ND is if you are literally paid to do it like a job.

zo1 10y ago
Isn't it more likely that that individual was just being a bit facetious rather than seriously claiming these people are getting a "paycheck" for protesting? That is how I took it, and was more trying to expound on how "paid protesting" could at the very least work hypothetically.
- geofft 10y ago
  No, I don't think that's more likely. The accusations of "paid protesting" have been very consistent that they literally mean getting an individual paycheck to go and protest. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jan/30/north-dakota-wants-hired-pipeline-protesters-to-pa/ http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jan/30/north-dakota... The Washington Times (note that the Times is a Unification Church-run paper, not the Post) quotes the North Dakota Tax Commissioner as saying he's "looking at the entities that have potential paid contractors here on their behalf doing work," and writes that he's "keeping an eye out for tax forms from environmental groups that may have hired protesters to agitate against" the pipeline. http://heatst.com/politics/north-dakota-may-take-tax-action-against-professional-protestors-at-standing-rock/ http://heatst.com/politics/north-dakota-may-take-tax-action-... Heat Street also quotes a spokeswoman for the tax commissioner as saying, "Since the protesters earned income in North Dakota, they would owe income tax to the state on that income tax per North Dakota tax law. If they do not file for tax year 2016, they would be subject to penalties and interest." https://twitter.com/foxandfriends/status/828570204670091264 https://twitter.com/foxandfriends/status/828570204670091264 Sean Spicer says that protesting is "a profession" and it's become an "astroturf-type movement", and specifically contrasts it with the Tea Party protests (which consisted of funded organizations, like you suggest—enough funded organizations that the IRS could flag them). https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/796900183955095552 https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/79690018395509555... The president refers to "professional protestors". http://abcnews.com.co/donald-trump-protester-speaks-out-i-was-paid-to-protest/ http://abcnews.com.co/donald-trump-protester-speaks-out-i-wa... Literal fake news website "abcnews.com.co" (i.e., not "abcnews.go.com") has a story about a protestor receiving a $3,500 check. I appreciate that you're trying to extend good faith, but the way to do that is to believe they mean what they say. If the mechanics of "paid protesting" don't make sense to you, that's because the people you're arguing with are wrong, not because you're misunderstanding them.
  - deleted 10y ago
    [deleted]