Attack on IRS part of long line of tax protestersWell, no: his feud didn't drive him to to anything... he DECIDED to commit suicide. Feuds are relationships... intangible concepts - not animate, willful beings. They lack volition, they cannot DO anything, let alone "drive" someone to act.
By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER
Associated Press Writer
"... Stack’s bitter feud with the IRS apparently drove him to commit suicide Thursday by slamming his single-engine Piper PA-28 into an Austin office building where the IRS has offices."
[emphasis added]
People are free agents.
Mr. Stack chose suicide... in fact, chose to die by what in another context would be called a "suicide bombing".
The notion that Mr. Stack's 'feud with the IRS' drove him to his action is simply wrong-headed and dangerous.
addendum: Why 'dangerous'?, you ask.
1. crediting the 'feud' as the prime mover absolves Mr. Stack of responsibility.
2. this re-assignment of responsibility from the individual to 'the system' absolves all future domestic terrorists of responsibility: "I couldn't help myself! - 'they' made me do it!" or "The Gov't deserves what it gets."
Another part of the way media gives these people credibility. Dangerous you betcha! Is this the goal? Double you betcha.
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