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You have to hand it to Emma Thompsonand her actor husbandGreg Wise for cleverly launching a tax boycott. They earnplenty of income,but wont pay taxes until the British government cracks down on wealthy wealthier people shielding their riches. The pair want the culpritsin theHSBC tax evasion scandalin prison, and hope amass tax boycottwill getupper crust tax cheats.

More tax evasion isnt a solution to tax evasion, according to some Brits. But Ms. Thompson and Mr. Wiseseemprepared to go to prison if they have to. Actor Russell Brand also wants to skip paying taxes, and we applauds their bravery. In a post on his Twitter page, he writes, Yes Emma Thomson [sic] and Greg Wise! In unity! Lets stop paying our taxes and mortgages. Brand took a page from his anti-democracy book Revolution, urgingBrits to stop paying all their bills, including mortgage payments and taxes.

Curiously,Emma Thompsonis close to Prince Charles, and hassaid that dancing with him is better than sex. What does this have to do with Al Sharpton? Maybe nothing, except that Mr. Sharpton has tax problems of his own. Moreover, as withEmma Thompsons proximity to Prince Charles, Rev. Sharpton hascloseties to White House, despite his tax debts.

Perhaps Rev. Sharptons lack of tax payments may have more to do with mismanagement than with principles, but who knows? After all, when the New York Times reported that Sharpton and his for-profit business owe more than $4.5 million in unpaid taxes.At a press conference,Sharpton disputedthe New York Times report, and said it was over his support of President Obama.

Although Rev. Sharpton has lead his share of protests, it isnt clear that any of them have been about taxes. Yet his relationship with taxes has been strained for years. Intell it to the Reverend Al, the New York Post counted$4.5 million of tax liens. In that sense, a tax protest might do nicely.

CNN listsAlSharpton fast facts,noting that the Reverendwas bornOctober 3, 1954 in Brooklyn, and was ordained as a Pentecostal minister in 1964. In 1969, he was named youth director forOperation Breadbasketby Jesse Jackson. In 1972, he was named youth director ofShirley Chisholmspresidential campaign.

But by1989, Sharptonfaced 67 felony counts of tax evasion, larceny and fraud. He was acquitted, but plead guilty to the misdemeanor charge of failure to file state income tax for 1986. In 1991, he founded the National Action Networkto expose racial profiling and police brutality. In 1992, heranin New Yorks primary for the U.S. Senate, a race he lost in 1994. In 1997,he ran second in New Yorks mayoral primary.

Excerpt from:
Al Sharpton, Emma Thompson, Russell Brand: Tax Protesters, Sort Of