On the day millions of taxpayers drop their tax returns into the mailbox, thousands of those same people showed up in states from California to Kentucky to Massachusetts. Here in Sacramento, it is estimated that 5,000 people stood at the doorstep of California's Capitol Building.
The people weren't demanding universal health care.
They weren't demanding higher union wages.
They weren't asking for any government handouts.
In fact, they weren't even protesting President Obama - though that was a focal point. Intead these citizens were asking for a restraint to the out of control tax and spend policies of government on all levels. They were protesting policies put in place by both Republicans and Democrats that see to make people beholden to their government.
Speakers at the Sacramento Tea Party, including Mark Williams, Eric Hogue, Fox News' Neil Cavuto, talk radio personality Michael Reagan, Armstrong and Getty (KSTE 650) and Rep. Tom McClintock, rallied the crowd all afternoon. There was no shortage of signs, including "No on 1A" signs. Prop 1A is the ballot measure on the May 19 special election to create state spending restrictions and extend state tax increases by $16 billion.
At times the plethora of signs made the event reminiscent of a WWE event, but this wasn't a Vince McMahon promotion pitting Right against Left. Instead it was an event about Right vs. Wrong. It was a peaceful and respectful rally by people who are against building a debt for future generations. It was a gathering of mothers, fathers, grandmothers and grandchildren alike standing united protesting the wreckless spending of an ever growing State and Federal government.
The message was simple: Americans of all political persuasions have grown weary of politicians forcing taxpayers to pick up the tab for their wasteful spending instead of working together to make the tough fiscal decisions Americans are forced to make each and every day. They've had enough of seeing their hard-earned tax dollars wasted on pork-barrel spending that won't create jobs, rebuild their savings, or get our economy moving again. This is the message of the tea party movement.
Part of what drives the Tea Party movement — not just taxes today - but all of the spending that will eventually require crushing taxes to resolve. The Obama administration plans a 
spending spree unlike anything outside of world wars in our history, and wants to sell a fantasy that only the rich have to pay for it. It’s ridiculous on its face. The amounts are staggeringly high, and even 100% confiscation wouldn’t begin to cover it.
After an $800 billion stimulus bill, the Obama budget increases spending by $1 trillion over 10 years, includes an additional $250 billion placeholder for another bailout, and calls for a Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) law while astonishingly violating that rule by $3.4 trillion. Additionally, the 25% spending increase in the Obama budget represents the largest non-war government expansion since the New Deal and people realize that spending money we do not have is not the answer.
Remember, if government spending got us out of recessions, why would we ever have recessions? We’d just spend our way out of everything.
Enough is enough. It's time for the Federal Government and the California Legislature - Democrats and Republicans alike - to live within their means.
Liberty is all the stimulus we need. Liberty, the root of what meant to the Founders' generation "liberal," describes freedom from control and interference, particularly by government. People want their freedom first. And they cannot have it if government forces dependence on them through the bondage of excessive taxes forcing them to work just to keep up with the mounting debt.
4.15.2009
Sacramento's Tax Day Tea Party
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
4 comments:
"Liberty is all the stimulus we need. Liberty, the root of what meant to the [F]ounders' generation 'liberal,' describes freedom from control and interference, particularly by government."
Yet another brilliant commentary by our Chlorinated Liberty in Chief. Very well stated, indeed. Yes, our Founders, blessed by Providence, understood that, through liberty, the people would prosper. How right they were. In less than 200 years, this upstart nation became the most prosperous and powerful of any in the history of the world. We far surpassed the old world because of our Founders' understanding that government power must be restricted for the people to prosper. We have used our power and prosperity as the greatest force for good that the world has ever know.
Now, our God given blessings of liberty are under attack by those who seek to centralize power. They strive to soften us into surrendering our liberty willingly by telling us we need to feel guilty for our prosperity. It's not fair that we are free and others are not. Others are poor because we, the prosperous, and selfish. We oppress less fortunate "developing" peoples so that we can steal the resources and consume them for ourselves. The world is a zero-sum gain. Our freedom and prosperity is destroying the planet. Therefore, we should feel guilty for it and surrender our freedom, empower the government to control damage we are doing.
Yet, it's just the opposite. The Founders established economic liberty is as the basis of our system. They knew how, given the freedom to advance ones self interest, society prospers. The creative have incentives to create, explore and expand our knowledge. This has been the greatest blessing of all. Now it is threatened and those who make this country work are starting stand up and voice their objections.
Yes, it was refreshing to see a demonstration where the demonstrators were not shouting and demanding more free money from the government. "Gimme more, more, more!!" Never, "Thank you, taxpayers, for all that you do provide." Yesterday was a demonstration of principles. Will it do any good? Not in the short run. Not with Caesar Obama in the White House or "Blinky" Pelosi running the Congress. Nor with a Department of Homeland Security that considers those who disagree with the policies of Caesar Obams to be “domestic terrorists” that must be “watched”. But, as one of our principle Founders, Samuel Adams said, "It does not take a majority to prevail ... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men."
Have the fires been set?
This post is well written and I think you captured the idea behind the Tea Party movement very well. I attended a neighborhood party. However, as I read through your previous posts, many of which I enjoyed, I was disappointed in the tone and content of the Earth Hour post. I am a conservative and I participated in Earth Hour. I think that the Tea Parties and Earth Hour have a lot in common. Both were groups of people who came together in a symbolic gesture to bring attention to a cause they believe in. No one believes that turning off their lights for an hour will stop global warming just like sending tea bags to members of Congress will bring immediate changes to the tax code. It’s a way to bring a lot of people together to bring attention to their cause.
I am not sure if global warming is true, but I do know that my nephew can’t play outside on days when smog is particularly bad. That is why I want to work toward less pollution and conserving energy is one way to do that. People are concerned about the environment and I am disappointed that there isn’t a conservative voice out there discussing it. We need our own answer to Al Gore. My conservative and independent friends are turned off when their environmental concerns are dismissed as only of concern to liberals. It’s just not true and I think it would benefit your blog if you looked at the issue in a different way instead of dismissing it at something silly that doesn’t matter to real conservatives. Thanks.
Tom thank you for joining the conversation! We're always glad to have newbies!
I'm glad that you enjoyed the post and appreciate your commentary on the "global warming" issues.
Please allow me to briefly make a point on that issue. I do not believe in global warming. Despite the claims of some the science is FAR from conclusive, and more and more legitimate science is disproving the claims of anthropomorphic global warming which has brought about "government solutions" that crush taxpayers, business, and the housing development industry.
HOWEVER... I firmly believe that as individuals - as citizens - we have a responsibility to our community (macro and micro) to be good stewards and caretakers of that which we have. Towards that end I am fully supportive of taking care of the environment, not just for today's generation, but for my children and their children. Yet I thoroughly oppose the efforts of some (on both sides)to use the power of big government and taxes to force citizens into a "green lifestyle" - especially when that government-centric approach destroys jobs and drives up energy prices for years to come. (See the post on The Mindboggling Cap & Trade Costs).
In California there are attempts to eliminate free parking, mandate the color of our cars, and dictate the size of TV we can own... all in the name of anthropomorphic global warming. In reality the results of these efforts hamper economic development and stimy the very freedoms and liberties that would allow us to care for the environment on our own without the heavy hand of government.
This is a good conversation and one I - and many of our readers - are more than willing to participate in. Because in the end you are right, while many conservatives may feel the way that I do, few if any leaders have been able to articulate the ideas and offer up substantive policy alternatives to the current global warming "solutions."
Thank you again, I hope you become an active part of our community!
I'm glad to hear you think we should be stewards of the earth. I think more conservatives should be vocal about that. I think conservatives with a platform that brings millions of people to them every day (Rush, etc.) should stop talking about global warming and start talking about caring for our environment because it is the right thing to do for our kids. I've talked to my friends about this a lot and we are so tired of only hearing why the other side is wrong and not hearing how to apply conservative values to solve the problem. If conservatives and liberals could work together on this issue then we could make progress. Its up to us to make it about something other than global warming. We need to stop arguing about the cause and start finding a solution that works. Who is going to step up and do it? Right now, I don't see any conservative that is willing.
Also, do you see my point in the tea parties and Earth Hour not being all that different and that each group deserves respect for what they are trying to accomplish?
Post a Comment