T.E.A. Parties

[Garden Gal]

A bit long but I believe it is important...

My husband and I were fortunate to have the opportunity to attend the Tea Party in Richmond, Va. It was cold and drizzly the entire time. Over 5000 people showed up to peacefully, respectfully and passionately express their concern over the way our government is being run and the direction many Americans believe it is heading.

There were black folks, white folks, college kids, young kids and veterans in wheel chairs and older folks using walkers and canes. There were "hippies" and folks in three piece suits. I would say it was one of the most wide assortment of individuals from every walk of life congregated at one place and time for something important (rather than a football game, car race, etc...) that I have ever witnessed.

There was not ONE negative comment about the current President. NOT ONE. There were many, many negative comments about both political parties and their rampant spending, personal agendas, etc... I feel it is VERY important to stress that this is NOT ABOUT REPUBLICANS WHO ARE UPSET WE LOST THE ELECTION. These events were attended by ALL political parties.

As a side note; The majority of Republicans are TICKED off at what has happened to the GOP, so please, please, don't make people's legitimate concerns into a partisan debate. If this country is ever going to get back on the right track, it will only be through and by the citizens STOPPING the partisan hate/animosity. We must all be Americans first and foremost and leave the political bickering up in DC.

I saw only one inappropriate sign. It was racial and not against our president, but was directed at a few minority groups not paying their own mortgages. I quietly and politely informed the moron that many white folks were also not assuming their own responsibility...

Yes, the only reporting shown by main stream media was not very impressive. Could that have been deliberate? Might they have set out to diminish and distort what was so very positive and impressive about all these events? There were far, far more calm and rational folks in attendance who did know why they were there, but whose opinion was not sought.

Hundreds of thousands of Americans got off their butts to peacefully assemble and call to task a government which many feel is out of control. No one was injured. No violence. No rocks thrown, no cars destroyed, no windows broken. I'm not sure if there were even any parking tickets issued, but if so, that is probably the most egregious offense committed across this entire country. Think about that. Long and hard. For Americans to be belittled, laughed at, lied about and labeled as "extremists" by our own Government, for peacefully assembling and discussing our concerns, should make ALL citizens just a bit uncomfortable, if not down-right concerned.

I am guilty of having been happy in my ignorance until things got too out of hand. Had I better educated myself, been more involved, better understood the Constitution and WHY it was written the way it was written, I would have been concerned a long, long time ago. If you believe in personal liberty and freedoms, in small government and fiscal and personal responsibility as do I, than we are all guilty of having fallen asleep at the wheel. I let it happen once, but I will do my best to ensure it doesn't happen again. Not because I'm a fiscal conservative - but because I am an American who does not want to see what is great about this country get lost forever.

 

[country lady]

Garden Gal, beautifully stated. I quit watching Charlie Gibson during the campaign but I just had to see his take on this--so disappointed in him. All I ask is that there be facts--is that asking too much of all the "journalists"? Evidently, crude jokes were flying at the major networks--very low class indeed! Even my local newspaper editorial thought the Tea Party was only about the stimulus.

 

[Garden Gal]

Quote:
With all due respect, it appears to me that the only information you have about these events was gleamed from one reporter's "opinion" - not from anything close to legitimate journalism or personal research. How can you be comfortable criticizing other people, whom in your opinion, are not intelligent and for not knowing why they were there, when every single point you presented is incorrect?

You have certainly taken to heart your grandfather's advice to not be concerned with the facts.

 

[Turtle]

Quote:
That was very well stated. Great job.

 

[AHappychick]

Actyually I watched all coverage links from all news channels. Maybe I have been unclear. I dont like the direction our country has taken, I dont like the fat that we bailed out people who destroyed pentions and our economy all the while becoming richer than rich. I disagree with bailing them out but I am not a financial wizard and do not fully understand why we have done it this way. But I dont blame this particular Presedent for it. He has only been in office a few months and everyone seems to expect miricles from him. I dont think any pres would have done it much differently. I googles images of the tea party and over half of the signs were anti Omaba. I am surprised that there were so few at your rally. Maybe I missed something but were there any speakers or people with a different plan? is there something I did not read or hear? Please I welcome any info. I am not so stuborn that I can not be swayed I just have yet to hear any factual points just that people are unhappy. I get that I really do I just feel like what ever message is trying to be sent is being cluttered with hate. I would love to hear from anyone a plan that would fix this problem our country is in.

 

[yotetrapper]

I believe the tea parties started in protest to the massive government bailouts, which most economists believe will not help the economy anyways. But the tea parties became more than that, they were different things to different people. Most everyone there was concerned about the way government is throwing money away. They are concerned that they will be paying for everyone who doesn't bother working hard enough (or whom spent more than they could ever afford) to pay their mortgage.

They were upset about the Department of Homeland Security stating in a report that veterans returning from war would be taken up by right wing extremist groups because of their training with guns and that those veterans could become the next Timothy McVeigh. (Yes, that's really what was said, read the report if you dont believe me).

They were upset about the fact that although some polls show as high as 90% opposed the bail out, the government went ahead and did it anyways (does that sound like "representation" to you?).

So were these events bipartisan? Well, if 2 republicans in the house agree with a bill, the democrats are quick to label it a bipartisan bill. I will say that in my opinion these events were mostly attended by folks of conservative leaning. But I know of several democrats who actually hosted one of these events. I'm sure there were more dems in attendance than you would think.

For those of you speaking out on this thread against the tea parties, I have only one question... do you agree with the amount of money spent on the bailouts, and the way it was spent?

 

[yotetrapper]

While not exactly a plan to fix the mess this country is in, there were a ton of people at these rallies in support of the fair tax. For more info on that, you can go to http://www.fairtax.org This isn't a way to fix a broken economy, just a fairer way of taxing it's citizens. Before you condemn the plan, take five minutes to enter your stats into the calculator on the fair tax page, and see what fair tax would be for you. Then take the lowest income you could imagine, and see what the calculator says for that.

I think many of the people there believe (as I do) that nothing should be done about the banking crisis. All this bailout is doing is propping up the banks. The people losing their houses are still gonna lose their houses, the bailout does nothing for that. In a free capitalist society, businesses are left to sink or swim. When the government steps in and starts funding businesses that should be private (banks) that is when you begin to hear shouts of socialism. Let the banks fail. They got themselves into this mess. Sure, we would be in economic turmoil for a while longer, but then new businessmen would step up and rebuilt the fallen banking system, hopefully having learned from there predecessor's mistakes.

 

[country lady]

And, yotetrapper, do you believe as I do that banks should be banks, and not a market place for other things like investments, etc? And now we hear that some banks didn't need or want the bailouts but were arm twisted by the government so that the public couldn't know which banks were actually failing. And to top it off, it is said that banks who want to give back the money are threatened with more scrutiny and harassment from the government. This is government tampering, pure and simple. Our local banks seem very sound. Businesses have failed throughout our history. What will the government do with the money that is returned? Bet it will never be put back. Lots of reasons why individuals attended tea parties. I was surprised at the attendance since it was in the middle of a work week.

 

[Garden Gal]

At the event in Richmond there were speakers and they were very well organized. The list of speakers is below.

To me, the most important issue is that the concerns by MOST individuals involved in these protests were not simply on the current administration. Obviously, there were some people who took the opportunity to express their disapproval of the President and they are free to do so, but the MAIN PURPOSE of the events, nation wide - was to bring attention to the overall misuse of governmental power. This has not happened just since January. It did not just happen during the previous eight years. It has been happening for a long time. Those individuals who simply focus on what they don't like about Obama or continue to harp on what Bush did wrong are completely missing the point of this movement and do it a grave disservice.

I believe the first step toward finding a way to "fix" this is to give long, serious thought on what you truly believe and where your values are grounded. For me personally, this process has resulted in my learning about the Constitution; not just reading it and saying "yeah, what he said"! but in reading why it was written, what the founding fathers were trying to protect us from, and how important it is to keep the people in control, not the government in control over us. I grew up a proud military brat, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, loving my country deeply, crying every time the Star Spangled Banner is sung... but without a clear understanding of what is so precious and unique about the United States. It wasn't until I read about other forms of government, the history of how they work and don't work, that the REASON I love this country (without knowing it) is due to the fact that it was founded on some amazing, incredibly insightful principles. This is the ONLY country in the world based on these principles and we are very, very much in danger of becoming just like everyone else...

There will be no quick fix... unfortunately. But if you are concerned and not happy with how things are progressing, it is imperative that you find a way to let this be known, in which ever peaceful, rational manner you deem appropriate. Changes will not occur through the efforts of the minority... It is going to take an enormous amount of work and dedication by many, many citizens, from all parties - who will put aside their petty differences to do what they believe is in the best interest of this country.

First... read. Read. Read. Educate yourself on what makes this country great and WHY it is so great. (If anyone would like the names of the books I found helpful send me a PM. I'm no rocket scientist by any means, and most of them were easy to read and easy to understand. Those which got too heavy, I skimmed...) Then, don't be afraid to seek out local groups whose beliefs and concerns are close to your own. They don't have to be perfect; they don't have to be 100% in alignment with your positions; they just need to be a good starting point. The first group you try/meet may not be right. That doesn't mean they are ALL wrong. Just like some folks have to try several churches before finding one that fits, or some folks have to visit several new dentists before finding one they like - just go in with an open mind and see what you can bring to the table. Keep in mind we are ALL new at this, which is one reason why some folks may not be able to clearly and perfectly articulate their thoughts; let's not hold that against anyone. Contact your representatives often - OFTEN - and let them know what they are doing which are in alignment with your beliefs on how this country needs to be governed and what they are doing which does not.

If anything is to be corrected and brought back under control, we need to come together, cut each other some slack on the areas in which we disagree and focus on the important, critical issues. Regardless of color. Regardless of religion or political party. None of that MATTERS.


Speakers at the Richmond Tea Party

Thompson & Jimmy Barrett
Pope Andre, Mid-Atlantic Christian Artists
John Taylor, Virginia Institute of Public Policy
Scott Lee (listen: What is a Patriot?)
Todd Vanderpol, Matthews Well
Matt Whitworth, VCU Student
Virginia Patriots
American Family Radio's JimmyG, Chris Kinsel & Kimberly Braine-Tillem
Jim Trautz, Independence Caucus
Todd Rojcewicz, Powhatan Taxpayers Alliance
Patriot Pipes & Drums
Jim Smyers (Introducing the Petition)
Laura Glover& Angie Parker, We Surround Them
Ned Ryun, American Majority
Jamie Radtke, Restoring the Founders' Vision

 

[bluey]

Quote:
Very well said!

My personal experience during the Washington, PA was very similar. It was very peaceful. orderly and respectful. Nothing like what was portrayed in the mainstream media.