Tea Parties. What are they all about?

[Demetrius Thornton]

Can someone please share with me what the point of the tea parties yesterday were, and what idea's were shared to resolve these issues.

[Chris Arps]

I believe the point was to tell Washington that printing and borrowing trillions of dollars to mortgage our children's future, is not the direction we want to see our country go. We also don't like that our money is going to ACORN, the unions, and all the other constituencies that helped get President Obama elected. We also realize that the "tax the rich" rhetoric doesn't work in the real world and that our taxes - the middle class - are going to be raised to pay for Obama's programs.

It bothers many of us that government is bailing out homeowners who lied on their applications, while people that played by the rules and bought a house they can afford, are now subsidizing these people. It causes concern to many entrepreneurs and free marketeers to see the government taking over entire industries and firing CEO's while telling car companies which divisions of theirs to sell. The ideas are in the above ideals; pare down government and reign in the spending; don't subsidize - and ultimately encourage - poor decision making; bring government back to the people, not special interests who fund candidates. I could go on and on but I hope you get an inkling of the sentiment that is out in the country.

[Eric J]

the main ideas that were shared at the DC event: 1) to not let this die here - to call write and email your Congresscritter to let them know that (although Obama is a target-rich environment unto himself) "yes, we are talking about YOU", 2) to encourage others to speak out, and 3) to promulgate the reading and study of our United States Constitution in order to have a more informed electorate.

[Joshua Warren]

Chris said it well.

I would add that a not-so-subliminal message being directed at our (non)representatives in Congress is that:

- "We are finally mad enough to really do something tangible about all the nonsense going on up on the Hill".
- "The upcoming election in 2010 will be the final curtain for a lot of you. Start packing".
- "This is NOT a partisan issue! Many of us are Democrats who voted for you guys, but enough is enough!

...or something to that effect. My main hope, though, is that this initiative (symbolized by the Tea Parties) does not stop here. We've turned up the heat by a few degrees but that's not enough. Those flames have got to get a lot higher and the temperature a lot hotter. And it has to be applied consistently. Who knows. Maybe some of them will come to their senses as a result of this effort. Time will tell.

[Glenn]

The Tea Parties we witnessed and participated in on April 15th were strikingly similar to the "Boston Tea Party" that led to the American Revolution of 1776. The primary issue is still the same Taxation without Representation.

People across the nation came together to protest against their government. To let their voices be heard and to make a clear collective and consise complaint against the socialistic direction this current Administration and Congress is leading us.

The message from the masses is clear; As a nation, we must not abandon the fundamental principles, ideals and values that this country was founded on. Values such as ; One Nation Under God, Limited Federal Government, States Rights, All Men are created equal and the Individual's Right to pursue Liberty and Freedom.

Never mind the media or other naysayers, the members of Congress and the current Administration must be continually reminded that ultimately they will have to answer to the power of the people.

[Coby W. Dillard]

What I think, and what I'd like to see:

April 15 was a day to vent...to get all-or most-of the grievances out in the open.

From here, I think the movement needs to take a focus on discussing solutions. Here in VA, I'm going to try to make that the focus of some of our next events. We'll gain legitimacy by not just yelling in the streets (which was great, BTW!), but by bringing forward those people/groups who have looked at the possible "better way" and giving them a public forum.

[Demetrius Thornton]

Thank you very much please keep me informed with what you are working on, I too think that when we raise our hand that we need to have something to say.

Coby W. Dillard said:

What I think, and what I'd like to see:

April 15 was a day to vent...to get all-or most-of the grievances out in the open.

From here, I think the movement needs to take a focus on discussing solutions. Here in VA, I'm going to try to make that the focus of some of our next events. We'll gain legitimacy by not just yelling in the streets (which was great, BTW!), but by bringing forward those people/groups who have looked at the possible "better way" and giving them a public forum.