I’m going to be unfair. Let’s just address this up front. I plan to use the thoughts from a small segment of a small population to make my point. But I don’t think this will make my point any less valid, because whether or not they represent the whole group, the people still said it.
So I have been watching coverage of this Tea Party shit. First of all how gay is that? These people couldn’t think of their own idea, so they had to leech off of our history? And they aren’t the only ones! The Governor of Texas was talking about his states succession from the union. Been there, done that, circa 1860-1865. Only it was a bunch of other states’ idea first.
What is it with all the remakes lately? Transformers, GI Joe, there is even a Red Dawn remake in the works! Come on people where are the original ideas anymore?
Anyway that is getting me off my point. The point is, that I was listening to live interviews of people at these Tea Bagging’s, and kept hearing the same answer to the same question. It would go someting like this:
Q: “So why are you here protesting today?”
A: “Because we don’t think we should be taxed.”
Admittedly, this is a simplistic account reflecting a conglomeration of different statements that all seemed to fit, in some way, this basic statement.
My issue with this is in the event’s conception. If you are going to call your events Tea Parties, in an effort to ally your position with that of one of the greatest showing of populous uprisings in our nation’s history, you should at least understand what the original was about.
The original Tea Party wasn’t simply about a bunch of people who didn’t want to pay there taxes. They were willing to pay their taxes, they just wanted equal representation. They didn’t want to be taxed by a bunch of English people that didn’t understand the first thing about what was going on in their country. Thus the phrase, No Taxation Without Representation. That’s what the Boston Tea Party was all about.
So when you have a representative government of politicians elected by us. Doesn’t it seem a bit disingenuous and perhaps even insulting to the original event to call what happened yesterday Tea Parties? Especially when I got the feeling most of the people I saw interviewed didn’t even understand what the original was about.
Don’t get me wrong, I am all for protesting the things you find unjust in the world, especially within our democracy. While I don’t support the motivation behind yesterdays demonstrations, I fully support their efforts to peacefully protest what they think is wrong in America. But don’t steal another persons idea and pass off your bastardized version of it as something unique.
With all that said here is my view on taxes. I like roads. I like having police. I like having public schools. I like having a standing army. If the government needs more of my money to ensure I have these things. I’m cool with that.
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It is common to leverage historical themes in causes. To the Left and the Right. I would like to know if you are as harsh to the Left when they make the same mistake.
Taxes are a problem when they go beyond standing army, Education, and Infrastructure projects.
However,
When it is spent on Social Agenda Programs that were not intended for the government to be involved in, i then have issues with the taxes.
Income Tax wasn’t around for most our countries history and we survived just fine. Now that the government has been on the Juice for so long, It keeps getting bigger and Americans keep believing their government should be doing more for them. I have never seen the entitlement American’s Feel be higher in this country.
As far as interviews, the coverage on both sides was so incredibly biased one would be better to find a BBC Reporter and listen to the Reporting of the news which our country seems to have lost the ability to do effectively.
I welcome your ideas openly. As for my source of the interviews, they were from POTUS, XM channel 130, which is owned by CSPAN. I find their reporting to be some of the most neutral, unfiltered, news broadcasting in America. But I completely agree with you in going to the BBC, which is why you will always find a link to the BBC in my “Links” area. I also supply a link to Reuters.
I also agree that, yes, “It is common to leverage historical themes in causes.” However, what I take issue with is how the people I heard interviewed at these Tea Parties lacked the historical knowledge to link the two events together accurately. And I feel the organizers could care less if their patrons could or not. They just wanted coverage.
I appreciate you taking the time to post here, as I always welcome an honest discourse regardless of political affiliation. I hope you will continue to add your logical responses in the future.
Social Agenda Programs? Nice talking point, but it doesn’t actually mean anything.
Bush was in office for eight horrific years. In those eight years he swelled the federal government (office of homeland security), spent more than any before him, and shredded the constitution (patriot act, executive privilege, wire tapping, +…). Yet, we heard nothing from the Republicans. Bush crashed the economy into the mountain, ran up the largest deficit in the history of our country, and invaded the wrong country. Yet, we heard nothing from the Republicans.
Now, less than 100 days into the Obama presidency/Operation Bush Cleanup we are confronted with the outright ignorance of this? Where were the protests when Bush was running the meter backwards on his failed Social Agenda Programs (aka war mongering in the wrong fucking country while lying to Americans about WMDs)?! Where were these ridiculous income tax debates then? Aaaahhh yes, they were confined to the flat taxers on the fringe of the party. Now, in the Republican power vacuum, the fringes are taking over. A snake devouring its own tail.
This is an impotent gesture of folly from a failed ideology that is out of ideas. It is only a coincidental gift from the Gods that it was conceived by such a socially tone deaf group as to not know that Teabagging meant getting a ball sack in your face. I think they ought to realize who’s balls are actually in their face: Barack Hussein Obama’s. Taste them. That is he taste of your self-generated political irrelevance.
And as for the Social Agenda Programs…bring them on. My entitlements just aren’t being met. Crank up the entitlement to 11, America! Because we have been expecting so little from the last miserable failure that we are due our hope, and are due our prosperity. We are entitled to a country that works. We are entitled to a country that doesn’t torture. We are entitled to a country that is respected. We are entitled to a country that cares for it’s veterans. We are entitled to a country that has compassion for it’s sick. We are entitled to a country, not a wedge issue.
I was going to comment but I will just refer readers to the comments of Taller. Mega-dittos Taller.
For you blind hypocritical tea-baggers, that was a direct insult at your worship of the drug dealer Rush Limbaugh. I know how you need things spelled out for you…
Disclaimer – I understand that not all tea-baggers are Limbaugh sheep. At least that’s what Bill O’Reilly told me…lol.
Red Dawn remake? Please don’t ruin the classic…
Well,
First let me thank Jrodius for being a mature and intelligent human being willing to listen and discuss issues even if we may disagree on some. I truly believe we would agree on 95% and have good dialog about the remaining 5%.
Thank you taller and TJ for exemplifying a logical and cordial commentary ;) I made no mention of support for Bush or Republicans as I have issues there. Please in the future leverage Snopes.com for verifying your facts. Generally you your post is what they are trying to paint anyone who disagrees with Current Direction of Government over the past 10 years into a corner as an extremist. If anything your rant demonstrates that you are much closer leaning to the extremist side. If you wish to have a real conversation not filled with blind insults maybe our country could move forward.
Thanks,
Guess
I didn’t take you for a Republican. Your ideas sounded much more Libertarian, if I was to label them as anything. Thanks for coming back. Would love to hear your thoughts on my “Let’s Be Clear” post.
Am I the only one who has no idea who or what that dude is talking about?
No drunk posting.
Red Dawn remake? What’s next Steel Dawn or maybe Russkies!