Cost of a tea party: $25K, and counterprotests
Bill Hanawalt with In Concert Productions sends hand signals for an associate to direct the TV lights, in preparation for tonight's event at the state Capitol. John Spink/jspink@ajc.com
How much does it cost to put on a tea party at the state Capitol?
With two stages — one for Sean Hannity of Fox News and the other for entertainers — more than $25,000, say the organizers.
And where do you put counterdemonstrators who have threatened to crash a party that includes live television? Police will attempt to contain them in an area one very long block away, in front of a parking lot on Courtland Avenue.
Organizers and stage hands are out in front of the state Capitol now. Checks are being written by the national anti-tax group Americans for Prosperity — but will be backfilled by local donations, said spokeswoman Virginia Galloway (no relation to the author).
Galloway said that so far, House Speaker Glenn Richardson — who like Galloway lives in Paulding County — is the largest donor. GOP congressional district organizations have all chipped in as well.
And Republican candidates haven’t hesitated to curry favor, either. Gubernatorial wannabes Karen Handel, John Oxendine, and Austin Scott have donated. Casey Cagle has not, Galloway said.
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72 comments Add your comment
Janis
April 15th, 2009
12:41 pm
Don’t these stupid people realize that the higher taxes are only for the richest? Almost all of the folks who turn out for this “event” will see lower taxes as a result of Obama’s election. The GOP middle class is being used, yet again, by the richest.
ProgressivePeach.com
April 15th, 2009
12:44 pm
Americans for Prosperity is funded by several key conservative plutocrats. They’re basically putting this on so that the 95% of the people who got a tax cut last month can rail about the richest 5% who got a 2% tax increase. Dance, puppets, dance!
bigeasy830
April 15th, 2009
12:44 pm
In a few weeks, you will be able to buy the DVD to help raise money for the cause. It will be titled “Hillbillies Gone Wild in Atlanta”.
45mitch
April 15th, 2009
12:45 pm
It’s not a protest of taxes. We haven’t started getting taxed yet! It’s a protest of the uncontrolled growth of the federal government and the massive spending going on.
And thanks, ATLPD for putting the counter-demonstrators by the parking deck on Courtland. As if we didn’t have our vehicles broken into enough over here.
MrLiberty
April 15th, 2009
12:48 pm
The truly sad part is the fact that Republicans who wouldn’t even consider soiling themselves with such disgusting things as PRINCIPLES when Bush was in office, spending like a drunken sailor, and throwing bailout money to all of his friends, now come out of hiding to make themselves look good (Hannity worst of all). Libertarians, both the party kind and the principled kind and TRUE conservatives have always been for smaller government, low taxes, and more freedom, no matter what parasitic group inhabited the white house or controlled the Congress. Unfortunately or maybe fortunately, the american public is seeing firsthand how the two party system really works. We are told that there will be real change, but the wars, the wasteful spending, the destruction of the constitution and bill of rights, and every other horrible Bush program and policy continue. Much like the Republicans that got behind Bush no matter what he did, pro-peace and freedom democrats continue to line up behind Obama despite his solid continuation of the war-party policies.
Sadly this tea party has been coopted by the same folks that support big government no matter what its face or political leaning. There will be thousands of us educated, non-partisan folks at the rally tonight however that have already woken to the realization that the two party system is the problem and that neither seeks to do any good other than increase their own power once elected. Already there are calls for everyone to wear red in solidarity, much like the lemmings all got behind the war crimes and big spending of Bush when he was in power because otherwise you were “with the terrorists”. So typical of the republicans who claim to be for freedom and individual libery so long as it doesn’t interfere with their goal of world domination and even bigger government at home.
Hopefully the take home message from the rally will be that we all need to unite behind principles and no longer politicians. If we had done that all along as the founders had hoped, we probably wouldn’t be in the mess we are in today.
MrLiberty
April 15th, 2009
12:56 pm
And Janis is being “used” as a mouthpiece by the Obama administration.
Hint Janis, when the money supply is raised (actually doubled since last September) you have inflation. Inflation is a hidden tax that robs every american, especially the poor and middle class as the price of everything they buy goes up. In addition, any of that new money that is backed by more debt obligations will require additional spending on interest and for payments of principle. There is no free lunch, despite what Obama told you. Even with no tax increases now, they MUST come later, so what’s the difference? Further, you are kidding yourself if you think that taxes on the rich will not translate into higher prices for goods for the poor and middle class.
Janis, go to http://www.mises.org and get an education in economics. For your own sake. Just parroting what the lapdog media and Obama’s press secretary say does nobody any good. These economic measures are destroying your future, just like ours. And by the way, Bush was just about as bad, and for him you can add illegal wars, payoffs to Wall Street friends and plenty more too (in case you were planning on writing me off as just another republican shill).
chris
April 15th, 2009
12:59 pm
these silly people watch too much fox news. don’t they know they are being manipulated? this is astroturf, not grassroots. (and sean hannity is an idiot.)
shera
April 15th, 2009
1:01 pm
To 45mitch-
Dittos! Anyone who has been keeping up with this KNOWS it is to protest the runaway PORK spending and vote buying of our current POTUS and Congress (and the Repubs in Congress are guilty too!). Anyone out there who actually PAYS taxes (not matter how little or how much) SHOULD attend and learn a thing or two.
To Janis- HOW do you think the govt. is going to pay for all this bailout and stimulus crap? DO you REALLY believe we are ALL going to get tax cuts? Were you born yesterday?
JJ
April 15th, 2009
1:02 pm
How come they didn’t do this when Bush wanted to waste money in Iraq or the first bailout. Our politicians have sold us out anyways. Sonny’s going to sign the bill that would give Georgia Power the right to charge us for a plant that they plan on building in the future. Isn’t it normal busniess practice to get paid after you provide the service or goods. That’s what they should be protesting! There were over 70 lobbyists from Georgia Power to get our politicians on their side, not the people’s side. How in the world will this benefit us?
Atlanta’s Teabag, er, Tea Party will be hellish, packed | Fresh Loaf
April 15th, 2009
1:03 pm
[...] it looks like the $25,000 fete will create confusion for motorists. “The Tea Party at the Capitol combined with Braves traffic [...]
Uncle Sam
April 15th, 2009
1:06 pm
Cost of protest…. %25,000. Cost of Obama’s policies 4 trillion and rising fast. This is not a Republican of Democrat issue. It is an American freedom issue. I personally blame Republicans and Democrats for making it possible for the first American dictator to come to power and attempt to forcibly nationalize banks and major industries. For God’s sake people! Defend the Constitution!
Rob
April 15th, 2009
1:11 pm
I work over 70 hours a week and “now” make a great living after building my business for 5 years. I nearly went under just three years ago, bankrupt, I even had to use state aid for my children for a short while.
Now due to my hard working efforts my tax rate is in the 40% range, due to the elimination of deductions. I pay out a lot of money in federal taxes and get very little in return. I could actually hire three more staff if I didn’t have the burden of federal taxes.
Did you know that every working American now owes $74,000 in debt? You do the math $11 Trillion Debt divided by 135 Million workers. This is $375 a month that everyone must pay just in principal and interest. I really don’t understand why foreign countries are still lending us due to this high burden? The market will decide that enough is enough. I have to say that, China has it right, I wouldn’t lend to us risk free.
People do not really understand that the federal spending directly or indirectly falls on our shoulders. WE pay more for things due to taxes and pay directly in sales tax and income tax. One final fact, 95% of the federal taxes are paid by 5% of American. I think the people don’t really care about taxes or don’t think its a big issue are the ones that don’t have skin in the game (no ownership). I would think if you were paying 40% of you annual income in taxes you would think differently.
No IRS
April 15th, 2009
1:26 pm
This is a non-partisan protest of the increasing tax and spend mentality of our government. Democrats, Republican, Libertarians, Greens & Independents will all take part in this protest. Filed my taxes today. Earned less than 35K last year and paid over 8K in taxes. I’m sick of it and you should be, also!
Momma
April 15th, 2009
1:33 pm
I think the notion that protesters need to be kept a block away is total hypocrisy. I guess FOX News doesn’t want them sullying their party. So much for freedom!
Nick
April 15th, 2009
1:33 pm
JJ is right on. This wouldn’t be so funny if the people putting this on had protested during the last administration.
shera
April 15th, 2009
1:34 pm
I’m a conservative and I do hate that the Repubs are trying to hijack this effort as one of their own. WTH were THEY on this issue when their switchboards were lighting up in OPPOSITION of the financial bailout in the fall?
People, this is NOT a R or D issue. If you are a tax payer and know how to carry a sign, yell, and yet conduct yourself in a respectful and civil manner, please attend! Defend your freedom or it will be lost forever!
Barry
April 15th, 2009
1:45 pm
What a bunch of Republican hypocrites. Bush spent his ass off during his tenure in office and now this demonic Republicans want to throw a so-called “tea party” and spend 25K on it at that. I am confident that that money could have been better utilized in assisting the homeless and/or put advertising out to help those who are facing foreclosures start by the non regulating republicans who ran our government the previous 8 years. Now they want a “tea party”. It appears they are a bunch of bored housewives and househusbands who have nothing to do but be antagonistic and obstructionist about anything designed and/or implemented by the Congress and the President to clean up the mess left by Bush and the Republicans. Where was your “tea party” then?? This shows how childish and demonic these Republicans are. If they can’t do it, then everyone else is wrong. President Obama’s spending is designed to bring our country back to normalcy with aid to the citizens of this country. Bush’s spending was designed fund Dick Cheney’s Haliburton and the war in Iraq, and deregulating and getting kick backs from the fat cats on Wall Street and alike. It appears they are a confused bunch who are pulling straws from anywhere to get attention just for attions sake and not for a real purpose. If they were truly puposeful and credible, they would have had this “tea party” under Bush previous 8 years. Therefore, stop the nonsense, get real, and help get our citizens and businesses back on track with their businesses and families. You are looking real silly out there with your “tea bags.”
Selah
Sissy Saxby
April 15th, 2009
1:49 pm
Hope Larry Craig can make it. It just wouldn’t be a real teabag party without him.
45mitch
April 15th, 2009
1:52 pm
This protest includes complaints against the Bush administration. The Bush administration doubled spending in their 8 years. Now, the Obama administration just doubled that spending in 4 months! The amount being spent is going up exponentially. Quit funding little pet projects with millions and billions and trillions of dollars and put that money back into the hands of the American taxpayer!
Chuck Eaton
April 15th, 2009
1:54 pm
“Don’t these stupid people realize that the higher taxes are only for the richest?” I don’t think most of the folks attending the tea parties are as short-sighted and selfish as you. The reality is government spending is out of control. When the Ponzai scheme comes to an end, rich and poor, young and old will all end up paying the tab.
lard butt
April 15th, 2009
1:55 pm
OMG issy! I so wish I had typed that… Brilliant.
Chess
April 15th, 2009
1:58 pm
Haliburton should pay for this puppet show. All the tax money they stole from the United States. Dance GOP puppets for Fox News.
Braves#1
April 15th, 2009
2:02 pm
I wish a lot of you would go read the constitution. Nowhere in it does it say that the government can tax your pay.
LibertyBell
April 15th, 2009
2:07 pm
The revolution does not start tonight at the tea party… it starts when you go home, back to your communities. Hours before the Boston Tea Party town folks gathered at the community hall. After a few hours they realized, the revolution was not going to happen there so they took action. Many walked away from the meeting ready for action. Thus the tea party. What will you do when you get back home?
mike
April 15th, 2009
2:08 pm
How dare conservatives protest? Don’t they know that only liberals are allowed to protest?
BobR
April 15th, 2009
2:23 pm
Hmmm – my Constitution includes Amendment 16, which DOES give the government the right to collect income tax.
I don’t understand why these small-government types (who never protested when Bush was president) are using the Boston Tea Party as inspiration, when that action was to protest Taxation Without Representation (and government favored business – eg: Halliburton). The protesters were willing to forgo tea to make their point; what are these protesters willing to forgo?… fire and police services?
jt
April 15th, 2009
2:24 pm
This just in-
Senator Edward Kennedy D. Mass. hass just issued orders to Senator Saxby Chambliss R.Ga., and Senator Johnny Isackson R.Ga., to NOT attend any “Right wing extremist TEA partiers”. Senator Chambliss can not be located for comment. Senator Isackson is holed up in Roswell.
Developing…….
jt
April 15th, 2009
2:53 pm
This just in-
Senator Saxby Chambliss R.Ga. has been moved to an undisclosed golf course in south Georgia. Senator Johnny Isackson has no comment on his “private TEA party” in Roswell. Still no word on the local Republican politician’s stampede to various television cameras.
Developing………
Ladysable
April 15th, 2009
3:15 pm
If memory serves me correctly – the American people (85%) were completely against the Wall Street bail out under the Bush administration. The problem is that our representatives, be they Democrat or Republican, didn’t listen to the American people.
Stop crying that no one complained when Bush initiated the first bail out. America complained – our leaders simply ignored us.
This isn’t a Democrat or Republican thing. It’s a matter of government gone crazy.
Jim Callihan
April 15th, 2009
3:20 pm
Even though certain “tools” have ran to the front of the line and therefore (erroneously) think that they are leading the parade – and worse, percieved as so by others equally as ignorant, this is NOT a partisan protest. Every comment here attacking the GOP “malpractice” in Washington that has went on for eight years is completely justified. Every comment here defending the “new administration’s” continued malpractice of government is indefensable. There is sufficient and ample “meat on that carcass” to feed everyone – both parties, federal government in general. There are no “clean hands” in this mess that keep piling on debt and corruption.
But…”We The People” owe it to our posterity, and more importantly, our descendants to hold “our employees” accountable. God forbid that this be curtailed by labels – the same ol, same ol “divide & conquer”. Total collapse and insolvency awaits the path that ALL of federal government has been on for countless years. Wil partisans feel better if the future, starved-to-death” victims are “toe-tagged” as “Republican”, “Democrat” or “Independent”? People get you minds right – this is bi-partisan treason upon a Republic, and yes, this response is very late in coming. It appears to be directed or blaming of the “current group” in office – that is an unfortunate by-product of timing. But, none-the-less, we should not be dismayed over an issue of “timing”.
“WE hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights.”
This means the rights of every American citizen are “not capable of being transferred to another; non-negotiable”. May God forgive us for having done so for far too long…no matter “the party”. But the time has come to rectify AMERICA’s problem – godspeed to the willing, strength to the able.
“If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace” – Thomas Paine
Student4ever
April 15th, 2009
3:21 pm
Why is it that people are so overwhelemed with what wasn’t done 4 years ago that they can’t see any good that is being done now? Yes, there should have been a public outcry when Bush was in office (you can’t decrease revenue [taxes] and keep spending huge amounts of money…deficit…). But now there is noise being made and instead of people looking to their future, wallets and the economic crisis, they are more concerned about political parties. *sigh* This isn’t just about the rich being taxed more, it’s about students like me that are having the bulk of our checks taken away to support causes that we disagree with. I volunteer, I give money and I advocate for others, 25% of check should’t be doing the same amount of work.
NJ
April 15th, 2009
3:32 pm
Personally, if anyone at this protest called in sick (without prior notice or arrangement), in this economy, he/she should be fired immediately. Pay your taxes (which have been REDUCED since Obama took office) and shut up already (UNLESS, you make more than $250,000).
The Trurth Comes Out
April 15th, 2009
3:33 pm
This is just the first of many protests against an out of control spend and tax obsessed egomaniac that is the current resident of the white house. You worshipers need to educate yourselves on what his stances will actually do to this nation and you wont like it either. Get use to it liberals! LOL!
Angry 20-something
April 15th, 2009
3:40 pm
For the last time…it is NOT a Republican or Democratic issue! I lean to the right, but you know what? If this same situation was going on and McCain was in office, you can bet I would still be at the tea party tonight, sign in hand. It’s about overzealous, irresponsible spending.
I could have bought a house last year – my husband and I make more than enough each month to cover payments. However, we’re still renting because we’re still saving for “in case of emergency.” If one of us was laid off or became ill and couldn’t work, we had zero funds to cover the payments if our paychecks stopped. Yet so many people believe that homeownership is an entitlement, and therefore when their home is foreclosure, those same people blame everyone but themselves. Why should my taxes go to bailout those who made stupid decisions on the fly while I’m patiently waiting until I have enough in my bank account to really support making a home purchase?
When did responsibility become unnecessary?
susan
April 15th, 2009
3:57 pm
the hate on this blog is absolutely uncalled for. This is a protest of big government – the fault of which lies on the shoulders of the senate and the congress and therefor the people who keep voting the same people in to office time and again, by BOTH parties.
We need TERM LIMTS, the FAIR TAX and for every person in this great nation to take responsibility and be accountable for their actions.
People need to learn to prioritize and to understand that achievement in life is through hard work and perseverance. And sometimes you may need to work harder than others to reach your goals. That is what builds strenght and character.
In the United States we have the right to PURSUE our dreams and happiness – it is not for the government to provide them to you because someone else has more than you do. Temporary assistance in the hard times is fine, but permanent handouts are rarely appreciated and have become an expectation of too many people in this country.
Gimmeadollar
April 15th, 2009
3:59 pm
Are these dummies smart enough to know to protest some of Georgia’s unreasonable taxes or are the solely concerned about the federal government? Probably not- they wouldn’t want to bring good old Sonny Perdue into this.
just the facts
April 15th, 2009
4:00 pm
I can’t believe the complaints about how the top x% pays y% of taxes and that’s SOOOOOOO unfair or how corporate taxes are destroying businesses. . . Here are the facts: The total receipts from income taxes are $1.2 billion. The total receipts from corporate taxes: $314 billion. Total receipts from PAYROLL TAXES (which, don’t forget, are not paid by people with incomes of more than $109,000): $927 billion. And where does all of that money go? Most of the complaints seem to be directed toward social benefit programs – but if you add up all unemployment and welfare benefits, guess how much of the budget that amounts to? 11%. So where does most of the money go? Social security, medicare, medicaid, interest on the debt and defense account for 76% of the budget. The remaining 13% funds EVERYTHING else – the FAA to keep the planes flying, the department of energy, the Department of Justice, the FBI, the CIA, the Treasury, Agriculture, Education, National Parks . . . everything. So when you’re getting whiped into a frenzy about taxes and spending, keep in mind these numbers and where the real issues are.
Gimmeadollar
April 15th, 2009
4:01 pm
LOL @ Bigeasy 830: “Hillbillies gone wild in Atlanta”. Very true.
Long-time Atl Resident
April 15th, 2009
4:11 pm
Can we all just get along? I mean, damn.
Shannon
April 15th, 2009
4:12 pm
The thing I am really wondering is where were all of these people when Bush and his cronies were spending like drunken sailors on leave the last 8 years??
They say its not politics, but I find that hard to believe.
And why am I not surprised that one of the biggest of these events will be in Atlanta, GA which is becoming redder than red.
jt
April 15th, 2009
4:12 pm
Dateline Atlanta-
General Barney Frank, commanding officer of the U.N.Peace Keeping force”the Tap Dancers” at his headquarters in Midtown states ” we have control of the Mind of the TEA partiers. Remember, a behind is a terrible thing to taste, no.. I meant a mind is a terrible thing to waste:. Meanwhile, General Larry Craig, battling his way to releave Senator Johnny Isackson in Roswell is experiancing “stiff” resistance in the public facilities.
Developing…..
The Trurth Comes Out
April 15th, 2009
4:14 pm
LOL @ Gimmeadollar nice moniker for a liberal by the way. Watch the news thursday and tell me which group turned violent and stupid. It wont be the tea party attendees it will be the counterprotesters “Thugs gone Stupid”
susan
April 15th, 2009
4:14 pm
gimmeadollar??? if you think you have named yourself aptly – you areone of the reasons for the tea party – I am tired of my taxes paying for people with the “gimme” attitude.
BobR
April 15th, 2009
4:20 pm
I have been closely following politics for many years. I am likely more informed than most of the selfish people jumping on the “I don’t want to pay taxes” bandwagon. They’ve been absolutely silent the last 8 years while Bush drove the deficit deep into the red and the economy into the ground. The hypocrisy is astounding. Not partisan? I laugh.
They cry “Fair Tax” (as misnamed as a program could be) without realizing it isn’t fair and will raise the amount of tax paid by most people. They cry “fascism” without being concerned that the head of Halliburton was the VP of the country for 8 years.
The Republican “Free Market” is what created this mess, and it’s going to require government intervention in the form of regulations to fix it, and *loans* to companies to keep them from failing and dragging the economy down with them. I don’t like that we’re helping out private companies, but I like the alternative even less.
For the first time we have a smart Executive branch that is telling us what they are doing and why, and I for one am glad to have it. The economy is already showing early signs that it is improving. Let’s keep it going…
Note: FWIW, I’ve been working two jobs to pay off my debt. I consider that to be pretty responsible in my book.
Shannon
April 15th, 2009
4:22 pm
If its not a democrat or republican issue then why didn’t these people protest when Bush was in office?? I just find that a little bit odd. If it was a democrat and a republican thing then people should have protested during both the Bush administration AND the Obama administration.
Chris
April 15th, 2009
4:23 pm
I agree that spending is getting out of control and eventually taxes will have to go up.
The problem is that no elected official has understood fiscal policy for 25 years. We’ve been running expansionary fiscal policies forever – whether or not we are in a recession or not. Republicans have preached tax cuts and Democrats have preached increased spending – both of which are considered expansionary practices that help get out of economic downturns. When you do this during an expansion it sets you up for failure inflation gets out of control and we hit a recession.
1990s – had a recession and Clinton spent until we got out of it – and then kept going. This sparked another recession in about 2001. Bush cut taxes and we got out of it – but then kept tax cuts goin during an expansion – which sparked inflation (see housing market) and now we’re in a crash again.
Basic economics says in a recession you cut taxes AND increase spending (deficit ignored) and when you experience growth you begin to increase taxes and cut spending (building a surplus) We won’t do this because the Republicans won’t increase taxes in an expansion and the Dems won’t cut spending – cause they are afraid of being voted out of office (see George HW Bush – kudos to him for actually trying some fiscal policy when it was time to raise taxes)
As far as these little tea parties are concerned – I would love to take a microphone and educate people on how fiscal policy works. Are these people protesting the tax cuts or the tax credits that 95% of them are getting? Do they not realize that their taxes they are paying this year are based on last year’s budget and tax rates? Obama and the Dems didn’t set your tax rates you’re paying on today. I think these protests are definitely mislabeled. I am all for protesting increased government involvement and kudos to those libertarian leaning conservatives who complained during the last Presidency. However don’t call it a tea party and schedule it on tax day – because you look dumb protesting a tax reduction at most income levels. If you want to have a tax protest great – but let’s have it focus on the debate on reworking our tax code so that the burden is more equally distributed or so that it’s easier to work through. Don’t just get the masses to scream DON’T Tax Me! When then proposed budget has them getting a tax cut.
And finally to the gentleman that says taxing ain’t in the Constitution – it’s the 16th Amendment and that is part of the Constitution. If you’d like to argue that it wasn’t originally there and therefore is wrong – fair enough. Freedom of religion, press, speech, assembly, petition, guns, search warrants, self incrimination, attorney, fair trials, no cruel punishment, no slavery, women’s vote, 18 year old’s vote, and the definition of who’s a citizen are also not in the original Constitution – they are added through Amendments and carry the same weight as the 16th. So if you’d like to say Amendments don’t count then I think you should be silent, wrongly imprisoned, not be allowed to have this protest, and GASP – you should give up your guns.
retiredds
April 15th, 2009
4:26 pm
It is all about power. Now that the teabagger party is out of power, except in GA which is a living demonstration of government without representation, they rant and rave. Teabagger people, you and your party lost credibility years ago. Keep on yelling. It is falling on deaf ears. You are not believed nor trusted.
Chris
April 15th, 2009
4:37 pm
oh I left off the fact that we couldn’t even vote for Senators – according to the ‘original’ constitution they were to be appointed by state governments. Vice President went to 2nd place – so we would have had a Bush-Gore Administration and we’d have an Obama-McCain Administration now, we wouldn’t have term limits on the Presidency either. Nor are there any Cabinets in the Constitution (nor in amendments for that matter)
Sorry everybody – I guess it just hacks me off when people pick and chose which parts of the Constitution that apply. We can certainly debate how the Constitution applies in different situations (like abortion, gay marriage, etc…) but I think it’s pure ignorance to declare that the income tax is unconstitutional. I apologize if I directed my rant at one particular person – I’ve just read that about 3 dozen times today in numerous outlets.
Idiocracy
April 15th, 2009
4:40 pm
“….I’ve been working two jobs to pay off my debt. I consider that to be pretty responsible in my book.”
No, the responsible thing is to not get into debt so that you have to work 2 jobs. That’s the problem with you people–you want to fix the debt problem by getting into debt. You want government to get into (further) debt just as you’ve done in your personal life. The outcome is the same.
You name-flingers are giving up your liberty with every new tax regardless of the source of the tax. But lately, Obama and the Democrats have been more prolific taxers than anyone in the history of the world.
Want proof?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2009/03/21/GR2009032100104.html
Angry 20-something
April 15th, 2009
4:52 pm
I think a common misconception about the tea parties is that it’s about a.) not wanting to pay taxes and b.) that the attendees have nothing to complain about because it’s only the ones making over $250,000 a year that are getting penalized on their taxes.
I do not have a problem paying my taxes. Tax money is absolutely necessary for roadwork, education, trauma care…and the list goes on. I agree – people who are witholding paying taxes this year are ignorant. Here’s where the tea party theme of “taxation without representation” comes in: our taxes are NOT being used to fund projects we support and need. Instead, this money is going to fund personal pet projects of senators that are completely unnecessary. Building a skate park in Idaho and spending money to curtail the smell of hog confineries in Iowa are NOT projects of immediate need. What about putting this money into building more schools, hiring more teachers, providing vocational training for the unemployed?
THIS is the message the tea parties are trying to relay – that we’re tired of our “representatives” spending freely, and until these people listen, it is truly TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION, because these projects aren’t reflecting the true concerns of the nation.
jt
April 15th, 2009
5:09 pm
Breaking News-
U.N./Congressional forces worn thin among nation’s TEA partiers.”
“Widespread scurrying”
“Cayman Island National Guard Re-activated. Commanding officer Hank Paulson of the “Goverment Sachs” has issued a request for 3 trillion dollars to study “these TEA people.”
south side
April 15th, 2009
5:16 pm
Hey were was the TEA PARTY when gas was $4 a gallon!!!
south side
April 15th, 2009
5:18 pm
When the tea disaster is over please take Perdue and crew with you!!!
MrLiberty
April 15th, 2009
5:26 pm
Hey, I was out protesting Bush, Clinton, Bush, nnd Reagan. Those of us who actually support liberty as a committed principle, not just when it is politically correct to do so, find every administration worthy of protest. Don’t just write off this uprising because you never get off your butt to protest. Where were you? I certainly didn’t see you at any of the End the Fed rallies or other anti Bush protests.
And yes, the republicans are little more than complete hipocrits. They should have been protesting Bush’s wasteful spending. They have no principles, just like the democrats. That’s why they both must go and the government must be taken away from the hands of totalitarians. It must be so reduced in power that we are all free once again.
I am no tool of Fox. I go out and protest taxes every April 15 because a tax on income is slavery, plain and simple. So long as the government can take as much as they want, you don’t own it, and that is the definition of slavery.
Its funny that everyone wants to know where the tea party was when…?
Again, where were you??? I have been protesting ever since I woke up, got a real education about our government, and realized that things needed to change. I even ran for office once. What the hell have you done to make our country more free and to restore our rights?
south side
April 15th, 2009
5:27 pm
Whats the big deal about the countrybeing in debt its been like that all my life except under president Clinton and Bush took care of that
south side
April 15th, 2009
5:31 pm
Mr Liberty, I respect yor comment you sound sincere to the cause
retiredds
April 15th, 2009
5:32 pm
There’s one big problem with the Atlanta tea party. Everyone, outside of this group of teapartiers knows that tea is served at 4:00PM.
No tea-bagging for me; I want to see Chipper hit a four-bagger | Jay Bookman
April 15th, 2009
5:47 pm
[...] Galloway over at Political Insider reports that the $25,000 cost of the “grassroots” tea-bag protest at the Capitol [...]
south side
April 15th, 2009
5:56 pm
Enter your comments here
jt
April 15th, 2009
6:02 pm
Headline AP-
JOHN KERRY REPORTS FOR DUTY!
Vows to keep Nantuckett Shoreline free of the “TEA partier scourge”.
Joe the Plumber attacks the Georgia Department of Labor. Secures liscense.
Obama Brownshirts converge on a neighborhood near you.
Developing………………….
jt
April 15th, 2009
6:02 pm
F you southside!
south side
April 15th, 2009
6:31 pm
jt, go to your tea party where you belong. you are probably one of those that thought it was raining when bush was pissin on america
jt
April 15th, 2009
6:37 pm
Don’t be offended dude, I thought you were south side steve.
south side
April 15th, 2009
6:48 pm
No problem no beef dude sorry
jt
April 15th, 2009
7:13 pm
AP Headline-
Colonel Hank Paulson of the U.N. Goverment Sachs brigade has retaken Bermuda with heavy scuffing of shoes reported. He warns of “frozen” banks without sufficient capital. Harry Reid has yet responded.
jt
April 15th, 2009
8:01 pm
This just in-
Obama Brown Shirts halted at Illinois border. Comisar Gettlefinger demands Union dues.
Jay bookman attends Braves game. TIPS parking attendant.
Ted Kennedy still drunk.
Developing………..
matt d
April 15th, 2009
10:28 pm
so, first, a few notes about a few things i saw as i scrolled down the page: Braves#1 at 2:02pm 04/15–i don’t think i’ve ever read a more pointless statement than yours. nowhere in the constitution does it say i cannot murder my neighbor, either, but that has nothing to do with a logical argument, does it?
the “ponzai” scheme at 1:54–that’s a classic.
then there is, from MrLiberty himself, the idea that the money supply has doubled since september (just, wow. oh, and where? because the emails i get from the treasury every week don’t show that that has happened in the u.s.). also, MrLiberty, guess what–the government cannot “take as much as they want,” as you so wisely, wisely state, assuming you’re talking about the u.s. (by no means a safe assumption). one last thing, and i’d like a response from MrLiberty himself (wow, is that really you, MrLiberty?!) on this one, i’m extremely curious to know which dictionary you were reading when you state that slavery is defined by government being able to “take as much as they want,” as my OED states nothing about taxation in its definition of slavery, nor a thing about government taking anything; likewise, it says nothing about slaves or slavery in its definition of taxation or taxes. and feel free to question me and my qualifications to make factual statements.
my position: we need to stimulate the economy by stimulating demand, and right now the private sector is not doing that; so, to fill that hole and prevent an even deeper recession, government should step in and provide funds–if the economy is to turn around faster, rather than slower, spending from somewhere is needed (it really is that simple). so while i definitely do not like or see the usefulness of some of the projects to which money is being allocated, i can see the bigger picture (and i’m also happy to admit that i may not be the expert about the usefulness of some of the projects). perhaps it’s my economics degree talking, but this seems pretty freaking basic people.
may all of you who attended the tea party be tea bagged every day for the rest of your lives. yahweh bless!
WK
April 16th, 2009
2:12 pm
So, I was at the party last evening with my family. I thought it was great. I did not see many rednecks nor did I see any crazy racists. It was 3 hours (including Hannity). Hannity DID use the crowd as a backdrop. They said there was about 15,000 people. You nor I counted them but I have been to enough concerts and other functions to say that was accurate. It was not about “not paying taxes”. The people there are intelligent enough to understand that we need to pay taxes. They just are not happy with how that money is being used. They also are not “anti-government”. We don’t want to see the government continue to grow any larger than it already is. Maybe everyone that would like to add their overwhelmingly stimulating comments for everyone to read should read a little history before doing so. Look up “socialism”, then again if that is what you like why not just move over sea’s to Europe, maybe this is your calling.
MrLiberty
April 16th, 2009
2:13 pm
A slave is someone who does not own the fruits of his labor. In some cases that is indentured servitude and in some cases that is involuntary. The US government could vote tomorrow to take 100% of your salary in taxes. Wake up if you don’t think that is true. They would be crazy to, but so long as the 16th amendment is in place, they CAN. If you do not pay your taxes they will throw you in jail. If you leave this country, they will tax you as well. There is no escape from this servitude. That is slavery. Yes, we all have the freedom to go home every night, but we cannot easily walk away from the long arm of the plantation owner.
The Treasury stopped publishing M3 numbers back in 2001 when the crazy printing began in earnest. I think that’s the right measure. Economists who have looked into the total dollars agree that there is nearly a doubling of the money in the last 6 or so months. Please go to http://www.mises.org. Many authors there document this and show their sources. The treasury is lying to you in whatever emails they send. They must cover up these facts. Their actions are criminal.
As for your convoluted theories about spending, they are pure Keynesian and were refuted following the end of the last depression. Again, please go to http://www.mises.org, read “The Great Depression” by Murray Rothbard, and you will see that the very plan you support is the very thing that took a minor blip in 1929 and turned it into the great depression. They are doing it again. I’m sorry that you did not get the economics education to lead you through the lies being put forth by the government and the people that caused this mess, but that is a situation that only you can fix through careful study of solid Austrian economic teachings – again, see http://www.mises.org.
What is pretty freaking basic is that if overspending and reliance on debt caused the mess, more of the same, no matter who does it, will not correct the mess. Sorry you were ripped off by the college that gave you that economics degree. All of the valuable solid economics I have learned was nearly free, and only required reading scholarly texts by Nobel Prize winners online.
Oh, spurious cracks about everything else not listed in the constitution are juvenile at best. No, plenty of things are not listed in the constitution, but that is because the constitution is not intended to be a document that defines the total law of the land. That was handled by the English common law tradition in place at the time. It is very clear to anyone who examines the constitution that it is a document intended to limit and expressly define the allowable functions and powers of government and its three branches. It defines the power to coin money as one reserved to the treasury, not the Federal Reserve. It says that gold and silver will be money, not worthless pieces of paper from the Fed. It says that only Congress can declare war – thus Bush’s wars are unconstitutional.
Yes, the 16th amendment was supposedly ratified, but an excellent book “The Law that Never Was” shows documented evidence from every state house in the nation in 1913 that clearly shows that many state legislatures changed the wording (not allowed) or did not actually pass the measure. Overall the totals did not add up, but Wilson’s Secretary of State lied, covered up, and certified the vote anyway. Recently when the holder of this information went on a hunger strike to attempt to get congressional redress of his grievances (you know, guaranteed under the 5th amendment) he was approached by a certain Senator (Orin Hatch) who offered him 10,000 dollars for the evidence – which he obviously would have destroyed as part of the coverup.
If you are only going to get you information from CNN and Huffingtonpost, then you are going to come up short and lacking in discussions about the economy and taxation. I have done my homework because this is vitally important to me – not because I am unwilling to pay for services I need, but because I believe in the lie that was told to me that the Constitution and Bill of Rights were supposed to limit the power of government to oppress me, no matter who was elected. I believe in the intention of the founding fathers to establish a country and a government that would protect the rights of the citizens from enemies both foreign and DOMESTIC.
Is that enough of an answer for you??
WK
April 16th, 2009
2:42 pm
Well put Mr. Liberty, a little wordy maybe, but then again you need to be specific when people take you literally on everything you say.
MrLiberty
April 16th, 2009
2:51 pm
Thanks for the compliment. Liberty can’t be explained on a bumpersticker. That’s why we don’t have any.
Here’s a great link to a discussion about what slavery really is:
http://blog.mises.org/archives/008006.asp
Hint – its more than just black people in chains.
MrLiberty
April 16th, 2009
2:56 pm
WK – by the way, I am anti-tax and I am anti-government. I believe truthfully that there are private voluntary mechanisms to get everything done in society that needs doing including defense, the courts, the roads, crime prevention/restitution, and everything else. Charity too of course. I do also believe that we should use a non-violent mechanism of education and public pressure to get there.
http://www.mises.org has books for purchase and tons of literature free online that discuss free market alternatives to virtually everything we can’t do without government. Big eye-opener.