Anti-Tax Tea Parties Held Across U.S.

[Pearl]

Thousands of protesters, some dressed like Revolutionary War soldiers and most waving signs with anti-tax slogans, gathered around the nation Wednesday for a series of rallies modeled after the original Boston Tea Party.

They chose the income tax filing deadline to express their displeasure with government spending since President Barack Obama took office.

The protests were held everywhere from Kentucky, which just passed tax increases on cigarettes and alcohol, to South Carolina, where the governor has repeatedly criticized the $787 billion economic stimulus package Congress passed earlier this year.

"Frankly, I'm mad as hell," said Des Moines, Iowa, businessman Doug Burnett, one of about 1,000 people, many in red shirts declaring "revolution is brewing," at a rally at the Iowa Capitol. "This country has been on a spending spree for decades, a spending spree we can't afford."

Large rallies were expected later in California and New York.

In Atlanta, thousands of people were to gather on the steps of the Georgia Capitol, where Fox News Channel conservative pundit Sean Hannity was set to broadcast his show Wednesday night.

In Boston, a few hundred protesters gathered on the Boston Common — a short distance from the original Tea Party — some dressed as Revolutionary soldiers and carrying signs that said "Barney Frank, Bernie Madoff: And the Difference Is?" and "D.C.: District of Communism."

The tea parties were promoted by FreedomWorks, a conservative nonprofit advocacy group based in Washington and led by former Republican House Majority Leader Dick Armey of Texas, a lobbyist whose corporate clients including Verizon, Raytheon, liquor maker Diageo, CarMax and drug company Sanofi Pasteur

The group's federal tax returns show its educational and charitable arms received more than $6 million in donations in 2007, the most recent year for which returns are available.

Organizers said the movement developed organically through online social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter and through exposure on Fox News.

Tax deadline brings out thousands of protesters

I'm a little surprised FYM has not brought this up yet. Since it has thousands of Americans protesting Obama in a sense, I figured someone would discuss this.

Anyway, whether you support the tea parties or think it's all wacky, what do you think about this? Do you think it is the start of something, or it will go no where? Will the Obama administration prove these people wrong, or will the opposite occur?

 

[Tiger Edge]

They will be ignored. Just like the millions of anti-war protesters three years ago. Guess they'll have to try harder to elect someone in 2012, cause this administration doesn't give a shit what they think.
As far as what all the spending will accomplish... I failed economics.

 

[Pearl]

Oh jeez, check out how dumb some people are:

YouTube - CNN Reporter Harassed at Chicago "Tea-Party"

 

[Irvine511]

I'm a little surprised FYM has not brought this up yet. Since it has thousands of Americans protesting Obama in a sense, I figured someone would discuss this.

Anyway, whether you support the tea parties or think it's all wacky, what do you think about this? Do you think it is the start of something, or it will go no where? Will the Obama administration prove these people wrong, or will the opposite occur?

i thought about bringing this up, and i did notice that the DC metro was really crowded this morning. but i saw no protest signs, so i just assumed it was families with kids on spring break. but i really don't see what all these teabaggers are arguing against, or, more importantly, what they stand for.

lower taxes? less government? less spending?

and, if so, why did they suddenly start to care about these things on January 20, 2009? not a peep when it came to giving Turkey $34b to allow us to land planes there, not a word about farm subsidies, not a whisper about medicare entitlements.

but i guess that was all okay because it was done by the GOP?

and what do these teabaggers want to do? how do they propose stimulating the economy? what services are they willing to see cut? how do the propose cutting taxes and yet generating revenue in order to pay off deficits and debt?

they seem as disorganized as the Left, but yet all this teabagging has been orchestrated by several GOP Congressmen and Fox News.

can someone explain?

 

[elevated_u2_fan]

I feel bad for the fish

 

[BVS]

The problem is are these "tea parties" don't even know what they are truly protesting. They have no common voice. Some are saying it's about taxes, some are saying it's about spending, some of the protestors are waving signs about guns. Some are saying it's about Obama, others are saying it's not about Obama. And some are just anti-government.

It's really just a bitch session. And because it has no real voice or reason it won't mean shit.

 

[deep]

We just know there is a serious problem in America.

With Bush we knew his heart was in the right place.

And he had such a spectacular team advising him.

We knew what his core values were.
He came from a true-blue all American family.

He did what was right for Americans.
He was not over in Europe trying to be everyone's best friend.

 

[BVS]

This report isn't very good, but you have to love the protesters...

I would have loved to hear his reaction if she actually asked him what fascism is...

YouTube - Tea Partyer on Obama: "He's a Fascist!"

"open minded assimilation"?

YouTube - New Haven Tea Party Open Mic

This guy is so pissed off that he voted against new cops in Asheville, because apparently they can't waste their time tracking down the Mexicans that crossed the North Carolina border?

YouTube - Dr Carl Mumpower at the Franklin Tax Day Tea Party

 

[UberBeaver]

That reporter was kinda annoying, no? Let the guy talk. If he's going to make an ass of himself, that's his right.

lol, I love how they're all angry NOW. "It ain't socialism if it's going to rich or upper class white people! That's Capitalism! But now you're giving it to schools? SOCIALIST PIG DOG! BURN!"

They had one of these on Long Island last week. Nothing like a bunch of high-middle class / low upper class twits babbling about how much they pay in taxes (and fyi - County property taxes for most of them is probably $25k and higher, and the country is - or was until recently - run by Republicans), and then angrily hop into their $80k SUVs in protest. FIGHT THE POWER!

 

[Irvine511]

considering the enormous amount of money Obama just gave to the BANKS, it seems a little rich to be calling him a socialist.

 

[elevated_u2_fan]

Nothing like a bunch of high-middle class / low upper class twits

YouTube - Monty Python Upperclass Twit of the Year

 

[UberBeaver]

YouTube - Monty Python Upperclass Twit of the Year

We could only hope to be so lucky.......

 

[floweravalanche]

well I for one am a supporter of the tea parties I was going to go to one in my town, just to express how I feel about a lot of the unnecessary spending that is going in the US, it's not just Obama it's the government in general, money is going to a lot of things that it shouldn't be going to at the moment, we should be focusing on getting America out of the debt we are in and focusing on figuring out how we got there, and how to get out. The money shouldn't be going to banks, or CIOS of all the companies that took money from everyone else in the first place, it should be going back to the American people. Raising Taxes and cutting fundings, that are important like higher education is not the answer at all, there is more, but I don't want to blabber on and on

I also agree with what Deep said about Bush. Bush was great, he did a lot for this country, even though there are some that are angry at him, he was still a great president, but no matter who is in office someone is going to be upset no matter what, baggers can't be choosers.

Obama has got to read the facts, etc before he starts saying lets do this lets do that, figure out how we got here, what to do, and to take action ASAP. Not just trowing money around everywhere, and blabbing on about his new dog ( which I think his dog is kind of cute by the way), and saying I will be bring change. Instead of saying it do it, but before you do please know what the heck you are doing first and read the facts.

Also the government needs to be working together regardless of the party you are in the American people want you to work together who gives a crap if you're a democrat or a republican or a monkeyfor all I care, give off your butts, stop fighting, and work together. Again I don't want to blabber on.

So personally I don't think these people are stupid for standing up what they believe in, some are more radical then others, but heck each it's own I say.

 

[MissVelvetDress_75]

YouTube - Monty Python Upperclass Twit of the Year

 

[Irvine511]

I also agree with what Deep said about Bush. Bush was great, he did a lot for this country, even though there are some that are angry at him, he was still a great president, but no matter who is in office someone is going to be upset no matter what, baggers can't be choosers.

so are you mad about Bush's enormous, 8-year long contribution to the debt? or did you just become angry about this on January 20, 2009?

because you wrote this:

just to express how I feel about a lot of the unnecessary spending that is going in the US, it's not just Obama it's the government in general, money is going to a lot of things that it shouldn't be going to at the moment, we should be focusing on getting America out of the debt we are in and focusing on figuring out how we got there, and how to get out.

and i can tell you how we got there:

 

[BVS]

First off, welcome to FYM

well I for one am a supporter of the tea parties I was going to go to one in my town, just to express how I feel about a lot of the unnecessary spending that is going in the US, it's not just Obama it's the government in general, money is going to a lot of things that it shouldn't be going to at the moment, we should be focusing on getting America out of the debt we are in and focusing on figuring out how we got there, and how to get out. The money shouldn't be going to banks, or CIOS of all the companies that took money from everyone else in the first place, it should be going back to the American people. Raising Taxes and cutting fundings, that are important like higher education is not the answer at all, there is more, but I don't want to blabber on and on

Later on you talk about reading the facts, you may want to take some of your own advice.

Can you tell me which of your taxes have been raised?

Where would businesses get money if banks went banckrupt? It sucks, yes, but honestly you would never get loaned another dime if all the banks stopped lending.

Where is higher education funding being cut, I'm a little confused.

I also agree with what Deep said about Bush. Bush was great, he did a lot for this country, even though there are some that are angry at him, he was still a great president, but no matter who is in office someone is going to be upset no matter what, baggers can't be choosers.

Deep was being facetious.

Obama has got to read the facts, etc before he starts saying lets do this lets do that, figure out how we got here, what to do, and to take action ASAP. Not just trowing money around everywhere, and blabbing on about his new dog ( which I think his dog is kind of cute by the way), and saying I will be bring change. Instead of saying it do it, but before you do please know what the heck you are doing first and read the facts.

What was that you were saying about Bush?

Also the government needs to be working together regardless of the party you are in the American people want you to work together who gives a crap if you're a democrat or a republican or a monkeyfor all I care, give off your butts, stop fighting, and work together. Again I don't want to blabber on.

Well we can agree on this...

So personally I don't think these people are stupid for standing up what they believe in, some are more radical then others, but heck each it's own I say.

No, they aren't stupid for standing up for what they believe in, it's just most don't even know what they are standing up for...

 

[floweravalanche]

First off, welcome to FYM

Thank you

Later on you talk about reading the facts, you may want to take some of your own advice.

I read a lot of my own facts, it's the matter of if you agree with them or not

Can you tell me which of your taxes have been raised?

Well there are taxes being raised just about everywhere right now, food, gas, etc

Where would businesses get money if banks went banckrupt? It sucks, yes, but honestly you would never get loaned another dime if all the banks stopped lending.

Thats true...But still sucks lol

Where is higher education funding being cut, I'm a little confused.

That just happened here yesterday where I am at they just cut over 300 million dollars in higher education fund other garbage that is not neasscary right now, I got the e-mail from the college I going to, from the board etc, because of this a lot of student including myself, will lose fundings, etc for our schooling.

No, they aren't stupid for standing up for what they believe in, it's just most don't even know what they are standing up for...

Well as I always say each it own, a lot of people when they are upset about something go on on about stuff that they might not know what they are standing up for or saying, it happens we're only human,let them speak their minds and heart until they turn blue.

"the right to be ridicules is something I hold dear" I probably spelled that wrong lol but I had to quote that lol cause I agree with that

 

[Tiger Edge]

Oh jeez, check out how dumb some people are:

YouTube - CNN Reporter Harassed at Chicago "Tea-Party"

What a horrible reporter. She should be fired, unless she is out in the open about her political stances, of course.
She should have let the idiot finish what he was saying before interrupting him.

 

[BVS]

Well there are taxes being raised just about everywhere right now, food, gas, etc

I haven't heard of a federal gas tax increase being passed. I heard a lot of talk and speculation, but I haven't seen one pass, do you have any info?

Food? Unprepared food, restaurants, I'm not sure what you are talking about, I haven't seen one of these either.

That just happened here yesterday where I am at they just cut over 300 million dollars in higher education fund other garbage that is not neasscary right now, I got the e-mail from the college I going to, from the board etc, because of this a lot of student including myself, will lose fundings, etc for our schooling.

Are you talking about federally funded research? Are you talking about grants? Do you go to a federally funded university?

Well as I always say each it own, a lot of people when they are upset about something go on on about stuff that they might not know what they are standing up for or saying, it happens we're only human,let them speak their minds and heart until they turn blue.

Oh, I'm all for letting them sound ridiculous... No one is stopping them.

 

[floweravalanche]

I haven't heard of a federal gas tax increase being passed. I heard a lot of talk and speculation, but I haven't seen one pass, do you have any info?

Food? Unprepared food, restaurants, I'm not sure what you are talking about, I haven't seen one of these either.



Are you talking about federally funded research? Are you talking about grants? Do you go to a federally funded university?




Oh, I'm all for letting them sound ridiculous... No one is stopping them.

Maybe the food taxes, etc are just where I am I just happened to notice it recently well shopping, etc. It use to be a 6% tax on our shopping now it's 8%-10%

With the gas maybe I was referring to it going up, it's down now, but it will up again. Maybe I got a little confused lol

I go to a community college right now I'm rely on grants and federal aid to be able to go to school without it I wouldn't be going. This all just happened yesterday, so I'm still learning more on it.

 

[floweravalanche]

What a horrible reporter. She should be fired, unless she is out in the open about her political stances, of course.
She should have let the idiot finish what he was saying before interrupting him.

I couldn't agree more on that one, I would of grabbed her mic and kept talking, telling her to shut up and let me finish

 

[anitram]

My favourite are the people who say that last year they made $255K so this year they're gonna MAKE SURE that they make only $249K because they don't want to be "taxed through the roof" since Obama raised taxes.

Epic failure to understand the very basics of a marginal tax system.

 

[kellyahern]

Under the new plan, my mother and my brother actually have less taxes taken out of their paychecks, increasing the amount they take home. I don't get paid until tomorrow, but I think I'll have less taken out of mine too.

I find it hard to feel sorry for people making $255,000 a year.

 

[BVS]

Maybe the food taxes, etc are just where I am I just happened to notice it recently well shopping, etc. It use to be a 6% tax on our shopping now it's 8%-10%

You sure that's not a local tax increase?

With the gas maybe I was referring to it going up, it's down now, but it will up again. Maybe I got a little confused lol

Yeah, so far no federal tax increase has occurred on gas.

I go to a community college right now I'm rely on grants and federal aid to be able to go to school without it I wouldn't be going. This all just happened yesterday, so I'm still learning more on it.

Yeah, keep us updated as to what you find out, I'd be interested for everything I've read higher education is one of the places this administration wants increase spending on, not decrease...

You see? I think this is part of the problem with these tea parties, no one really knows what they are complaining about, I mean some do, some are just hardcore anti-government spending on anything... No one likes deficit spending, but this isn't new, Bush was pretty good at it, so why are some concerned all of a sudden? Yes, we don't like to hear that banks are getting bailed out, but we all like it when the banks can lend for our small businesses.

I guarantee you, if this exact stimulous plan was being done by McCain none of these people would be protesting, but like now there would still be complaining on both sides. The only difference would be there would be less talk about corporations and instead of money going to green energies it would be going to drilling in Alaska and it would be the environmentalists protesting on 4/20.

 

[Liesje]

My favourite are the people who say that last year they made $255K so this year they're gonna MAKE SURE that they make only $249K because they don't want to be "taxed through the roof" since Obama raised taxes.

Epic failure to understand the very basics of a marginal tax system.

LOL. I will accept the extra $6K and gladly pay the tax on it too!

And I agree with BVS, when I heard about these tea parties I thought "why?" and when it was not clear to me, I stopped paying attention.

The only change in taxes and such that has bugged me was the decrease in the amount of federal taxes withheld, but as a credit. I budget to the penny and I get paid the same amount twice a month so I know when my paycheck is a penny off. I noticed I was making more money, so I went to payroll and they explained the tax credit. Well instead of having more money in my pocket, I adjusted my exemptions and Phil is having a set amount withheld because we like coming out even after we do the annual income tax, if not getting a little back. The payroll guy said I probably would have owed money next year if I hadn't made the adjustments. He said he was worried at how few people had come to him and thinks most people don't notice or don't understand how it works. I guess an extra $50/mo really was too good to be true.

 

[floweravalanche]

It probably was a local tax just know I noticed it recently

I just get e-mails on the higher education thing here from school, as well as a few students in student government who went and protested today etc at the capital. I know I just got a recent e-mail saying that they senate is going over the funding cut again, but I don't know its all confusing now. Most political stuff is lol

Now I was a supporter for McCain if McCain have won, wouldn't the Obama people be protesting too? No matter who is in office, people are gonna find something to complain about. You can not make one people happy without making another angry.

 

[Liesje]

Under the new plan, my mother and my brother actually have less taxes taken out of their paychecks, increasing the amount they take home. I don't get paid until tomorrow, but I think I'll have less taken out of mine too.

I find it hard to feel sorry for people making $255,000 a year.

Just be careful b/c it's a tax credit, meaning they are giving you now the money you'd get back next year, if you get money back. I like getting money back and I always like to err on the side of caution so I adjusted our exemptions so we aren't getting this "break".

 

[2861U2]

I went to one today, and it was great. I'd say 600-700 people here in Bloomington, IL. It's really gotten me pretty fired up and angry. And anyone who wants to say that these were partisan events likely did not go to one. There was just as much anger directed at Bush as there was Obama over the spending. It was great to see hundreds of people like me and millions more across the country who, along with our yet-to-be-conceived children are being enslaved and placed trillions of dollars in debt.

By the way, I'm interested in watching Keith Olbermann tonight. Last night he made a big deal about how these things were ultra-partisan and how nobody would show up and how the camera would show nothing but empty seats and how this would all blow up in our faces. Yet even MSNBC couldn't ignore covering the tea parties today, they were such a success. That won't make Keith happy...

And that CNN lady was a joke. She should be fired. People who are calling these events nothing but anti-government, extreme-right radical demonstrations clearly must feel threatened by them. At the very least, they have no idea what the hell they're talking about.

 

[A_Wanderer]

The Truth is Out There

YouTube - Beck: I was wrong -- We're headed toward fascism, not socialism.

It is like watching a WTC Truther.

 

[BVS]

Hey 2861, I thought of you today. Glenn Beck is my city today, I drove by the Alamo today to see the crowds but didn't see him.

I went to one today, and it was great. I'd say 600-700 people here in Bloomington, IL. It's really gotten me pretty fired up and angry. And anyone who wants to say that these were partisan events likely did not go to one. There was just as much anger directed at Bush as there was Obama over the spending. It was great to see hundreds of people like me and millions more across the country who, along with our yet-to-be-conceived children are being enslaved and placed trillions of dollars in debt.

And what exactly were you protesting? I'm asking seriously. I mean why didn't people like you protest last year?