Posted on 02/25/2009 3:12:07 AM PST by abb
CHAPEL HILL -- Calling it a revolution and vowing that the anti-tax movement exploding across the county has yet to reach its critical mass, organizers and members of the fledgling group say profligate spending, oppressively high tax rates and a political class that has lost touch with its constituents are in the crosshairs of change.
In an astonishing show of strength and depth, as many as 1,400 people went to Hillsborough on Monday night to protest the county's large hikes in property revaluations and to learn how to combat what many see as abuse of power. The crowd grew so large so fast that the fire marshal began turning back the crush of people trying to enter the Big Barn in the Daniel Boone Village, whose parking lot was jammed tightly with cars and lines of people stretching all the way to Churton Street hundreds of feet away.
"We went up there because I'd been outraged at how high our valuation is on our house," said Nancy Oates of Chapel Hill. "We were absolutely stunned that there were so many people there."
That wasn't the only surprise.
"We kind of thought it would be all people from northern Orange County, that there would be a lot of pickup trucks and ball hats. But there were a lot of people of all ages, all races . . . in business suits and professional dress," Oates said. "There were some from Chapel Hill and Carrboro, and that kind of surprised me, the diversity of the crowd."
Oates believes property values in her Mendel Drive neighborhood in Chapel Hill's Old Forest Creek neighborhood is "being revalued based on Carolina North being built, but that's all on hold. . . we're a long way from that."
She said she has appealed her revaluation, and after attending Monday's meeting, "I was very heartened to see that so many people evidently felt like I did."
Nobody is more shocked than the founder of the movement, Bryan Berger of Carrboro, who called Monday's meeting "a spectacle. I mean it was an event."
Monday's massive response is in stark contrast to the germination of what is now known as Orange Tax Revolt.
"I started this in my house three Wednesdays ago with 26 people," and 10 others unable to attend, Berger said. "This truly is exploding."
Having gotten organizational support from Orange County FreedomWorks, the local cell of a national anti-tax, limited-government organization started by former U.S. House Majority Leader Dick Armey, the group reserved the Big Barn for Monday's meeting.
"We thought, 'Well, gosh, if 300 people show up we'll feel good," Berger said. "The whole place was full by 7. People were sitting on floors, people were sitting on tables, it was standing room only."
When he walked outside to see how many people the fire marshal was denying admission to, Berger said he "looked at these people and it brought chills to me" realizing the line went all the way to the street.
"People are absolutely sick of the way these governments -- Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Orange County -- are spending money," Berger said. "People love living in these communities. . . but these political fools are destroying it. . . We've got to stand up and stop it."
Berger said it is obvious homes are being overpriced by the revaluation in a sour economy.
"Just drive around Carrboro. There are so many homes for sale but nobody's selling. Go to Chapel Hill. Homes are for sale but nobody's selling," he said. "My Lord, people are talking about 25, 30, 40, 50, 60 percent" increases in home values. "It's just unbelievable."
Rusty Tolin of Hillsborough said he went to Monday's meeting because he cannot afford the back-to-back tax hikes being placed on his property.
"Everyone wants a little more out of my pocket and I'm getting sick and tired of it, and I think I was the average voice in the crowd," he said. "I'm sick and tired of big government reaching into my pocket and saying, 'You know two jobs is not enough. You need to work a little more to pay for your house."
"There was enough kindling there last night that if there had been a spark there would have been a big bonfire," Tolin said. "I'm speaking metaphorically here."
ping
The “silent majority” speaks, and speaks loudly....
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1417923.html
After Orange revaluations, an anti-tax meeting draws an estimated 1,200
Ping
Good that people are fed up but what can we expect to come of it? I mean, are Democrats so comfortable with their future election prospects that, short of a widespread refusal to pay taxes, they will just brush this stuff off?
For the record, I advocate always paying taxes, as I am a Christian.
Atlanta’s Tea party is at noon this Friday!
Let and make it grow !
Orange County FreedomWorks, the local CELL ?? of a national anti-tax, limited-government organization started by former U.S. House Majority Leader Dick Armey. Uhoh, the Obots better wake up....the Big Barn in the Daniel Boone Village, the perfect location.
How did I miss this?!
When we moved to Durham County the property taxes came as a real shock. I mean, it’s Durham County! Some of what we get for our taxes are convicted felons running the streets and paying for Bill Bell to have a face-to-face with Obama. But, if we want our yard waste picked up we must pay $42 for a can and an extra $60 a year.
pppffffttt.....I wish..... We pay about a third more than that plus the can must be facing the street no more than 6 inches from the curb, no less than five feet from any obstruction i.e. mailbox or pole, one and one half feet apart starting with household garbage followed by yard waste and recycling in order as traffic flows. If the lid is not completely closed and secure, they will not pick it up. If the recycling has a bottle that is not recyclable, they will not pick it up. The recycling can must have paper and cardboard on the bottom, followed by plastic bottles and then cans. Yard waste does not included limbs over three inches thick or Christmas trees.
When I first got the instructions and the bill, I thought they were kidding.
Maybe the Bastille in Trenton should be stormed to free the patriot? Obama Democrats don't pay taxes willfully. Irwin Schiff does not pay the so-called income tax without willfulness and he gets 30 years.
Outrageous!
Ping. Of possible interest to the DukeLax ping list.
Oh goody. A snob spouting cliches about diversity.
Is this really the kind we want to link arm in arm with over taxes?
Temporarily, perhaps.
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend." And, "It is good to strike the serpent's head with your enemy's hand."
Chapel Hill is a bastion of leftists. They need to stop whining and drink their masters koolaid. They voted for him, he won, so pay the fiddler!
Invariably, the do-gooders want to do all the do-gooding with someone else's money.
At one time there was a group named The Regulators in the Hillsborough area. Perhaps it is time for them to reform and make government accountable .
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