Heh. I understand there's another round of TEA Parties planned for the 4th of July -- Independence Day! I agree the TEA Parties would be better served by enlarging their tent to include the 10th Amendment and other State initiatives in their cause. This whole movement really is more about individual and State sovereignty than it is about taxes per se.
There are already hundreds of Tea Parties planned for July 4th:
http://teapartypatriots.org/index.php?option=com_eventlist&view=eventlist&Itemid=2
http://www.teapartyday.com/Locations.aspx - 609 cities with July 4th Tea Parties
http://www.teapartyrevolution.com/#schedule - another list of Tea Parties
http://www.reteaparty.com/teaparties/ - another list of tea parties
CC: Jim Robinson & Kristinn — Apologies for the ping, I just don’t know who would be best to forward some of these ideas to here at FR, and if you DO happen to think them to be good ideas feel free to forward them or something! :)
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The argument that the Tea Party Movement is all about Taxes, Healthcare, and Social Security is Obama, his minions, and the “agenda-ized” media’s attempt at defining the issues (common political strategy to minimize opponents strength and steer the debate).
We need to somehow get out in front of that attempt, and QUICKLY, and IMHO the best way to do that would be to start supporting all various laws and such that use the Constitution as the backbone of its arguments. {Like the 10th Amendment Efforts, Montana’s New Gun “Repeal/Reinstatement”-like law, Texas’ and Oklahoma’s efforts as well as other state efforts to assert their rights, and draw that line in the stand.
Because truly that IS the backbone of our anger, frustration, and complaints with our governments (yes, states included!) — they have ignored the Chains of the Constitution, and seek more power on a daily basis using the “claimed” power of the Federal Government as the basis of their actions. These actions are NOT sanctioned by our Constitution.
The people in charge of the Federal Government (Obama and his peeps) are completely against the concept of states’ rights — something our forefathers found CRITICAL to address in the framing of this Republic. They will use every excuse to limit the power of the people and the States, however, within the states is where we can still assert our rights as a group of people, and several states as an even stronger base of support.
I don’t know how to go about getting out in “front” of the issue definers given our present state of dealing with a totally biased media, but somehow it must be done, ASAP. The planned tea parties on July 4th may definitely underscore the issue, but there needs to be some type of media presence between now and then. We need to somehow be recognized in nearly EVERY news cycle at least SOMEWHERE within the country...
Whether this means small groups organizing locally on their own in the meantime perhaps underscoring that “we’re still here”, and better define the “movement” so to speak. Or maybe, letters to the editor and such, will help to keep this subject in the “citizens’ conscience” so to speak... Some more conservative or more ethical papers may even award a page on the issue or more coverage if they receive a lot of letters on a given issue.
Another idea would be to write to your state representatives, and see which ones are on “our side” regarding these issues. Support them and help them get the support they need to feel strong enough to introduce these types of laws in YOUR states. Start talking about issues like the agriculture issue I mentioned, or gun rights... You can still mention the other three issues, but these things, IMHO, should be spoken of in a Constitutional framework so as to minimize the left’s ability to counter-attack our positions.
Individuals need to study the Constitution, and also learn how the Federal Government has used certain clauses to claim power it really doesn’t have in many areas. If we establish our States’ Rights, it will severely limit the Federal Government’s power to go ahead with its planned Fascist/Authoritarian plans. And it will also put us in a great position to field candidates (even INDEPENDENT Conservatives — like the farmers, and “regular folk” who our forefathers believed in — who could have name recognition in their communities) to replace our leaders in DC come 2010...
Taking back the House of Representatives would be something that would fit well with this plan as Representatives are from smaller geographic areas, and it would be easier to support a contender in that way...
If there is one thing I’m pretty sure ALL Tea Party supporters can support and agree completely on, it’s that our Constitution is the HIGHEST law in the land, provides us the basis for knowing we have that leg to stand on, so to speak. It is what guarantees us the RIGHT, and responsibility to throw off the chains of oppression and kick out of office anyone who doesn’t follow our Constitutionally based laws, period.
If we all followed that line of unified voice — it’s short enough, easiest to understand, and easiest to impart in the era of sound-bites as well. That is my heartfelt opinion on how best the TEA party participants can come together to show a united front against tyranny of government. Adherence to the Constitution will address ALL issues they will attempt to throw at us, and as the Highest law in the land, again we will ALWAYS have the “upper-hand” in public discourse so to speak.
When we start speaking as our forefathers spoke to some extent (though modernized, but not complicated), people will know the truth of what they hear. Our educational system isn’t COMPLETELY overrun yet. AND, the Communists/Fascist/Dictators haven’t been “clean” of transgression long enough, and indeed there are still examples today that the majority of the world’s society does remember the oppression and evil.
An entire generation of kids like myself grew up at the end of the USSR, we saw it at its worst, and we saw what happened when people gained freedom. And our numbers are great. And, more and more younger generation members are waking up to what a joke Obama is as well...
I don’t truly believe the Democrats have support among the people as they think. They may be in DC, but they are totally out of touch with the “mood on the street” against DC’s actions, IMHO.
Just my opinion...