VIRGINIA BEACH
This wasn’t your great, great, great, great-grandfather’s Boston Tea Party.
There were some protesters dressed in Colonial garb and a handful of men in wigs, but the Hampton Roads Tax Day Tea Party also drew small business owners, realtors, retirees, stay-at-home moms and children on spring break.
Police officials estimate that up to 700 people gathered at Town Center Wednesday to protest government spending. They also vented against bank bailouts, socialism, restrictions on gun rights and the influence of international law.
With American flags in hand, hoisting signs that read “We have had enough, stop rewarding failure,” and “free market not freeloaders,” the protestors chanted “USA” throughout the two-hour rally.
“It’s about the Constitution,” said Karen Miner Hurd, one of the protest’s organizers.
The Virginia Beach tea party was one of more than 500 rallies planned nationwide on tax day.
“It’s a grassroots groundswell,” Hurd said.
And sometimes it felt like it. The microphones didn’t carry voices all the way to the back of the crowd and speakers like Reid Greenmun, a libertarian from the Virginia Beach Taxpayer Alliance, made a presentation with posters drawn by his teen-age daughter.
Anger over the types of projects the stimulus money is being spent on and frustration that their voices aren’t being heard drove many to the event.
“The stimulus package is extreme, it’s extravagant,” said Carla Waldemar, a mother of eight who with her husband owns several fast food chain restaurants in the area. “It breaks a lot of people’s hearts here to see our hard-earned money being taxed away.”
Tax attorney James McElligott III said taxes are good for his business, but he worries about the increasing debt the country is taking on with the stimulus package.
“I’m concerned about going back to the stagflation of the 1970s,” McElligott said.
It wasn’t just federal taxes that drew complaints.
Terry Hull, with Big Al’s Mufflers & Brakes, groused with a group of men at the rally about the city’s new fire inspection fee.
The Virginia Beach fire department last year started charging owners or tenants for the inspections, which are required either once per year or once every three years.
Hull had just had his building inspected and was billed $140 by the city.
The taxes and fees are “strangling you,” he said.
Greenmun encouraged the protestors to act locally by voting for candidates who shared their views and who would limit government.
“You have to take back your city, your state and your government,” Greenmun said.
An Edenton, N.C., rally drew some 350 to 400 people, many waving flags and hoisting banners with anti-big government slogans said Eddy Goodwin, chairman of the Chowan County Board of Commissioners.
The crowd gathered on the green between Edenton Bay and the historic courthouse, where several speakers railed against what they called excessive taxes and too much spending.
Californian Mason Weaver, who called himself a “black, conservative Republican who’s outspoken” gave the keynote address. “It’s my money; it’s my country,” Weaver said.
Trish Ludwig of Hertford said she attended the rally because she’s outraged by “continuous” government spending. “They’re not hearing us,” she said.
Betsy Bishop showed up at the Newport News rally with her husband, two daughters and three sons. The 46-year-old Newport News resident carried a sign that said: “Taxed Enough Already. No more tyranny.”
She said she heard about the tea party through an American Family Association e-mail.
“We are tired of Washington spending money that they don’t have and intending to leave a debt that will be transferred to our children and our grandchildren,” she said.
Neil Ross, 72, also of Newport News, carried a sign that read “No more bailout. No more handout. No more excuse.”
“I felt that I had to raise my voice in opposition to the excessive spending that’s going on in Washington,” he said. “I’m opposed to the giveaways. I’m opposed to passing legislation without reading it, without giving people the opportunity to understand what’s being voted on.”
Also protesting around the Oyster Point fountain was a young boy dressed as Uncle Sam, people wearing colonial garb, a man impersonating Abraham Lincoln, and a woman sporting a pink Boston baseball cap with tea bags dangling from the sides.
Pilot reporters Aaron Applegate, Deirdre Fernandes and Kathy Adams contributed to this story.
Correspondent Connie Sage contributed to this report.
Deirdre Fernandes, (757) 222-5121, deirdre.fernandes@pilotonline.com
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tolerance
look up the definition of indulgence that is the new tolerance. Oh, and its a one way street too...
The Tea Parties
I still can't believe that no one seems to have a problem with a tax code that virtually no one understands. In addition, that the IRS can by-pass The Fourth Amendment without a warrant to inspect your papers, and then most folks wondering if they will go to jail if they make a mistake on their forms. This is really incredible! Folks you EXCHANGE your time, talent, and labor for money to put groceries on the table and a roof over your head. When the income tax was first implemented people were told that only "the rich" would pay. Now were all rich. This is involuntary servitude from the feds and the state. Government functioned fine prior to 1913 from sales, excise taxes, and tarriffs. That's the way it should be.
College Education
I don’t need a college education to understand the Constitution of the United States of America. I can read and think. I do not hold a grudge against anyone who makes more money than me. The entire argument can be eliminated if we have a fair tax system. Pick a number, say for argument it is 10%. Then provide an equal field where our talents and willingness to work is the determining factor of our income. Rather than government hand-outs, allow for our charitable nature to assist any of our brothers and sisters who our struggling. If a city or town needs a stop sign for the common good then let them provide the resources for it. If a state has the desire to improve the educational system, allow the collective will of the people determine the assets they will distribute. I could elaborate but for brevity I will simply recommend reading the Constitution of the United States of America.
Chris33
Wow way to paint a wide brush with that comment.
comments and taxes
Just some of the comments made by the tolerant left: "white nazi bush leaguers" -Chris33, "Im tired of you Racist right wing haters" -tellthetruth, "easily manipulated, mostly sore headed right wingers" -dharma41, "it seemed a tad WASP" -Mr. Fabulous, "misinformed dupes" -cFrederick, "I see this kind of ignorance escalating into full-blown domestic terrorism" -cowpower. Just a few of the taxes we pay, off the top of my head: Federal income tax, State income tax, City income tax, Social Security tax, Medicare tax, Payroll tax, A/R tax, Capital Gains tax, Gas tax, Sales tax, Personal property tax, Real estate tax, Gift tax, Inheritance tax, Wealth tax, Building permit tax, Cigarette tax, Liquor tax, Luxury tax, RV tax, Telephone tax, Vehicle Registration tax, Trailer registration tax, Wastewater management tax, Workers' Comp tax, Toll tax, Unemployment tax, School tax, CDL license tax, Utility tax... and that list goes on and on, believe it!
That man is my great
That man is my great grandfather, Franklin Jefferson Burns, tossing that tea without a care for what the caffeine would do to the Fenway flounder.
Is that a fish?
It was.
Hahahahahaha...I crack up thinking all these people posting think that anyone is reading or even cares about what they have to say!!!
Friendly advise for Reid G
If you really want to learn more about The U.S. Constitution why don't you take political science at an accredited collage instead of listening to a washed up disc jockey turned sensationalist political talk show host (Glen Beck). This guy is no more that another form of Jerry Springer who will do or say anything to get your attention and money. If you really want to save your self some money, stop buying his paraphernalia and his point of view. And before you accuse me of being biased, I don't like Keith Olbermann on MSNBC either. Both are exact opposites but have one thing in common, extremist uncompromising views.
displaced anger
These protesters need to protest Dick Armey's,(1 of the organizers of these so called grass roots protests), many corporate clients, that use tax shelters in the Cayman Islands & elsewhere,( set up more easily through Bush administration policies), to not pay most of their share of taxes. If the corporations & the extremely wealthy paid, their share, the middle class wouldn't be so burdened. As a person of faith, I have no problem paying taxes. I also believe any person claiming to be a Christian should have no problem paying taxes either. This would include the wealthy & corporation owners who profess Christian beliefs. "Render unto Caesar, that which is Caesar's."
Interesting tidbit
According to renowned financial expert Bob Brinker, American taxpayers are now paying $3.5 BILLION a DAY just to pay the INTEREST of the debt we collectively owe.
That's not even touching the PRINCIPLE!
Can someone among the posters explain how we can continue owing (& borrowing to pay) enormous debt like this and it not break us?
Re: FletcherPratt
That is one of the best comments I have ever seen on here! And actually, while I am most certainly not a "fundamentalist Christian," I do consider myself to be a strong Christian who believes that most of what these so-called Christians say (and do) DO NOT at all follow the teachings of Christ. If fundamentalist Christians would actually do what Christians are supposed to do (love everyone equally regardless of religion or race or occupation or any of it), we would all be in a better place right now. Good Luck everyone.
Response to 2cents (forgot to add!)
Of course, claiming all your exemptions will also get you red flagged by Janet and her crew and your name will be added to the domestic terrorist watch list!
From Len and others...
"We did start with a surplus in 2001. We did turn a promised $50 billion war into a $1 trillion war. We turned Wall Street into a casino that gambled away the retirement funds of most hard working Americans, rich and not so rich. We are converting our food to oil. We let the Chinese lend us money for tax breaks, or the war, (take your pick).
And all of that we did long before the present administration was elected."
I cannot argue with any of that. What I will argue with is the contention that attendance of the tea party and espousing the message of it is an endorsement of the Republican Party. I have as much use for faux conservatives, which the GOP is overcrowded with at present, as I do with the uber leftists who have hijacked the Dem Party, as well as the Dems media abettors. The message I heard yesterday was 'get back to fundamentals', quit the social engineering wrapped under the false guise of an economic rescue, and actually READ the legislation that makes the spending of trillions of dollars on dubious goals possible. And I ask any non-conservative: if Bush's spending policies were so worng, how can you justify the spending by Obama, Pelosi, Frank, etc.?
Response to 2cents
I agree with your contention that we should send Washington a message and reconfigure our exemptions to take as many as possible through the year, being careful to save what we'll owe at the end. I tried to suggest this on the Lou Dobbs show a couple days ago and was cut short. If Washington saw a dramatic downturn in the cash flow between now and NEXT April 15, it would send a powerful if not ominous message. Current law allows folks to change their witholding rate anytime they want without giving a reason. Put the difference in your savings account and earn a little bit of interest instead of keeping Washington's gut full all year long!
We're our own worst enemy!
We've lost our creative edge and savvy due to partisanship, outsourcing, greed, corruption, individualism. Old school way of doing business is a failed business plan. Until everyone gets off their high and mighty horses and work in a non-partisan fashion we're destined to failure.
The mortgage crisis affects not just our citizens but the government itself as we've mortgaged it as well.
Blame and rhetoric produce zero results, listening, creating and producing are our best resource and until we get that back....we're our own worst enemy!
Re: "johnp32882"
Your right, we do want some of the representatives of the Republican Party, as is, out. We are also going to be voting some of the representatives of the Democratic Party, as is, out on their keister’s as well.
Left versus Right, Liberal versus Conservative; it's the eloquent insanity of unconscious minds.
Mr. Barrett
When will you announce you candidacy Mike? Ken Stolle's seat is up for grabs. So is Bob Purkey's too I think. You have all the answers, run for office and change it sir.
Government not listening
The only way to stop this spending by the government is to starve it to death. If all the folks who attended these rallies and that work for a living were to increase their exemptions on their W4 to 5 or 6 then the government would be forced to see how upset the "people" truly are. Put money aside to pay your tax liablity in April. Don't let the government earn interest off the money they confiscate from your paycheck. Don't use the government as your savings account, they don't pay you interest. Be responsible for yourself, save money, and really see what the government is taking from you.
Obama taking over the country?
The auto companies came with hat in hand to DC before he was even elected.
No one is nationalizing any industry.
Paulson pumped billions into the banking system and AIG.
No one is taking over the hospitals.
Obama has not signed off on a 90% tax of AIG bonus money.
Where you folks get some of this stuff?
We did start with a surplus in 2001. We did turn a promised $50 billion war into a $1 trillion war. We turned Wall Street into a casino that gambled away the retirement funds of most hard working Americans, rich and not so rich. We are converting our food to oil. We let the Chinese lend us money for tax breaks, or the war, (take your pick).
And all of that we did long before the present administration was elected.
Government spending rebuilding a nation.
The big difference many of you miss is:
After the deppresion most all companies utilized were US owned.
Most all the workers were US citizens.
Most all materials were produced in the US by US workers.
100% of the spending was justified, no grants to study drunk ants.
We were not under the threat of losing our constitutional rights.
Workers, achievement and advancement were rewarded not penalized.
Workers did not have to earn enough to support those who choose not to work.
We were not taxed on every aspect of daily life. 11.5% tax to go get something to eat! (VA)
etc etc etc, the list is endless but it shows you that this is today not yesterday and things have changed.
MB wants more taxes
figures