Are you going to the Tea Party today?

Where were the tea party participants the past eight years when the republican "conservatives" drove our economy to the brink of economic ruin? Where were their protests when Bush's War wasn't even listed as a line item on the nation's budget? Where are their suggestions for an alternative plan? All I hear is "no" from a group of reactionary do nothings who have the attention span of an ostrich.

NO more taxes! And that means you too, Mr Schwarzenegger.

NO million man civilian Army of "Brown Shirts"!

NO more bailouts!

NO more AmeriCorps "volunteers". (Mandatory service after indoctrination by the Marxist in the White House)

NO more Fed Gov't intrusion into our states or our lives!

NO more Global Warming lies! Man didn't make it. Make can't fix it. The EARTH IS COOLING!

NO more GREEN power propaganda! It's too expensive and less efficient! Nuclear..Clean coal, Natural gas! We have it. USE IT!

If you want to protest your money burdens, think about this: The price of manufactured items at the store is 5 or 10 times what it costs at the factory -- and possibly 50 or 100 times, if that factory is overseas. Do you really think that making government smaller, by privatizing parts of the government, is a true cost-saver? Do you really think that private companies are more efficient, or more caring about your money, than government?

Just a stunt by not fit to govern Republicans...I guess the $1 trillion Bush borrowed to finance his "my weenie is bigger than your weenie" adventure in Iraq has been all but forgotten in this mess.
Go home, stick your head in the toilet (presuming you can dislodge it from it's current location) and breathe deeply!

It is about time that we taxpayers take some action and I welcome these nationwide protests. Government at all levels has gotten unmanageable, sees itself as Santa Claus, and thinks every day is Christmas.

The Republican party should be careful not to view these protests as an endorsement of their party. Instead, they should view these protests as a clarion call to wake up and assume their role as principled opposition to the wrong-headed, delusional ideology of liberalism/ progressivism/ socialism that is being foisted on this country.

I'LL TELL YOU ANOTHER THING, THE REST OF THE WORLD IS GETTING SO FED UP WITH AMERICA, it is ready to vomit us out, it is sick of us! WE'RE TAKING A TYPICAL HARD-LINE HITLERIAN ATTITUDE: No, not unless they meet OUR terms. No give, no bending, inflexible, brittle, and the reason is, we don't want to get out! We can't get out or our economy will collapse, especially right now, as bad as things are. I mean, this would be the unheard of thing! Usually presidents use War as a remedy for a Depression.--They certainly won't get us out of a war already in progress that's barely keeping our heads above water to keep us from going into a full-scale Depression! So they're sure as hell not going to get us out of this war! Not if they can help it! They will lie and lie and lie and say they're doing it! I read that book, The War Goes On!, although it was a filthy book that a teacher in high school recommended, by Sholem Asch.He wrote on the conditions in post-WWI Germany which brought Hitler to power. He showed the picture of Germany--what was wrong with Germany--what happened to Germany and why Hitler was created--the monster was created to devour the lesser monster--so they created a bigger Monster!
IN HIS BOOK HE DESCRIBES THE CONDITIONS THERE, AND I'LL TELL YOU, THE CONDITIONS IN GERMANY AT THAT TIME WERE SO SIMILAR TO THE CONDITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES TODAY!--If you ever have a chance to read it, you'll get a picture of what America is like today!--Same thing! I have never seen so many swastikas flying,--you know, those red, white, and blue swastikas? Everywhere the swastikas are flying to show that they're a red-blooded, red-white-and-blue America! On the cars--American flag stickers flying, homes flying the flag, and all the hard-hats showing how patriotic they are! WHY ALL THIS SUDDEN DESPERATE SHOW OF AMERICANISM? "We are AMERICANS, THIS is our swastika! "The American flag is going to be the swastika of America! It's already being used just like the swastika was being used in Germany--to show patriotism, loyalty, love for Fatherland: "We are the true Germans! We're the ones who really want peace! We're the ones who really want to save the Fatherland! The rest of you guys are a bunch of radicals, and disloyal traitors and Commies and whatnot, Jews! We're gonna wipe you out!"

Boy, these tea parties are sure hitting some nerves here. Typical vitriol of the rabid left.

It's not so simple. It's a lot more complicated than just calling someone a socialist or demanding tax reductions.

Take the stimulus. It's true that the stimulus is enormously expensive and we will have to pay for it. This means, paradoxically, that it has to be enormous. Because if the economy does not take off, then the revenue to pay for it in the future won't be there. So it's like punching a bear: if you don't hit him hard enough the first time...

I don't think the problem is so much ideology, right or left, but rather honesty and competence. These characteristics are sorely lacking lately, both in government -- both parties -- and corporations (especially in the financial sector).

I don't like paying taxes. No one does. But, we vote most of the time and approve them. We have no one to blame but our selves. We want all the bennies from the government, but complain about paying. This year I owe, I'm struggling to pay but I will. I believe in this country and state. I just wish more people would think about what thay want to pay and expect out of return from our governments.

Most anti-tax people just want services and benefits, but don't want to pay for them. Tax-supported public higher education is what made California the (former) powerhouse of the American economy. People don't understand that a civil society requires contributions form the citizens. If you don't serve food at Povarello House, coach youth soccer teams, sit on city citizen's advisory committees, donate blood, etc. etc., then just shut up and pay your taxes with grace. It is the least you can do.

We have lots of low-tax/low service states in this country. PLEASE enjoy living in those states that take more federal money than they send to Washington in taxes. Personally, I am sick and tired of supporting the failed economies of Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and most of the southeast.

America is supposed to be government of the people, by the people, for the people. Instead, it's government by a bunch of out-of-touch egotists (both parties) who think of us, in the words of Charles Schumer (D-NY) as the "chattering class".

The Declaration of Independence states: "That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government . . .".

It's time for We the People to take back our country from the witless wonders who are destroying it through their arrogant incompetence.

"I'm sick and tired of people who say that if you debate and disagree with this administration, somehow you're not patriotic. We need to stand up and say we're Americans, and we have the right to debate and disagree with any administration."

~Hillary Rodham Clinton

People who do not want to pay taxes are freeloaders. They want all of the schools, health care and police protection possible, but heaven forbid that they contribute their fair share to the expense.

I'm retired and I just took a hit of several hundred dollars a year in benefits because you cheap bastards do not want to pay your taxes like I had to when I was employed.

When the schools fall apart from lack of funding, YOU SOBs are responsible. When police protection is reduced, YOU are to blame. When potholes in the streets go unrepaired for years, YOU are the cause.

Look, I couldn't stand Bush and his worthless cabinet and I have even less use for that neo-fascist in the White House now; (yes, he's a fascist; socialism takes companies over and runs them, fascism allows them to still exist and function but under government control). I'm for the Tea Party; previous commitments are keeping me away from the Fresno party but I wish I could be there. My wife is going there with her bells on - as in the days of her flaming youth. She will be registering voters (that's the REAL revolution). The taxes that this government seizes are just too high - that was true under Bush and it's even truer under this one. And what do we get for what is stolen? A war that caused a vacuum in another country that never attacked us, drying up California's farm land to protect an unimportant fish, bailing out people and companies that made bad financial decisions, funding prosecutors who seek to deprive people of basic rights and guarantees, and construction projects that take too long to complete because they aren't privatized. And as for Obama giving us a tax break? This guy didn't see it - I'm on pension and I don't even get that massive extra $8 a week. Will this have any effect on elected representatives? Only if they see their political futures endangered by people who are fed up. Yes, I'M mad.

I think it is a good beginning to the uprising that needs to take place in America that is needed to take our country back. At present, our government, from the lowest level to the Federal level operates as a government "in spite of the people" instead of working for us as a government "by, of, and for the people."

We need to use this a momentum builder to even larger ways to force them to react. I have been involved with attending legislative conferences in Sacramento for the past 7+ years, the purpose of which is to discuss proposed legislation that will impact my profession with our legislators. And, every year is the same reaction. They nod in agreement and then vote according to what entity is financially supporting them the most, regardless of what is best for the public. They do not feel they have to answer to John Q. Public.

My hope is that the citizens of these United States can put party lines behind them and work together to rid the government of these financial leaches.

Debts must be paid. Government's debt was created by the vote of the representatives of the people. Voting them out does nothing to reduce the debt which must be paid through either increased taxes or the sale of government property. Unless the tax protesters want Yosemite to be sold to developers or to PG&E for another hydroelectric plant taxes must go up to cover existing debt. That having been said our government must get smaller. Lets start by eliminating the 14.4 billion dollars in Obama's budget for "special education". I have never understood why we spend anything trying to teach children who will never contribute to society. Gifted children will contribute but they never get the educational opportunities they should have.

All those who reminded us that taxes are the price of civilization said it all for me. Are there those who remember when CA had the finest higher education system in the land until Reagan got here, and when it had the education it had the high-paying industries, the highly-paid workers. Everyone prospers from maximum use of our best-endowed citizens (that's an education tax in case you didn't catch it); all sleep more securely knowing our seniors are warm and protected (that's a tax for general welfare) etc etc.

"Lets start by eliminating the 14.4 billion dollars in Obama's budget for "special education". I have never understood why we spend anything trying to teach children who will never contribute to society."

Compassionate conservatism...don't you just love it?

Tea parties, or pollute-the-waterway parties?

To: R Givens. I'm willing to bet that everyone who is protesting the taxes do pay taxes unlike the 40% who don't. But, enough is enough. Government has to quit treating us hard workers as cash cows to bail them out of their fiscal malfeasance.

Roads and schools would be fine if they quit spending our money on other things like high priced union demands.

On the one hand, we all want what the government gives--protection of our bank accounts through F.D.I.C., public safety, infrastructure, good schools, caregivers for our elderly and infirmed,more water storage for our farmers, etc. But we don't want to pay for it, or we want someone else to pay for it. When are we going to grow up in America and realize that we cannot have something for nothing? When will we realize that taxes are part of civilized society?

Heartless! Think about what you are saying here! What about all those mothers who did not abort their down's syndrome babies? Are you saying those children are useless in society? Are you in favor of aborting them instead?

Wow, wow, and wow! I think everybody woke up. Daphne's response is right on. And that's a Republican, Right to Life, talking point. Hurray for those speaking out about paying for what you use. Huzzah for those pointing out that this mess is bigger than the current administration. Thumbs down to the Nazi. I liked the "Bear" analogy too.

The only folks benefiting from the tea party are the tea manufacturers/retailers...AND the government that collects SALES TAX on the same tea, these "patriots" are demonstrating by throwing away!
That much for the symbolism...now, will all of you casuing a traffic jam on Shaw and Chestnut go home and mail your tax returns, and if you are smart, you may actually be able to get a refund!
What a waste of energy!

I have been a substitute teacher in half a dozen special education classes in which 3-5 children had a teacher costing $100,000 a year (including benefits) and each child had an instructional aide to hold a pencil for him or her at a cost of $40,000 a year because No Child Left Behind requires that money be spent on these children. At the same time, bright children, who forty years ago would have had access to labs with state of the art equipment, are bored to tears because have no labs and no equipment. These children leave high school, sometimes sans diploma, without the skills they need to compete and then enroll in private junior colleges which charge outrageous tuition all because public money for education is misallocated. Parents who want individualized instruction for their children should pay for it themselves so that the public's money can be profitably invested in the children who will benefit the most from the investment.

The original Tea Party against the British was for taxation "without" representation. Citizens today have taxation "with" representation by elected officials who turn blind, deaf, and unanswerable to their constituents. Our government is ineffective, too costly, and stated plainly, a sorry mess. A single Dictator could achieve results and save trillions of dollars.

Mr. Cycon - you proved our point about "without" representation. We have none!!!

Bill Walker,

Where were the Republicans when Bush was running up deficits?

Staying home on election day.
Writing columns against the President's rampant spending.
Laughing that the best you had to offer was John Kerry - who pledged to spend more.
Changing their registation to decline to state.

Also, I would gladly debate you on any issue. It wouldn't be a fair fight of course, since I am merely a reactionary do nothing. I find that those that hurl insults are usually the ones I take out in about two minutes.

I was there for the entire meeting and learned alot. I am sure that politicians are paying attention. It is a beginning, a very successful one. The silent majority is ready to make a real difference. Stay tuned we will not fail to keep you on your toes.

The lazy nut jobs on the left can pooh-pooh as symbolism all they want but I see it as a significant toe hold in the mountain that must be climbed.Add liar to the attributes of "O-bummer" as he says he did not know that there was anything about it(maybe the teleprompter or Axelrod thought that would be the best angle).2300 events and "The Chief Thief" didn't notice.Day two of "The Revolution" and now it's time to get to work.Don't worry Libs...you can sit on your ass...we've got it covered.

One of the complaints about the nation wide Tea Party - at least according to the drive-by media - is that it is anti-government. That’s not bad! That’s a good thing!

Professor Walter E. Williams (economics) just in the last day or so offered the following opinion (in part):

"In addition to an abhorrence of democracy, and the recognition that GOVERNMENT POSED THE GRAVEST THREAT TO LIBERTY, our founders harbored a deep distrust and suspicion of Congress. This suspicion and distrust is exemplified by the phraseology used throughout the Constitution, particularly our Bill of Rights, containing phrases such as Congress shall not: abridge, infringe, deny, disparage or violate. Today's Americans think Congress has the constitutional authority to do anything upon which they can get a majority vote. We think whether a particular measure is a good idea or bad idea should determine passage as opposed to whether that measure lies within the enumerated powers granted Congress by the Constitution. Unfortunately, for the future of our nation, Congress has successfully exploited American constitutional ignorance or contempt."

After all the shouting is over, after all the signs have been put away, after the mess has been cleaned up, we are still left with reality. The government has a job to do and it needs money to do it. There was not one person at all those rallies that did not want some government program available to them that was paid for with tax monies, from fixing pot holes to Medicare. And for all the hyperbolic rhetoric about the cost of the bailout and stimulus package, there were no serious suggestions about what should be done as an alternative to deal with the financial crisis, the collapse of major American industries, the loss of millions of jobs, and the foreclosure of hundreds of thousands of homes. It's easy to join a rally and vent your spleen. It's a little harder to govern.

I have always liked getting the big refund allowing me to do bigger projects but have recently gotten smart and get my money now. We still pay a huge amount of about 33% and that sucks. I am all for a flat tax of 5-10% for everyone.

Jackie - that's the key - everyone pays into the tax system instead of the 40% who pay nothing or get a generous refund above what they withheld via the misnamed earned income tax credit.

drove by SMC, i witnessed protesters on the corner shouting anti-democrat and anti-obama speech, with a few offensive signs here and there. wanted nothing to do with it. partisan politics MUST end if this country is going to move forward.

why werent these people protesting the millions of dollars spent on bombs the past 8 years? bombs and destroying other countries are ok to fund, but the funding of our own countrys repair is not?

Bart: You said "I'm just curious as to the number of signs with which you have never been associated." I'm curious what you mean by this statement. It makes no sense to me. But then, not much from the far right does.

Conservatives...why are we wasting our time on the do nothing lefties on this blog(how much longer will "Duh Bee" be around anyway)?They are all talk and no action other than running their mouths and the brain dead voting for Obama and other socialist legislators.Do we really expect these folks and the mainstream media to ever come around to our way of thinking.Get real.Let us take the energy generated by the tax protests and move forward in a meaningful way.I still have my signs from the event and plan to stand out by 168 every once and a while and protest on my own...Let others know you are mad as hell and they should be too! and may I suggest protests large or small in all places on Memorial Day and the 4th of July and the writing of letters to any and every govt. official that has an impact on our lives and liberty.We don't have to change everyone's mind(or should we expect to)but if we can get a majority by 2010 we'll flush out the socialists in our govt. and quite possibly save our country and preserve our liberty.

Would it make sense to allocate Fed money to the San Joaquin Valley, the hotbed of California's extreme Right Wing politics? "They are all talk and no action other than running their mouths and the brain dead voting for Obama and other socialist legislators.... if we can get a majority by 2010 we'll flush out the socialists in our govt..." The Democrats in Washington are not stupid. By the way; most of the Westside crop is being raised with socialist water.

BM, looks like copy to me. Probably copy/paste. Looks authentic.

The rich, spirit their obscene profits to off-shore tax free banks, California loses ten billion dollars every year to the Cayman Island banks alone, and there are dozens of countries that shelter their would-be share of the tax burden.

We are living the Reagan Legacy.

I think we can all agree government abused our tax dollars. Blaming eachother does no one any good.

Abuse is seen from the poor, elites, and government of our society.

"Oh Brother.."

Somebody commented that the conservatives don't want to pay taxes - that is wrong - they don't want to pay enormous taxes to a government that misuses their hard earned money on frivolities
The democrats blame Bush for too much spending, so what do they do? They spend a whole hell of a lot more! Where is the logic? Why is Obama going back to previous administration trying to find faults instead of dealing with all our present
problems? That says a lot about the man Obama,
trying to divert attention to what he is rushing
through Congress. He is dishonest, deceitful and has no clue except speaking a lot of rubbish that he is not going to adhere to anyway. I am afraid for our country under Obama's "leadership.
Vicki Landgren

Vicki, I'm not sure where you're getting this information. I don't know of ANY Democrats who ever accused Bush of overspending....except maybe on the war in Iraq. In which case he probably didn't spend enough money fast enough with a solid plan. Therefore it turned into the war that shouldn't have been, that went on too long, but that's another argument. If anything, Bush CUT spending on things the Democrats favored like education and health care just to fund the war.

Your right about one thing, conservatives only want to pay small taxes, not huge ones. I can't say as I blame them. I don't want to pay huge taxes either, and I don't know anyone who does.

Obama has been far more transparent than many many presidents before him, Democrat and Republican. If you'd like to see where your money is going during this stimulus plan, go to http://www.recovery.gov/ - it's all there for you.

For the first time in U.S. history, a president is making this information and other information about the activities of the government available for the public on the internet so that taxpayers can follow along and if they'd like, they can voice their approval or disapproval. And yes, you will be heard.

President Obama is trying his best to help this country out of a very difficult situation. It's important to him and to all Americans and the world. His plan is debatable and no doubt he's taking a big chance, but drastic times call for drastic measures. We'll all see how this all plays out together.

So, when you say, "He is dishonest, deceitful and has no clue except speaking a lot of rubbish that he is not going to adhere to anyway," that's not very accurate and certainly unfair at this point in the process.

"He is dishonest, deceitful and has no clue except speaking a lot of rubbish that he is not going to adhere to anyway," Agreed and alot of d-partyers are not happy about lost campaign promises either. I will provide footnotes on request.