All Entries Tagged With: "Debt"
“Two Trillion Tons and Deeper In Debt”
Modern version of the famous song "Sixteen Tons". Download, listen, laugh, cry … and pass it on to those that voted for our evil government. Apologies to Tennessee Ernie Ford, although I am sure he would approve of this modern version.
Tax Day TEA Party count nearing 2,000 U.S. cities
April 04, 2009 12:10 am Eastern By Chelsea Schilling © 2009 WorldNetDaily
Mainstream media may run, but they can’t hide from protest tidal wave.
While WND has been tracking 400 individual tea parties across the nation, the American Family Association has announced its count is nearing 1,600 – for Tax Day alone.
The AFA, planned to coordinate 1,000 Taxed Enough Already, or TEA, parties to be held at 12 p.m. on April 15 in front of city halls across the nation.
But the group is pleasantly surprised as is stands to double that goal before Tax Day is here.
"Our goal was to have a TEA party in 1,500 cities. We are nearly 100 cities above our goal and still growing," said Donald E. Wildmon, AFA chairman.
The AFA sponsored TEA parties are in addition to hundreds of parties planned by other groups. Taxpayers are also organizing tea parties for Independence Day and various Saturdays so people with conflicting work schedules may attend.
Meanwhile, a Google Maps list shows several locations of citizen tea parties – so many that the United States is nearly hidden behind a sea of blue markers.
Wildmon said the protests are essential because the government’s reckless spending is burdening America with insurmountable debt.
"The runaway spending by President Obama and Congress will have a definite negative effect on our families," he said. "We are leaving a debt of trillions of dollars to be paid by our grandchildren and great-grandchildren."
The organization launched a Tea Party Day website so volunteer organizers may register their protests with AFA . The website also provides a list of other protests across the nation that are not organized by AFA .
Michael DePrimo, special counsel to AFA President Tim Wildmon, told WND that AFA has been inundated with e-mails from citizens who want to attend or organize tea parties in their own cities.
"We’re trying to get people to attend these and we’re also encouraging others if there is no tea party in their community to start their own," he said. "All we’re trying to do is really generate activity to try to try to get people to attend these rallies to really send a message to Washington."
The group encourages tea party attendees to bring a cell phone and call the president, 202-456-1414, and Congress, 202-224-3121, while attending the rallies.
While many mainstream media outlets have provided little to no coverage of the nation’s numerous tea parties so far, DePrimo said the growing movement is proof that Americans no longer need them to launch a widespread revolution.
"I think the media does whatever the media choose to do," he said. "We’re all aware that the media have a liberal bias. I suppose if it’s big enough, they will report on it. If they think it really may spur some change in Washington that the media elites don’t want, they may ignore the story altogether."
De Primo continued, "The good news is that with the Internet , Facebook, texting and with all the ways we can communicate today, we don’t necessarily need the mainstream media anymore. The message can get out without them."
WND has also launched its own tea party forum so citizens may exchange ideas, information and announcements about the "revolution." After reviewing various website protest listings and e-mails from many readers, WND found 400 tea parties scheduled for upcoming months and compiled one of the most complete lists on the Internet. Here are some scheduled tea parties:
Alabama
Auburn University – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Samford Lawn
Birmingham – Wednesday, April 15, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Veteran Park on Highway 17 Valledale Road
Huntsville – Wednesday, April 15, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., vacant lot (lot k) across the street from Clinton Avenue post office
Decatur – Saturday, March 28, at the Rhodes Ferry Park, (also known as River Park)
Mobile – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the USS Alabama battleship
Montgomery – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. at the Alabama Statehouse located at 11 South Union Street
Springdale – Wednesday, April 15, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in downtown Springdale, exact location to be determined
Trussville – Wednesday, April 15, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., location to be announced
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa – Wednesday, April 15, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., the quad, 1000 University Blvd.
Alaska
Anchorage – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., federal building in Anchorage
Wasilla – Wednesday, April 15, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Wasilla Lake
Arizona
Bullhead City – Wednesday, April 15, at 6 p.m., location to be announced
Lake Havasu City – Wednesday, April 15, at 5:30 p.m., London Bridge
Phoenix – Wednesday, April 15, at 6 p.m. at capitol building
Prescott – Wednesday, April 15, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Courthouse Square
Tucson – Wednesday, April 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in front of Joel D. Valdez Main Library on 101 N. Stone Ave.
Arkansas
El Dorado – Wednesday, April 15, time and location to be announced
Fayetteville – Wednesday, April 15, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Fayetteville Square
Little Rock – Wednesday, April 15, at 3 p.m., Arkansas state capitol
Monticello – Wednesday, April 15, time to be announced, at Monticello Town Square
Mountain Home – Wednesday, April 15, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Town Square
Paragould – Wednesday, April 15, time and location to be announced
Rogers – Wednesday, April 15, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., downtown Rogers, Frisco Stage
S pringdale – Wednesday, April 15, time and location to be announced
California
Atascadero – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., Sunken Gardens on El Camino Real
Bakersfield – Wednesday, April 15, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., courthouse at the Liberty Bell
Chico – Wednesday, April 15, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., city plaza in downtown Chico
Citrus Heights – Wednesday, April 15, from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., intersection at Greenback Lane and Sunset Boulevard
El Cajon – Wednesday, April 15, from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., Post Office, 401 Lexington Ave.
Escondido – Wednesday, April 15, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., 403 N. Escondido Blvd.
Eureka – Wednesday, April 15, at 12 p.m., county courthouse, 5th and I Street
Fresno – Wednesday, April 15, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., SaveMart Center at Fresno State University, at Shaw and Highway 168
Glendale – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., 613 East Broadway
Hollister – Wednesday, April 15, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., corner of San Benito and 4th St.
Los Angeles – Saturday, July 4, from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Santa Monica Pier
Los Angeles – Wednesday, April 15, at 1 p.m. at Santa Monica Pier, 101 Colorado Ave.
Los Angeles South Bay - Redondo/Manhattan Beach – Wednesday, April 15, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Marine Field followed by a march to Jane Harman’s office on Rosecrans and Continental
Merced – Wednesday, April 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at University of California, Merced in the academic quad
Modesto – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 1010 10th Street
Napa – Wednesday, April 15, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Mike Thompson’s Napa District office, 1040 Main Street
Norco/Eastvale – Wednesday, April 15, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Limonite/15 and Sixth St./15
Oceanside – Wednesday, April 15, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Oceanside City Hall, 300 N. Coast Highway
Orange County - Santa Ana – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Plaza of the Flags, Santa Ana Civic Center - behind the Superior Court building bounded by Flower Street, Santa Ana Boulevard and Civic Center Drive
Pasadena – Saturday, April 11, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at 100 N. Garfield Ave.
Rancho Cucamonga – Wednesday, April 15, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., 12300 Foothill Blvd.
Redding – Wednesday, April 15, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay
Redlands – Wednesday, April 15, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., intersection of Redlands Boulevard and Orange Street, downtown
Sacramento – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at state capitol building on L Street
San Bernadino – Wednesday, April 15, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. from Meadowbrook Park to Joe Baca’s Office, 201 N. "E" St.
San Diego – Saturday, April 11, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., West Basin on N. Harbor Dr. across street from airport, Spanish Landing Park
San Diego – Wednesday, April 15, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. post office at Sports Arena Midway, 2535 Midway
San Diego - North County – Wednesday, April 15, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. post office at 11251 Rancho Carmel Dr.
San Fernando/Santa Clarita Valley – Wednesday, April 15, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Van Nuys Civic Center Plaza - 6200 Van Nuys Blvd. near the courthouse
San Francisco – April 1 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Civic Center Park, one block from Nancy Pelosi’s office at 450 Golden Gate Ave.
San Francisco – April 15 at 11 a.m., meet at Civic Center Park in front of city hall. March will start at San Francisco City Hall and go to federal building where Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s office is located..
San Jose – Wednesday, April 15, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at IRS offices at 55 S. Market Street, across the street from Saint Joseph’s Cathedral
San Mateo – Wednesday, April 15, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at corner of South El Camino Real and 31st Street in front of Hillsdale Shopping Center
Santa Ana – Wednesday, April 15, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., tentative location at Santa Ana Civic Center
Santa Barbara – Saturday, April 4 at 2:30 p.m., meeting at Santa Barbara County Courthouse
Santa Monica – Wednesday, April 15, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Santa Monica Pier, 100 Colorado Ave.
Santa Rosa – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., Old Courthouse Square, Santa Rosa Ave, between 3rd and 4th Street
Stockton – Wednesday, April 15, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Weber point, downtown Stockton, Center Street
Temecula – Wednesday, April 15, 11 a.m., Duck Pond
Ventura – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., sidewalks adjacent to Ventura County Government Center
Victorville – Wednesday, April 15, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., corner of Bear Valley Rd. and Cottonwood Ave.
Yucaipa – Wednesday, April 15, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Yucaipa Boulevard and Oak Glen Road
Connecticut
Hartford – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., north steps of state capitol
New Haven – Wednesday, April 15, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Long Wharf, I-95, Exit 46
Norwich – Wednesday, April 15, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Marina Area near gazebo
Ridgefield – Saturday, March 21, 10 a.m. at Ballard Park
Stamford – Saturday, March 28, 10 a.m. at 96 Broad Street (Starbucks/library location), corner of Broad and Bedford
Colorado
Colorado Springs – Wednesday, April 15 from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at city hall, 107 North Nevada
Denver – Wednesday, April 15 from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the west steps of the capitol, 200 East Colfax
Grand Junction – Wednesday, April 15 from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 12th Street and North Avenue
Fort Collins – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., Fort Collins City Hall, 300 Laporte Ave.
Loveland – Wednesday, April 15, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Hwy 287 and Hwy 34
Delaware
Dover – Wednesday, April 15 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., location to be announced
Georgetown – Wednesday, April 15 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., circle in Georgetown
Laurel – Wednesday, April 15 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., location to be announced
Florida
Crestview – Wednesday, April 15 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Main Street in front of courthouse
DeLand / Daytona Beach – Wednesday, April 15 at 12 p.m., city hall
Eustis – Wednesday, April 15 at 12 p.m., Ferran Park, downtown
Ft. Lauderdale – Wednesday, April 15 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., federal building, 299 East Broward Boulevard
Fort Meyers – Wednesday, April 15 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Centennial Park
Fort Walton Beach – Wednesday, April 15 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Fort Walton Beach Landing
Inverness – Saturday, April 18 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., at the old historical courthouse, One Courthouse Square
Jacksonville – Wednesday, April 15 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., either Jax Landing or Friendship Fountain
Lakeland – Wednesday, April 15 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., Kryger Overlook Park (Lake Mirror), one block from city hall
Live Oak – Wednesday, April 15 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Millenium Park
Melbourne – Wednesday, April 15 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., city hall
Miami – Wednesday, April 15 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., location to be announced
Naples – Sunday, April 5 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Fleischmann’s Park across from Coastal Mall at the gazebo, seating available for elderly and disabled
Naples – Wednesday, April 15 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., Pine Ridge Road and U.S. 41
New Port Richey – Wednesday, April 15 time and location to be announced
Ocala – Wednesday, April 15, 12 p.m., downtown at the square
Orlando – Saturday, March 21, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the amphitheater at Lake Eola in downtown Orlando
Orlando – Wednesday, April 15 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., location to be announced
Palm Beach – Wednesday, April 15 from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., location to be announced
Panama City – Wednesday, April 15 from 3 p.m. to dark at Sherman Avenue Post Office
Pensacola – Wednesday, April 15 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at downtown courthouse, Palafox Street and E. Garden St.
Port Richey – Wednesday, April 15 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Gulfview Square Mall, at southwest corner of U.S. 19 & Embassy
Port Saint Lucie – Wednesday, April 15 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.at the IRS building at 7410 South U.S. Highway 1
Punta Gorda – Wednesday, April 15 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Gilchrist Park, 400 W. Retta Esplande
Saint Augustine – Wednesday, April 15 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., Historic downtown, at Castillo De San Marco’s Park grounds on the Bayfront
Sarasota – Wednesday, April 15 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Ed’s Tavern Main Street Lakewood Ranch
Stuart – Wednesday, April 15 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.,main post office, Johnson Street
Tampa – Wednesday, April 15 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Gaslight Park, downtown Tampa
West Palm Beach – Wednesday, April 15 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., location to be announced
Tallahassee – Thursday, March 17, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., 400 South Monroe
Tallahassee – Thursday, March 19, at 5 p.m. at the Leon County Commission Chambers, 5th floor, Courthouse
Venice – Wednesday, April 15 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., Gazebo-Centennial Park on West Venice Avenue
Vero Beach – Wednesday, April 15 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., county administration building
Georgia
Atlanta – Wednesday, April 15 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.at the capitol building located at 206 Washington St.
Atlanta – Saturday, July 4, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the capitol building located at 206 Washington St.
Augusta – Wednesday, April 15, time and location to be announced
Leesburg / Greater Lee County – Wednesday, April 15, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Lee County Courthouse
Macon – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., Rosa Parks Park, downtown
Gainesville – Wednesday, April 15, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., downtown Gainesville
Richmond Hill – Wednesday, April 15, from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., at old Kroger parking lot at corner of Hwy 144 and Hwy 17
Savannah – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., location to be announced
Warner Robbins – Wednesday, April 15, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., location to be announced
Hawaii
Hilo – Wednesday, April 15, at 4 p.m., at Hilo bayfront at King Kamehameha Statue
Honolulu – Wednesday, April 15, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the state capitol building
Maui – Wednesday, April 15, from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Kaahumanu Avenue at intersection with Kahului Beach Rd.
Idaho
Boise – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., at the state capitol building
Burley – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., Overland Bridge over the Snake River just off exit 208
Coeur d’Alene – Wednesday, April 15, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Walt Minnick’s office, 1900 Northwest Blvd.
Idaho Falls – Wednesday, April 15, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., downtown Idaho Falls
Rexburg – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., Teton River bridge, by Jack in the Box and Albertson’s, 459 N. 2nd E
Illinois
Urbana – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., location to be determined
Champagne/Urbana – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. location to be announced
Chicago – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Daley Plaza Civic Center at 50 Washington St.
Chicago – From Saturday, July 4, at 7 p.m. to Sunday, July 5, at 5 a.m. at Belmont Harbor on Lake Shore Drive
Lisle – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. the community park
Peoria – Wednesday, April 15, from 11 p.m. to 2 p.m. at parking lot of Peoria Public Library
Rockford – Tuesday, April 14, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., on banks of the Rock River behind Rockford Public Library
Springfield – Wednesday, April 15, at 12 p.m., Illinois state capitol, 2nd and capitol
Indiana
Anderson – Wednesday, April 15, time and location to be announced
Bloomington – Wednesday, April 15, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. outside the Shower’s building, corner of W 8th St. & N. Morton St.
Columbus – Wednesday, April 15, time and location to be announced
Elkhart – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., Elkhart City Square, Main Street, between High Street and Franklin Street, bounded by Waterfall Drive
Evansville – Wednesday, April 15, 5 p.m., Evansville Civic Center
Fort Wayne – Saturday, April 18 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. downtown at Courthouse Square on Main Street
Indianapolis – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. in downtown Indianapolis, exact location to be announced
Lafayette – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., pedestrian bridge over the Wabash River downtown
Iowa
Bettendorf – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., 2023 Ridgeway Court
Davenport – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at 4th and Main Street (in front of office of Rep. Bruce Braley D-Iowa)
Des Moines – Saturday, April 11, at 2 p.m.,west lawn of state capitol building
Iowa City – Wednesday, April 15, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Burlington Street Bridge
Kansas
Manhattan – Wednesday, April 15, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Triangle Park on Anderson
Overland Park – Wednesday, April 15, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Johnston Community College
Salina – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. at Salina County building, 300 W. Ash
Wichita – Wednesday, April 15, from 4:15 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wichita post office on West Harry Street, north of airport, bring homemade sign
Kentucky
Bowling Green – Wednesday, April 15, time and location to be announced
Henderson – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., in front of city hall, 20 North Main Street
Louisville – Wednesday, April 15, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Jefferson Square (tentative location), 10th and Jefferson St.
Lexington – Saturday, March 21, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Robert Stevens Courthouse Complex, 150 North Limestone
Paducah – Wednesday, April 15, time to be announced, at riverfront
Louisiana
Alexandria – Wednesday, April 15, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. downtown ampitheater on the Red River
Baton Rouge – Wednesday, April 15, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on the steps of the capitol building
Covington – Wednesday, April 15, 5 p.m. at the Trailhead by the Reagan statue
Lake Charles – Wednesday, April 15, at 5 p.m. at Lake Charles Civic Center on Lakeshore Drive
Mandeville – Wednesday, April 15, from 5 :30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Mandeville lakefront
New Orleans – Wednesday, April 15, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. near the giant American flag at the Veterans Memorial, intersection of Causeway Blvd. and Veterans Blvd.
Shreveport – Wednesday, April 15, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at downtown Shreveport Riverfront
Maine
Augusta – Wednesday, April 15, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Capitol Park
Bangor – Wednesday, April 15, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in front of federal courthouse
Maryland
Annapolis – Wednesday, April 15, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Campbell Park on the dock/boardwalk at Annapolis Harbor
Frederick – Wednesday, April 15, 3 p.m. at city hall
Salisbury – Wednesday, April 15, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at downtown Salisbury
Massachusetts
Boston – Wednesday, April 15, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at City Hall Plaza
Boston – Wednesday, April 15, 12 p.m. at Ivy Restaurant at 49 Temple Place
Boston – Saturday, July 4, from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Griffin Harbor on Congress Street Bridge
Lowell – Wednesday, April 15, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at JFK Plaza / Lowell City Hall
Newburyport – Saturday, March 28, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., 60 Pleasant St., City Hall
Worcester – Wednesday, April 15, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Lincoln Square (in front of the auditorium)
Michigan
Bancroft – April 11 from 9 a.m. to sundown at Camp Stasa, 7963 Cork Rd.
Jackson – Wednesday, April 15, at 6 p.m., Oaks Park, birthplace/first convention of the Republican Party
Kalamazoo – Wednesday, April 15, from 4p.m. to 6 p.m., federal courthouse, W. Michigan Ave.
Lansing – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. at Michigan State Capitol, 100 N Capitol Ave
Port Huron – Wednesday, April 15, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at in front of Grove Mall at the end of I-94, Pine Grove between Garfield and Sanborn
Sault Ste. Marie – Wednesday, April 15, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Ashmun St. near the Power Canal
St. Paul – Wednesday, April 15, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at capitol
Minnesota
Duluth – Wednesday, April 15, at 12:15 p.m., Harbor Drive (behind the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center)
Milaca – Wednesday, April 15, time and location to be announced
Rochester – Wednesday, April 15, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., east side of Silver Lake, 840 7 St. NE
St. Paul - Twin Cities – Wednesday, April 15, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Minnesota state capitol
Mississippi
Greenwood – Wednesday, April 15, time and location to be announced
Gulfport – Wednesday, April 15, time and location to be announced
Jackson – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., in downtown Jackson, exact location to be determined
Jackson – Saturday, May 16, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.on the steps of the capitol building
Missouri
Jefferson City – Wednesday, April 15, 12 p.m., state capitol, 201 W. High Street
Joplin – Wednesday, April 15, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., location to be determined
Kansas City – Wednesday, April 15, at 4 p.m., Liberty Memorial
St. Louis – Wednesday, April 15, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., location to be determined
Sikeston – Wednesday, April 15, from 11 p.m. to 2 p.m., downtown
Montana
Missoula – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., downtown Missoula, exact location to be announced
Billings – Saturday, July 4, location to be announced
Billings – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., post office on 27th street, just off I-90
Bozeman – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., downtown Bozeman
Kalispell – Wednesday, April 15, time to be announced, downtown
Missoula – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., location to be announced
Nebraska
Lincoln – Wednesday, April 15, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., location to be announced
North Platte – Wednesday, April 15, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., where hwy 83 crosses the South Platte river
Omaha – Wednesday, April 15, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Douglas County Courthouse, 17 and Farnam
Nevada
Carson City/Reno – Wednesday, April 15, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 101 N. Carson Street in front of state capitol building and Supreme Court
Las Vegas – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., at sidewalk across from Sunset Post Office at 1001 E Sunset RD
New Hampshire
Manchester – Wednesday, April 15, 5:30 p.m., Victory Park
New Jersey
Flemington – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., northwest corner of Main Street and Court Street
Morristown – Wednesday, April 15, at 12 p.m., the Green in Morristown
Newark – Wednesday, April 15, 12 p.m., visiting Sens. Lautenberg and Menendez offices, Gateway Center One, 782 McCarter Highway
Trenton – Wednesday, April 15, from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at New Jersey State House, 125 W. State St.
Piscataway – Wednesday, April 15, at 6 p.m., location to be announced
New Mexico
Albuquerque – Wednesday, April 15, 12 p.m., Independence Grill, 6910 Montgomery Bllvd.
Farmington – Wednesday, April 15, 12 p.m., Farmington Museum and Visitor’s Center, 3041 E. Main
Hobb s – Wednesday, April 15, time and location to be announced
Las Cruces – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., location to be announced
Santa Fe – Wednesday, April 15, time and location to be announced
Silver City – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., Gough Park
New York
Albany – Wednesday, April 15, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Corning Preserve
Buffalo – Saturday, March 28, at 2 p.m. at the Terminus of the Erie Canal
Buffalo – Saturday, April 18, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., 199 Deleware Ave
Corning – Wednesday, April 15, 5:30 p.m., Centerway Square
Fishkill – Wednesday, April 15, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Doug Phillips Park
Gardiner – Wednesday, April 15, from 64 p.m. to 8 p.m., the Rail Trail, Route 44/55
New York – Wednesday, April 15, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., location to be announced
New York – Saturday, July 4, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at South Street Seaport and Pier 17
Riverhead – Wednesday, April 15, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Riverhead Riverfront
Rochester – Wednesday, April 15, at 11 a.m. at Genesee Crossroads Park
Rome – Wednesday, April 15, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Fort Stanwix
Staten Island – Tuesday, March 31, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., 265 New Dorp Lane
Staten Island – Wednesday, April 15, at 12 p.m., Rep. Michael McMahon’s office, 265 New Dorp Lane at corner of Edison Street
Syracuse – Wednesday, April 15, time to be announced, federal building
North Carolina
Asheville – Wednesday, April 15, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., in front of the Asheville City building and the Buncombe County Courthouse
Charlotte – Saturday, April 4, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Marshall Park (uptown Charlotte)
Charlotte – Wednesday, April 15, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., City Hall lawn at 600 E. Trade Street
Edenton – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., Edenton Courthouse Green, Court and Water Streets
Elizabeth City – Wednesday, April 15, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., sidewalk in front of Pasquotank County Courthouse, 206 E. Main Street
Fayetteville – Wednesday, April 15, 12 p.m., Liberty Point Resolves Marker, Corner of Bow and Persons Street
Franklin – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., town gazebo in downtown Franklin
Greensboro – Wednesday, April 15, location and time to be announced
Hillsborough, Orange County – Wednesday, April 15, county courthouse or parking lot of old Wal-Mart on Churton St.
Morehead City – Wednesday, April 15, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Parkway Shopping Center (near K-Mart)
Raleigh – Wednesday, April 15, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the state capitol building on East Edenton Street
Rutherford – Wednesday, April 15, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Rutherford County Courthouse lawn
Smithfield – Wednesday, April 15, time and location to be announced
Winston-Salem – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., Winston Park Square
North Dakota
Bismark – Wednesday, April 15, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., federal building, 220 E. Rosser Ave
Ohio
Ashland – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Fin Feather and Fur, 652 U.S. HWY 250 near the 250/71 interchange
Ashtabula – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Ashtabula County Courthouse
Canton – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in downtown Canton, exact location to be announced
Cincinnati – Saturday, March 15, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Fountain Square at the corner of Fifth and Vine Streets
Cleveland – Wednesday, April 15, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Public Square, downtown Cleveland
Columbus – Wednesday, April 15, from 6 p.m. to 7:20 p.m., Statehouse on High and Broad
Dayton – Wednesday, April 15, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in downtown Dayton, exact location to be announced
Mansfield – Wednesday, April 15, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Central Park Gazebo
Medina – Wednesday, April 15, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Medina Town Square
Tiffin, Heidelberg University – Wednesday, April 15, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on campus
Toledo – Wednesday, April 15, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., location to be announced
Wauseon (Fulton County) – Wednesday, April 15, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Fulton County Courthouse
Oklahoma
Oklahoma City – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. at state capitol step
Tulsa – Wednesday, April 15, from 11:25 a.m. to 1:25 p.m. at Tulsa City Hall, 175 E. 2nd
Oregon
Astoria – Wednesday, April 15, at 5:30 p.m., post office on 750 Commercial. Meet at corner of 2nd and Marine Drive @ 5 p.m., we will park there and walk to post office
Beaverton – Wednesday, April 15, 5:30 p.m., location to be announced
Bend – Wednesday, April 15, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. in downtown Bend at Troy Field on Bond Street.
Dalles – Wednesday, April 15, 5:30 p.m., location to be announced
Eugene – Wednesday, April 15, 5:30 p.m., location to be announced
Grant’s Pass – Wednesday, April 15, time and location to be announced
Klamath Falls – Wednesday, April 15, 12 p.m., Veterans Memorial Park
La Grande – Wednesday, April 15, time and location to be announced
M edford – Wednesday, April 15, time and location to be announced
Oregon City – Wednesday, April 15, 5:30 p.m., location to be announced, call 503-998-6299
Portland – Wednesday, April 15, from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., location to be announced
Roseburg – Wednesday, April 15, time and location to be announced
Salem – Wednesday, April 15, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at capitol building, in the park
Tillamook – Wednesday, April 15, 5:30 p.m., location to be announced
Spokane – Wednesday, April 15, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at capitol building, in the park
Pennsylvania
Allentown – Wednesday, April 15, at 12 p.m., location to be announced
Erie – Wednesday, April 15, from 5:15 p.m. to 7 p.m.at Republican Party headquarters, Perry Square, downtown Erie
Harrisburg – Wednesday, April 15, at 12 p.m. west steps of capitol building
Lancaster – Wednesday, April 15, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Musser Park in Lancaster City on corner of Lime and Chestnut Street
Matamoras – Wednesday, April 15, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Mid-Delaware Bridge (Port Jervis-Matamoras Bridge), Pennsylvania Avenue
Meadville – Wednesday, April 15, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., Arch Street U.S. post office
Philadelphia – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at downtown Philadelphia, exact location to be announced
Philadelphia – Saturday, April 18, at 10 a.m. at at Penns Landing Waterfront, meet with signs and poster
Philadelphia – Saturday, July 4, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Independence Hall
Pittsburgh – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at downtown Pittsburgh, exact location to be announced
Pittsburgh – Saturday, April 11, at 12 p.m. at Allegheny Landing
Sharon – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., downtown Sharon, on the bridge overlooking the river on State Street
West Chester – Saturday, April 4, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., on corner of High Street and Market Street
Wilkes-Barre – Wednesday, April 15, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Market Street Bridge
Rhode Island
Providence – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at state capitol steps (city side across from Providence Place Mall)
Warwick – Wednesday, April 15, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. location to be announced
South Carolina
Charleston – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. at the Old Customs House building, East Bay St. and Market St.
Columbia – Wednesday, April 15, from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. at state house, 1101 Gervals Street
Myrtle Beach – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Chapin Park, 1600 N. Kings Hwy
South Dakota
Sioux Falls – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Terrace Park, Coval Lake (free lunch and entertainment)
Tennessee
Brownsville – Wednesday, April 15, 12 p.m., Brownsville Courthouse
Chattanooga – Wednesday, April 15, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Ross’ Landing (downtown behind aquarium)
Clarksville – Wednesday, April 15, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Agriculture Pavilion, Clarksville/Montgomery County Fairgrounds
Cookeville – Wednesday, April 15, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Courthouse Square
Franklin (Williamson County) – Wednesday, April 15, 6 p.m., location to be announced
Hendersonville – Wednesday, April 15, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., location to be announced
Kingsport – Wednesday, April 15, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Memorial Park, Fort Henry Drive, across from D.B. High School
Knoxville – Wednesday, April 15, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.,downtown, World’s Fair Park, 525 Henley Street
Lewisburg – Wednesday, April 15, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Rock Creek Park on Farmington Road
Martin – Wednesday, April 15, time and location to be announced
Memphis – Wednesday, April 15, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Audobon Park
Mt. Juliet – Wednesday, April 15, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Charlie Daniels Park, 1038 Charlie Daniels Parkway
Murfreesboro – Wednesday, April 15, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., 111 East Main Street at the square
Nashville – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., location to be announced
Somerville – Wednesday, April 15, from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., meet outside courthouse in Somerville on hwy 64 side
Springfield – Wednesday, April 15, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., downtown Springfield on the square
Tullahoma – Wednesday, April 15,4:30 p.m., South Jackson Civic Center, 404 S. Jackson St
Wartburg – Wednesday, April 15, 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Wartburg Courthouse
Texas
Abilene – Wednesday, April 15, 5:30 p.m., post office on Pine Street
Alpine – Wednesday, April 15, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Railroad Park, E. Holland Ave
Austin – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. on south steps of state capitol building
Austin – Saturday, July 4, time and location to be announced
Amarillo – Saturday, March 28, 11 a.m., Randall County Annex, I-27 & Georgia
Amarillo – Wednesday, April 15, 12 p.m., Potter County Courthouse and 6 p.m. at post office
Arlington – Wednesday, April 15, 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., location to be announced
Beaumont – Wednesday, April 15, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., U.S. post office, Walden Road
Belton – Wednesday, April 15, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Confederate Park, at park and rife on I-35 Frontage Road on Nolan Creek. Participants are asked to bring a tea bag and poster.
Boerne – Wednesday, April 15, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Main Plaza
Brownwood – Wednesday, April 15, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wendlee Broadcasting parking lot, 600 Fisk
Bryan / College Station – Wednesday, April 15, 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., Tanglewood Park, 3900 Carter Creek Parkway
Brazoria City – Wednesday, April 15, time to be determind, Angleton, County Seat (likely by the Steven F. Austin Memorial Statue) call 979-319-5911
Burleson – Wednesday, April 15, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., across the street from Wal-Mart, 951 S. W. Wilshire Blvd.
Corpus Christi – Wednesday, April 15, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., location to be announced
Dallas – Saturday, July 4, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Victory Park
Dallas – Wednesday, April 15, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., location to be announced
Dallas – Wednesday, April 15, from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Dallas City Hall
Denton – Wednesday, April 15, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Courthouse on the Square, 110 W. Hickory
El Paso – Wednesday, April 15, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., location to be announced
Floresville – Wednesday, April 15, at 7 p.m. at courthouse
Fort Worth – Wednesday, April 15, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., location to be announced
Fort Worth – Saturday, July 4 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Cowtown Bar & Grill
Gonzalez – Wednesday, April 15, from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., 820 St. Joseph Street
Houston – Wednesday, April 15, from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. across street from downtown post office
Huntsville – Wednesday, April 15, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. post office on 11th Street
Kerr County – Friday, April 24, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Guadalupe River at Louise Hays Park pavillion, speakers, barbecue, please feel free to bring children
Kerrville – Wednesday, April 15 at 11 a.m. at Kerrville County Courthouse at 700 Main Street
Lockhart – Wednesday, April 15 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Lockhart Courthouse, 110 S. Main
Longview – Wednesday, April 15 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. at the Gregg County courthouse lawn
Lubbock – Wednesday, April 15 5 p.m., Gazebo at the county courthouse, Broadway and Texas Avenue
Marble Falls – Wednesday, April 15, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., rotary flagpole in Lakeside Park
McAllen – Wednesday, April 15, time and location to be announced
Midland – Saturday, April 18, 10 a.m., Vietnam memorial at Midland International Airport, local and state politicians will be present with "open mic" time for citizen
Nacogdoches – Wednesday, April 15, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.at downtown square
New Braunfels – Wednesday, April 15, from 10 a.m.to 2 p.m., gather around local plaza and down Main Street into town
San Antonio – Wednesday, April 15, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., location to be announced
San Angelo – Wednesday, April 15, 5:30 p.m., Tom Green County Courthouse
Seabrook – Wednesday, April 15, 6 p.m., Clear Lake Park
Sherman – Wednesday, April 15, 10 a.m., Grayson County Courthouse lawn
Sugar Land – Wednesday, April 15, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sugar Land City Hall at Town Square
Waco – Saturday, July 4, time and location to be announced
Woodlands – Wednesday, April 15, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., location to be announced
Tyler – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., location to be announced
Utah
Provo – Wednesday, April 15, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., post office (East Bay), 210 East 900 South
Salt Lake City – Wednesday, April 15, downtown Salt Lake City, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at federal building plaza, 125 South State Street — also — 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at post office in Salt Lake City, 1795 W. 2100
St. George – Wednesday, April 15, time and location to be announced
Vermont
Montpelier – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., State House Lawn
Rutland – Wednesday, April 15, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., downtown Rutland, Main Street Park, sign waving begins at 4 p.m.
Virginia
Abingdon – Wednesday, April 15, 5 p.m., the site where the Kings Mountain Men met in 1780 in Abingdon
Annandale – Saturday, April 25, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mason District Park, 6621 Columbia Pike
Charlottesville – Wednesday, April 15, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., downtown mall by the pavilion
Franklin County – Wednesday, April 15, 12 p.m., in front of the Franklin County Courthouse, 40 East Court Street, Rocky Mount
Lynchburg – Wednesday, April 15, 6 p.m., downtown - waterfront
Peninsula / Newport News – Wednesday, April 15, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Oyster Point City Center
Richmond – Wednesday, April 15, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Kanawha Plaza in downtown Richmond, 8th and Canal Street
Reston – Wednesday, April 15, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Lake Anne Village Center, 1609 Washington Plaza
Richmond – Wednesday, April 15, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., location to be announced
Roanoke – Wednesday, April 15, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Along Roanoke River, Wiley Drive, near footbridge at the old Victory Stadium site
Virginia Beach – Wednesday, April 15, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Central Plaza, Towne Center (across from Sen. Webb’s Office)
Rutland – Wednesday, April 15, downtown Rutland, exact time and location to be announced
Washington
Anacortes – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m, corner of 12th and Commercial Avenue, call 360-293-7044
Bellingham – Wednesday, April 15, from 4p.m. to 6 p.m, Guide Meridian near Bellis Fair Parkway
Everett – Wednesday, April 15, time and location to be announced
Kennewick, Richland, Pasco – Wednesday, April 15, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., John Dam Plaza, located between George Washington Way and Jadwin Avenue, north of Knight Street
Mt. Vernon – Wednesday, April 15, from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. on corner of College Way and Riverside Drive (1 block from freeway exit)
Olympia – Wednesday, April 15, at 12 p.m. on the capitol steps
Seattle – Wednesday, April 15, from 5:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., Westlake Park by the arch, 410 Pine St., downtown Seattle
Spokane – Wednesday, April 15, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., location to be announced
Spokane – Wednesday, April 15, from 4:30 pm to 6 p.m., Spokane Convention Center on Spokane Falls Blvd.
Vancouver – Saturday, April 18, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Clark County Courthouse lawn
Yakima – Wednesday, April 15, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., west side of Yakima County Courthouse
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C. – Wednesday, April 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Lafayette Park
Washington, D.C. – Wednesday, April 15, at 12 p.m., White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C. – Saturday, July 4, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at Upper Senate Park adjacent to Capitol building on north side
West Virginia
Beckley – Wednesday, April 15, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at large fountain on Neville Street, across from university book store
Charleston – Wednesday, April 15, 12 p.m., at state capitol
Martinsburg – Wednesday, April 15, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m, on square between Queen and King Street
Wheeling – Wednesday, April 15, time and location to be announced
Wisconsin
Appleton – Wednesday, April 15, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Fox Banquets, 111 E. Kimball
Fort Atkinson – Wednesday, April 15, from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., municipal building, Main Street
Madison – Wednesday, April 15, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at state capitol
Milwaukee – Wednesday, March 25, 9 a.m., Wisconsin State Fair Park
Wyoming
Cheyenne – July 4, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the state capitol building
Cody – Wednesday, April 15, time to be announced, Cody City Park, Corner of Sheridan and 9th / Beck and 9th
Are you planning a tea party? WND is your place to launch the tea party revolution. If you would like to include your tea party in this list, send the city, date, time, location and point of contact to WND .
National TEA Party Day - April 15
On April 15, be part of the Taxed Enough Already (TEA) party rally in your community.
On the day you pay your taxes, Wednesday, April 15, join others across the country and in your hometown who will be participating in TEA party rallies in front of their city halls. The TEA party rally will begin at 12 noon. See this video - the momentum is growing!
Links to Read and Join for a Tea Party… April 15th. Don’t Miss.
Tea Party Days
Tax Day Tea Party
Re Tea Party
Are you fed up with a Congress and a president who:
- vote for a $500 billion tax bill without even reading it?
- are spending trillions of borrowed dollars, leaving a debt our great-grandchildren will be paying?
- consistently give special interest groups billions of dollars in earmarks to help get themselves re-elected?
- want to take your wealth and redistribute it to others?
- punish those who practice responsible financial behavior and reward those who do not?
- admit to using the financial hurt of millions as an opportunity to push their political agenda?
- run up trillions of dollars of debt and then sell that debt to countries such as China?
- want government controlled health care?
- want to take away the right to vote with a secret ballot in union elections?
- refuse to stop the flow of millions of illegal immigrants into our country?
- appoint a defender of child pornography to the Number 2 position in the Justice Department?
- want to force doctors and other medical workers to perform abortions against their will?
- want to impose a carbon tax on your electricity, gas and home heating fuels?
- want to reduce your tax deductibility for charitable gifts?
- take money from your family budget to pay for their federal budget?
If so, participate in the TEA party rally, the Taxed Enough Already (TEA) party.
Bring your cell phone and call Congress and the president while attending the TEA party rally (Representative and Senators, 202-224-3121; President, 202-456-1414). Tell Every American about this effort by forwarding this invitation to your friends. Together we can make a difference.
“Not Yours To Give” Col David Crockett On Bailouts
Col. David Crockett, US Representative from Tennessee
Originally published in "The Life of Colonel David Crockett," by Edward Sylvester Ellis .
One day in the House of Representatives a bill was taken up appropriating money for the benefit of a widow of a distinguished naval officer. Several beautiful speeches had been made in its support. The Speaker was just about to put the question when Crockett arose:
"Mr. Speaker–I have as much respect for the memory of the deceased, and as much sympathy for the sufferings of the living, if suffering there be, as any man in this House, but we must not permit our respect for the dead or our sympathy for a part of the living to lead us into an act of injustice to the balance of the living. I will not go into an argument to prove that Congress has not the power to appropriate this money as an act of charity. Every member upon this floor knows it. We have the right, as individuals, to give away as much of our own money as we please in charity; but as members of Congress we have no right so to appropriate a dollar of the public money. Some eloquent appeals have been made to us upon the ground that it is a debt due the deceased. Mr. Speaker, the deceased lived long after the close of the war; he was in office to the day of his death, and I have never heard that the government was in arrears to him.
"Every man in this House knows it is not a debt. We cannot, without the grossest corruption, appropriate this money as the payment of a debt. We have not the semblance of authority to appropriate it as charity. Mr. Speaker, I have said we have the right to give as much money of our own as we please. I am the poorest man on this floor. I cannot vote for this bill, but I will give one week’s pay to the object, and if every member of Congress will do the same, it will amount to more than the bill asks."
He took his seat. Nobody replied. The bill was put upon its passage, and, instead of passing unanimously, as was generally supposed, and as, no doubt, it would, but for that speech, it received but few votes, and, of course, was lost.
Later, when asked by a friend why he had opposed the appropriation, Crockett gave this explanation:
"Several years ago I was one evening standing on the steps of the Capitol with some other members of Congress, when our attention was attracted by a great light over in Georgetown. It was evidently a large fire. We jumped into a hack and drove over as fast as we could. In spite of all that could be done, many houses were burned and many families made houseless, and, besides, some of them had lost all but the clothes they had on. The weather was very cold, and when I saw so many women and children suffering, I felt that something ought to be done for them. The next morning a bill was introduced appropriating $20,000 for their relief. We put aside all other business and rushed it through as soon as it could be done.
"The next summer, when it began to be time to think about election, I concluded I would take a scout around among the boys of my district. I had no opposition there, but, as the election was some time off, I did not know what might turn up. When riding one day in a part of my district in which I was more of a stranger than any other, I saw a man in a field plowing and coming toward the road. I gauged my gait so that we should meet as he came to the fence. A s he came up, I spoke to the man. He replied politely, but, as I thought, rather coldly.
"I began: ‘Well, friend, I am one of those unfortunate beings called
candidates, and—‘
"Yes I know you; you are Colonel Crockett. I have seen you once before, and voted for you the last time you were elected. I suppose you are out electioneering now, but you had better not waste your time or mine, I shall not vote for you again."
"This was a sockdolager…I begged him to tell me what was the matter.
" ’ Well , Colonel, it is hardly worth - while to waste time or words upon it. I do not see how it can be mended, but you gave a vote last winter which shows that either you have not capacity to understand the Constitution, or that you are wanting in the honesty and firmness to be guided by it. In either case you are not the man to represent me. But I beg your pardon for expressing it in that way. I did not intend to avail myself of the privilege of the constituent to speak plainly to a candidate for the purpose of insulting or wounding you. I intend by it only to say that your understanding of the C onstitution is very different from mine; and I will say to you what , but for my rudeness, I should not have said, that I believe you to be honest.
… But an understanding of the Constitution different from mine I cannot overlook, because the Constitution, to be worth anything, must be held sacred, and rigidly observed in all its provisions. The man who wields power and misinterprets it is the more dangerous the more honest he is.’
" ‘I admit the truth of all you say, but there must be some mistake about it, for I do not remember that I gave any vote last winter upon any constitutional question.’
“ ‘No, Colonel, there’s no mistake. Though I live in the backwoods and seldom go from home, I take the papers from Washington and read very carefully all the proceedings of Congress. My papers say that last winter you voted for a bill to appropriate $20,000 to some sufferers by a fire in Georgetown. Is that true? ’
" ‘ Well , my friend; I may as well own up. You have got me there. But certainly nobody will complain that a great and rich country like ours should give the insignificant sum of $20,000 to relieve its suffering women and children, particularly with a full and overflowing T reasury, and I am sure, if you had been there, you would have done just as I did.’
" ‘ It is not the amount, Colonel, that I complain of; it is the principle. In the first place, the government ought to have in the Treasury no more than enough for its legitimate purposes. But that has nothing with the question. The power of collecting and disbursing money at pleasure is the most dangerous power that can be entrusted to man, particularly under our system of collecting revenue by a tariff, which reaches every man in the country, no matter how poor he may be, and the poorer he is the more he pays in proportion to his means. What is worse, it presses upon him without his knowledge where the weight centers, for there is not a man in the United States who can ever guess how much he pays to the government. So you see, that while you are contributing to relieve one, you are drawing it from thousands who are even worse off than he. If you had the right to give anything, the amount was simply a matter of discretion with you, and you had as much right to give $20,000,000 as $20,000. If you have the right to give to one, you have the right to give to all; and , as the Constitution neither defines charity nor stipulates the amount, you are at liberty to give to any and everything which you may believe, or profess to believe, is a charity , and to any amount you may think proper. You will very easily perceive what a wide door this would open for fraud and corruption and favoritism, on the one hand, and for robbing the people on the other. ‘ No, Colonel, Congress has no right to give charity. Individual members may give as much of their own money as they please, but they have no right to touch a dollar of the public money for that purpose. If twice as many houses had been burned in this county as in Georgetown, neither you nor any other member of Congress would have t hought of appropriating a dollar for our relief. There are about two hundred and forty members of Congress. If they had shown their sympathy for the sufferers by contributing each one week’s pay, it would have made over $13,000. There are plenty of wealthy men in and around Washington who could have given $20,000 without depriving themselves of even a luxury of life. ‘ " The congressmen chose to keep their own money, which, if reports be true, some of them spend not very creditably; and the people about Washington, no doubt, applauded you for relieving them from the necessity of giving by giving what was not yours to give. The people have delegated to Congress, by the Constitution, the power to do certain things. To do these, it is authorized to collect and pay moneys, and for nothing else. Everything beyond this is usurpation, and a violation of the Constitution. ‘
" ‘So you see, Colonel, you have violated the Constitution in what I consider a vital point. It is a precedent fraught with danger to the country, for when Congress once begins to stretch its power beyond the limits of the Constitution, there is no limit to it, and no security for the people. I have no doubt you acted honestly, but that does not make it any better, except as far as you are personally concerned, and you see that I cannot vote for you.’
"I tell you I felt streaked. I saw if I should have opposition, and this man should go to talking, he would set others to talking, and in that district I was a gone fawn-skin. I could not answer him, and the fact is, I was so fully convinced that he was right, I did not want to. But I must satisfy him, and I said to him:
" ‘ Well, my friend, you hit the nail upon the head when you said I had not sense enough to understand the Constitution. I intended to be guided by it, and thought I had studied it fully. I have heard many speeches in Congress about the powers of Congress, but what you have said here at your plow has got more hard, sound sense in it than all the fine speeches I ever heard. If I had ever taken the view of it that you have, I would have put my head into the fire before I would have given that vote; and if you will forgive me and vote for me again, if I ever vote for another unconstitutional law I wish I may be shot.’
"He laughingly replied; ‘Yes, Colonel, you have sworn to that once before, but I will trust you again upon one condition. You say that you are convinced that your vote was wrong. Your acknowledgment of it will do more good than beating you for it. If, as you go around the district, you will tell people about this vote, and that you are satisfied it was wrong, I will not only vote for you, but will do what I can to keep down opposition, and , perhaps, I may exert some little influence in that way.’
" ‘ If I don’t ’ , said I, ‘I wish I may be shot; and to convince you that I am in earnest in what I say I will come back this way in a week or ten days, and if you will get up a gathering of the people, I will make a speech to them. Get up a barbecue, and I will pay for it.’
" ‘ No, Colonel, we are not rich people in this section , but we have plenty of provisions to contribute for a barbecue, and some to spare for those who have none. The push of crops will be over in a few days, and we can then afford a day for a barbecue. This is Thursday; I will see to getting it up on Saturday week. Come to my house on Friday, and we will go together, and I promise you a very respectable crowd to see and hear you. ’
" ‘Well , I will be here. But one thing more before I say good-bye. I must know your name. ’
" ‘My name is Bunce.’
" ‘Not Horatio Bunce?’
" ‘Yes .’
" ‘Well, Mr. Bunce, I never saw you before, though you say you have seen me, but I know you very well. I am glad I have met you, and very proud that I may hope to have you for my friend.’
"It was one of the luckiest hits of my life that I met him. He mingled but little with the public, but was widely known for his remarkable intelligence and incorruptible integrity, and for a heart brimful and running over with kindness and benevolence, which showed themselves not only in words but in acts. He was the oracle of the whole country around him, and his fame had extended far beyond the circle of his immediate acquaintance. Though I had never met him , before, I had heard much of him, and but for this meeting it is very likely I should have had opposition, and had been beaten. One thing is very certain, no man could now stand up in that district under such a vote.
"At the appointed time I was at his house, having told our conversation to every crowd I had met, and to every man I stayed all night with, and I found that it gave the people an interest and a confidence in me stronger than I had ever seen manifested before.
"Though I was considerably fatigued when I reached his house, and, under ordinary circumstances, should have gone early to bed, I kept him up until midnight , talking about the principles and affairs of government, and got more real, true knowledge of them than I had got all my life before.
"I have known and seen much of him since, for I respect him - no, that is not the word - I reverence and love him more than any living man, and I go to see him two or three times every year; and I will tell you, sir, if every one who professes to be a Christian lived and acted and enjoyed it as he does, the religion of Christ would take the world by storm.
"But to return to my story. The next morning we went to the barbecue , and, to my surprise, found about a thousand men there. I met a good many whom I had not known before, and they and my friend introduced me around until I had got pretty well acquainted - at least, they all knew me.
"In due time notice was given that I would speak to them. They gathered up around a stand that had been erected. I opened my speech by saying:
" ‘ Fellow-citizens - I present myself before you today feeling like a new man. My eyes have lately been opened to truths which ignorance or prejudice , or both, had heretofore hidden from my view. I feel that I can today offer you the ability to render you more valuable service than I have ever been able to render before. I am here today more for the purpose of acknowledging my error than to seek your votes. That I should make this acknowledgment is due to myself as well as to you. Whether you will vote for me is a matter for your consideration only. ’ "
"I went on to tell them about the fire and my vote for the appropriation and then told them why I was satisfied it was wrong. I closed by saying:
" ‘ And now, fellow-citizens, it remains only for me to tell you that the most of the speech you have listened to with so much interest was simply a repetition of the arguments by which your neighbor, Mr. Bunce, convinced me of my error.
" ‘ It is the best speech I ever made in my life, but he is entitled to the
credit for it. And now I hope he is satisfied with his convert and that he will get up here and tell you so.’
"He came upon the stand and said:
" ‘ Fellow-citizens - I t affords me great pleasure to comply with the request of Colonel Crockett. I have always considered him a thoroughly honest man, and I am satisfied that he will faithfully perform all that he has promised you today.’
"He went down, and there went up from that crowd such a shout for Davy Crockett as his name never called forth before. ‘
"I am not much given to tears, but I was taken with a choking then and felt some big drops rolling down my cheeks. And I tell you now that the remembrance of those few words spoken by such a man, and the honest, hearty shout they produced, is worth more to me than all the honors I have received and all the reputation I have ever made, or ever shall make, as a member of Congress. ‘
"Now, sir," concluded Crockett, "you know why I made that speech yesterday.
"There is one thing now to which I will call your attention. Y ou remember that I proposed to give a week’s pay. There are in that House many very wealthy men - men who think nothing of spending a week’s pay, or a dozen of them, for a dinner or a wine party when they have something to accomplish by it. Some of those same men made beautiful speeches upon the great debt of gratitude which the country owed the deceased–a debt which could not be paid by money–and the insignificance and worthlessness of money, particularly so insignificant a sum as $ 1 0,000 , when weighed against the honor of the nation. Yet not one of them responded to my proposition. Money with them is nothing but trash when it is to come out of the people. But it is the one great thing for which most of them are striving, and many of them sacrifice honor, integrity, and justice to obtain it."
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