Tax revolt tea party draws a good crowd, Wiscasset Newspaper, April 23, 2009

Tax revolt tea party draws a good crowd

By ALAN BEBOUT

Staff Reporter

Many Americans look forward to the run-up to April 15, because they will be getting an income tax refund. For them, withholding has taken the sting out of paying taxes. Taxes seem like something remote, not real.

But, on April 15 this year, people who are angry or in pain because of spending, taxes and an economy in turmoil turned out in droves all across Maine and the country to protest what they perceive as a government out of control. In Augusta, a spirited gathering of about 600-800 people carrying signs and listening to impromptu speeches over a bull horn formed in Capitol Park, across the street from the Capitol Building.

The signs tell the story: "Liberty is the only stimulus we need!" "I am not your ATM." "Robbing Hood and His Spend and Tax Gang."

Ten year old Noah, from Bristol had a hand lettered sign saying "Don’t Spend My Future." "Workfare Not Welfare." "Socialism Is Trickle Up Poverty." "Taxed Enough Already (TEA)." "Stop The Spending Now!" "Restore the Constitution." "Our Sen (Snowe & Collins) Sold Us Out!!!" "Do I have to choose between taxes and college?" "Why Are You Putting Us Kids In DEBT?" "Honk if I’m paying your mortgage." "9 Years Old - $36,000 In Debt." "The Majority Is Silent No More." "Silence is Surrender!" "My Hope For Change – You Pay Your Debt, I’ll Pay Mine!" "Born Free But Taxed to Death."

This was not a seedy mob ready to break windows and set fire to cars, it was neighbors, teachers, painters, carpenters, and small business owners. It was families with little kids and teenagers by themselves. It was college students and sales clerks, lawyers and engineers, school bus drivers and senior citizens.

The speakers were men and women from all over Maine. When somebody finished talking into the bullhorn, they would ask who wanted to talk next. Some were loud, some were quiet. Some stirred the crowd, while others rambled. The youngest person to step to the bull horn was 11 year-old Nathan Duffy from Connecticut, who tagged along with Grandfather Chris Duffy from Waldoboro. He wondered what his price tag will be for all the spending going on in Washington.

Andrew Ian Dodge and Pete the Carpenter were two of the people who pulled together the event, and two of the more prepared and dynamic speakers. Most people talked for less than five minutes, addressing their unhappiness with President Bush’s original stimulus package, their displeasure with Senators Snowe and Collins for voting for President Obama’s $875 billion stimulus package, and challenging the government in Augusta to hear the message successfully given to them by the passage of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR).

The U.N. came under attack, as did the Federal Reserve, the Congress, Senate and President Obama. One man said he was thinking about flying a flag in distress mode at a major intersection in Winthrop.

Another said we should enforce our borders and make English the official language of the United States. Yet another suggested that the racketeering law (RICO) be applied to our government in D.C. There were many references to enforcing the 10^th Amendment which limits the functions of the federal government to what is detailed in the Constitution, reserving power over any functions not mentioned in the Constitution to the states.

When another speaker asked how many people had conveyed their feelings to their representatives, at least 80 percent of the hands went up.

No politicians were invited to speak. One inspired legislator in a coat and tie grabbed the bull horn, and was shouted down by the crowd and told he could not speak, even though he was in agreement with the tax protest. He succeeded in saying a few words, then handed the bull-horn to someone else and stepped aside.

"Where is the media?," they wanted to know. Someone said that Channel 8 had been there at 2 p.m., as the first protesters arrived, but left shortly afterward. Of course, the media’s absence started lots of talk about the "left wing media" not being interested in the message being delivered.

By four o’clock a nice crowd had formed. A surge arrived between 5 and 5:30 pm, and stayed until 7:15 p.m. Sometime during the event, Uncle Jaque Clark from Monmouth was quietly "piping" on a flute type instrument behind the far edge of the crowd. As people began hearing him play, they shouted for him to step forward and opened a way for him to reach the bull-horn. The crowd cheered him on. Another man with a banjo stepped forward, and they offered to do some music, but the crowd yelled for more speakers. Eventually the two musicians faded off to the side and jammed in the background while a group of folks egged them on.

Group after grassroots group popped up in conversation as the speakers were having their say. No political party was affiliated with any of the groups, and many got started as people began talking with each other in grocery lines, at parties, or over dinner. Group after group was amazed at how many other groups had formed, and wished there was some way they could network. Contact information was exchanged, and promises were made not to let the flame die.

Many identified themselves as members of the old silent majority, stirred to action by bailout after bailout, and stimulus package after stimulus package, often passed into law without anyone reading it. A three year old held a sign saying "I didn’t read the bill either." Disgust with both political parties was common.

"They’re out of touch with us. They just don’t get it," many said. AIG, GM, Fannie Mae, and the Wall Street Investment Banks all were named with a shake of the head. Anger was apparent, but there were no threats of violence or even salty language.

Finally, at 7:15 p.m, after "God Bless America" was sung, everyone shuffled off with their kids and signs.

No trash was on the ground.

Not even a tea bag.