Organized Tea Parties Protest Something...but what?

Fueled by Republican party organizers and the "fair and balanced" gentlemen over at Fox News, thousands of Americans took to the streets yesterday to protest increased taxes initiated by President Obama. The event coincided with Tax Day, and took it's inspiration from the infamous Boston Tea Party of 1773, in which colonists threw cartons of newly taxed tea into the harbor.

Of course, we all have a right to protest. I've protested wars, propositions, and the passage of propositions among other things. I appreciate that Americans are at least standing up for what they think (or what Fox News thinks) is right. But I think it's time we got the facts straight here.

Finding a list of grievances associated with this call to rebel has proven to be a tricky task. Here's the best I could do, from FreedomWorks...

Whether it’s this latest housing bailout bill (the second in less than six months), a bailout for the auto-industry or failed banks, the more than $1 trillion sham of a “stimulus” bill, or the $400 billion omnibus spending bill that Congress is now debating, Americans are sick and tired of their hard-earned money being thrown around.

Ahem.

Let's not forget, Bush initiated the bailouts.
With the announcement of his $700 Billion bill, Bush said, "I'm a strong believer in free enterprise, so my natural instinct is to oppose government intervention, but these are not normal circumstances. The market is not functioning properly. There has been a widespread loss of confidence."

While the massive economic bailouts do nothing to help our national debt, they are a necessary evil. Bush, Obama, Congress, the people- nobody wants to give away that much money. But in a state of economic crisis, it is a radical move aimed at curbing a national emergency. Bailouts have saved jobs, homes, and retirement funds.

The Stimulus & the Spending Bill
Here's the thing. Without Government help, thousands of businesses would be forced to shut down. That means thousands of people lose their jobs, and lose their income. Maybe they lose their homes, maybe they can't afford to feed their families. So if the President spends a few bucks to keep the general population afloat, I can't see what the problem is. The spending bill was full of earmarks, and what some would call "pork."
Yes, some of the money will get caught up in the political games played by legislators and statesmen, but most of that money indirectly helps US. It fixes our roads, it feeds the homeless, and it keeps America, well, stimulated.

And FYI...
Obama just CUT TAXES for nearly all Americans. Most of the working class is already keeping more of their paycheck than they have in the past. The only class who will be forking over more are the wealthiest among us. If anyone, shouldn't they be protesting?

This whole Tea Party idea seems to have little to do with taxes, and more to do with causing a scene. Signs across the country yesterday had to more to say about Obama "sucking Saudi's jewels," and being a "babykiller" than raising taxes. See The Huffington Post's slideshow: "Ten Most Offensive Tea Party Signs."

Here's something to consider...Obama's Presidential approval rating continues to climb. A New York Times/CBS poll also finds that "almost three-quarters of Americans think it is a good idea to raise taxes on people making more than $250,000 per year. In fact, two-thirds of Americans think the tax code should be changed so that middle-class Americans pay less than they do now and "upper income" people pay more."

A final thought- let's remember what got us so deep in the red to begin with- a pointless and unsuccessful war.

Photo Credit: The Los Angeles Times