Topic: Taxation
Tea Bags and Temper Tantrums Taxation without Representation is not the same as Taxation with duly elected representation.by Raven West, J.D.
(libertarian)
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
One cannot turn on any news report without being bombarded by countless reports of tea bagging and calls for revolution prior to and on April 15, 2009. It only takes one actor posing in a Thomas Paine costume to receive millions of views on YouTube and obtain his fifteen minutes of infamy on Glen Beck's program to rile up the American public during the time of year when everyone is filing their tax returns.
Nearly every April 15th for decades members of the Libertarian Party have held tax protests in front of post offices nationwide, yet very few of the media ever paid attention. Many people driving by criticized the protestors for even having the audacity to protest, decrying it was their "duty" as Americans to pay taxes. My how times have changed!
Today the media is everywhere. Cable news and the internet have escalated our individual frustration into a nation wide frenzy. The current economic crises is not new. During the last Presidential campaign, once we got over the topics of illegal immigration and same-sex marriage, the number one topic was the cry for a bailout. We went to the polls in November and we voted for the representatives who voted for the bailout, who voted for the tax increases to pay for the bailout and now we're all out in the streets with tea bags in hand!
There are only two things wrong with these pictures: the original Revolution and the Boston Tea Party was founded on the principle of "taxation without representation", not "taxation with duly appointed representation!" In this country we elect those who vote for tax increases, government spending and bail outs. We chose to be over taxed. We constantly elect ed to be over burdened. When we want increased services, whether it is more police, cleaner parks, or a wide variety of social government programs, the legislature puts these matters to the voting public and the public happily vote for all of these programs, then have a temper tantrum when they are asked to pay for them!
The government isn't doing this to us, we are doing it to ourselves. The government is not bankrupting our country, the citizens of this country who elect representatives that promise better schools, better roads, better police and solve all our problems are creating this debt.
Yes, when there is a problem, we want the government to fix it, but when that same government tries to collect for the services provided, we all scream "Revolution!" We cannot have it both ways. There is no such thing as a "free lunch" even when it's being paid for with food stamps.
Let's be honest. There is no real "revolution". No one is risking their lives, or their liberty, by carrying signs or producing videos on YouTube. There is no risk involved, nor any real threat to any individual except those in office when their term expires.
We're all screaming "pork, pork", but those earmarks are why we elect representatives in the first place. Everyone wants a piece of the huge Federal pie, and why not? If we are all paying into the pork barrel, shouldn't some of it be used for our benefit? Shouldn't we elect representatives who will fight for every dime of the Federal Budget to be returned to our State and used for our benefit? Any elected official who refuses to do this for their constituents are not doing the job they were hired to do, yet when they are successful, them that gots it are happy, and them that don't scream "PORK".
So, on April 15th, we take to the streets with signs and tea bags and at the end of the day we go home, satisfied that our voices have been heard, and we wait for our tax refund to arrive in the mail.
There are much more effective ways of protesting increased taxes. Instead of yelling and screaming on protest lines, take action.
Increase the sales tax on beer? Don't buy beer. Increase the tax on cigarettes? Don't smoke. If the government doesn't have any money to pay teacher's salaries, hire yourself a private tutor and pay them directly. If the government doesn't have any money to pay for police protection, hire your own security guard. Vote "NO" on each and every bond initiative. Read the fine print on your voter pamphlet before going to the polls. Ask the important questions of those running for office and ignore the rhetoric. Make the personal, individual sacrifices that will demonstrate to those in office that we really are " mad as hell and we're not going to take this anymore!"
If those on the protest line were serious, they would simply refuse to file a tax return. Of course there would be consequences. Arrests, possible jail time, but that's the price one pays when one picks up a banner and declares a "revolution". That is the true meaning of revolutionaries. Those who put their lives, their fortunes and their sacred Honor on the line.
Anything less is just a soggy tea bag.
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Posted By: Walt Thiessen
Date: 2009-04-15 15:35:19
You make some good points, but you also overlook some crucial points.
First, the Boston Tea Party took place on December 6, 1773, a full two-and-a-half years before the First Continental Congress and the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and more than a year before most historians identify as the beginning of the American Revolution (1775-1783). So, the Boston Tea Party took place before the American Revolution, not during it. Therefore, your complaint that there is no revolution doesn't fit history.
Also, I'm not sure you really understand the meaning of the word "revolution." It is different from "rebellion." You're not alone in this. Even most historians fail to grasp the difference between the two terms. 1775 to 1783 was actually the time of the American Rebellion, when bloodshed took place. The American Revolution, no matter what historians say, actually began roughly a decade before.
The Stamp Act of 1765 marks more accurately the beginning of the American Revolution, because a revolution is actually a "turn around." That's the definition of the Latin word, revolutio, from which our word "revolution" derives.
Looking at American history this way, we can now see more clearly some parallels between then and now. The times were quite different, of course, as was the technology. Instead of putting heads together in pubs and taverns to discuss the great tyranny of the day, today's patriots gather on the Internet.
Also, the tyranny of today is not far away in a distant land across an almost interminable ocean. Today's tyranny is much bigger, much more powerful, and much more imminent.
So while I agree that the real issue today is taxation with representation, I disagree with your interpretation of what that means. It's true that a majority of the people voted for the representatives who voted for the bailouts. It's not true that the majority support the bailouts. The polls have shown that clearly.
And while I understand your belief that there is no revolution today, I don't think your claim is accurate. We are in a period relatively analogous to the 1760's and early 1770's. We haven't reached the armed rebellion stage yet.
Personally, I hope that stage never comes. However, I'm not optimistic in that regard.
While I understand how you have come to the basic conclusion that we voted for all of these government services and now are just throwing a tantrum about having to pay for them, this is not the case. Most Americans did vote for the people currently in office, with their promises of provigind universal health care, etc., but I would reckon that a large majority of the tax payer tea party (and other tea party) crowd DID NOT VOTE FOR MORE GOVERNMENT SERVICES. By in large, the speeches, posters, and chants at the rally I attended were heavily critical of government spending, bailouts, etc. In fact, the income tax has not been increased yet! There were many posters and signs showing concern about the value of the dollar, etc.
The reason I point this out is because I really feel like this overanalysis, often by others who also favor smaller, constitutional government, about what is the right kind of protest, whether the tea party motiff is the appropriate theme, what Rick Santelli's motivations are, why people did not protest several years ago, etc. IS NOT HELPING! Many thousands of people attended this protest, and are simply not prepared to risk arrest to not file a tax return. For these people, we have a choice of either having them come to a large rally to express their outrage, or having them simply eat their lunch at work like they do on any other weekday. I really feel we made the right choice by putting on a tea party.
More people are outraged then ever now, I see it every day. More people are willing to write letters to their congressmen, sign petitions, attend meetings of liberty groups, and, yes, attend rallys like this one, than ever before in my lifetime. These people are becoming new allies in the cause of liberty! Why are some so ready to scold them either for not being concerned soon enough for their liking, or not picking the right mehtods/venues? This is not how you create a movement! I think the tea parties sent a great message to many elected officials that there are still a lot of people out there that want smaller government and reject Keynsianism regardless of whether that message was fine tuned to your personal liking.
I can certainly understand your point, that the Boston Tea Party was a "rebellion", but it wasn't me who was using the term "revolution", it was the media.
Glen Beck giving an audience to an actor professing to be Thomas Paine who screams that we need to "take back our country", who know absolutely nothing about Paine, or what he stood for! He gets national coverage while those in the Libertarian Party, who had been protesting on Tax Day for decades are ignored, or worse.
Ron Paul was barely given any opportunity during the last Presidential debates, and Bob Barr wasn't hardly a bleep on anyone's radar. The message had been out there for years, but it doesn't seem that anyone is listening.
The point I was trying to make is that standing on a street corner with signs and "tea bags", while being a huge boom for Lipton might make someone feel better for the short term, but, like a temper tantrum, will be forgotton the next day unless we are willing to work for the representation that we want, not scream for a "revolution" against the duly elected representation we have.
Posted By: Jahfre Fire Eater
Date: 2009-04-16 09:17:15
Hi Raven West,
Good article. I can't manage to be so nice when pointing out the futility of loud cattle. Protests without real, effective political activity in our local communities are nothing more than spectacles. Lots of people like to feel good about themselves by participating in protests but their behavior is pointless unless they begin to elect representatives who will not continue the status-quo. ("elect", that pesky words that LP members don't understand....)
The best indication of the lack of teeth in the tea party festivities is when protesters backed off on dumping their tea in Lafayette Park because they didn't have a permit for it. LOL! Thwarted by bureaucracy. Some revolt. It was just a spectacle, nothing significant. I can't give kudos to crowds who are quick to take pointless actions in front of cameras but who refuse to face their neighbors in monthly meetings where they can actually DO something about the things that anger them. What a waste of political power these tea parties represent. The liberals have won. Their tactics have dulled, and splintered the only real force that could oppose them.
The sad thing is how many people feel so good about being marginalized and manipulated by liberal tactics aimed at creating the circmstances necessary for the imposition of the kind of government these protesters fear more than shame.
Thanks for a thought provoking article. Your points, Walt's, others, all well taken. I would like to merely point out one thing:
The political process "as we know it" is seriously broken. That is why you can simultaneously have people who vote in "representatives" sworn to uphold their best interests and said "representatives" who go their merry way, dishonoring their oath to the constitution and trampling on their constituents' rights.
The (relatively young) geniuses of the Downsize DC organization ( http://downsizedc.org ) explain this very clearly and, better yet, offer some very viable solutions.
It is time for all of us to take YOUR advice (namely, to individually act in ways that declare our freedom) and also to listen to and join with Downsize DC in applying relentless, mind-numbing pressure on our REPRESENTATIVES, regardless of their party, to actually REPRESENT us!
At EACH of the two "Tea Parties" that I personally attended this year, there were MORE PEOPLE ASSEMBLED than all the members of congress put together. If you multiply that by the thousands of protests that took place across the county, there is no reason why we couldn't in rotation have a delegation at every congress critters door every day demanding that they "do the right thing" rather than cater to their monied handlers.
"the original Revolution and the Boston Tea Party was founded on the principle of "taxation without representation", not "taxation with duly appointed representation!" In this country we elect those who vote for tax increases, government spending and bail outs. We chose to be over taxed. We constantly elect ed to be over burdened. "
One is reminded of the quote, "A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul."
I gave you a thumbs up because what you typed is very much true. People have no problem turning to the government when they want something, but then to get upset when the bill comes due is rather irrational.
Of course, it has been that way for quite a while. The American colonies were perfectly happy to have Britain pay for their defense during the French and Indian War, but once it was time to pay off the war debt . . . —well, maybe resentment of taxation just in our blood, haha.
This leaves spending at the forefront of the issues, which got lost amidst the majority of the Tea Parties held earlier this week that focused instead on taxation. (Unfortunately)
My liberal buddies were laughing their asses off at that Thomas Paine impersonater. They basically called the Tea Parties a cry for help by increasingly irrelevant white, middle class Americans. They and the government know it is over for conservatives and those who advocate a free market and small government. There is blood in the water as Obama prepares his health care initiative for passage and Rahm Emanuel ramps up the Obama Youth Corps initiative. Within a decade this country will be a facsimile of socialist European governments or worse. Your side has lost. Sovereignty is over and the North American Union and the Amero is on its way. Just accept it and don't fight the inevitable power. The New World Order cannot be resisted and will be financed primarily by Americans and their tax dollars. Or I guess I should say tax ameros lol.
I disagree with your article almost completely. I also do not think you are Libertarian, you sound like a "plant".
Your argument of "electing the representatives" is silly. These folks control the process, they are elected almost automatically. They control the media and therefore the information.
These tea party participants are not a single entity, they can't answer questions uniformly. They have not been indoctrinated. They know something is wrong, seriously wrong, they are probably not sure what and why.
"Don't buy beer, don't buy cigarettes, pay for your own schools, pay for your own police". Right! While you pay your taxes too. Well, what are we paying for now?
Why don't you start a group willing to put their "lives, their fortunes and their sacred Honor " on the line. Some aren't ready to walk off a cliff when they have promises to keep.
If you're Libertarian, I see why they fail, and I'm certainly out of that logic for a path to success.
Posted By: Michael J. Mc Fadden
Date: 2009-04-18 15:01:15
Excellent article Raven. Your points about voters "doing it to ourselves" and "taxation without" as opposed to "with" representation are excellent, as well as your point about the relatively shallow symbolic value of dumping a teabag while making sure not to violate such things as bureaucratic environmental regulations about disposal of vegetative matter.
Still, the protesters were acting as "grains of sand" to slow and grind down the gears of the machine. Not everyone is willing to stand in front of an oncoming tank. We can all push the boundaries a little without much risk though, and we all have *at least* that much responsibility.
I was disappointed that I did not see more action from or in behalf of one of the most aggrieved groups of taxpayers in this country. If you were to look around at various well-defined minority groups in today's America you would be hard put to find any that are as poor as that group who rolls their own cigarettes from shreds of tobacco and scraps of paper because they smoke and can't afford to buy pre-mades. That minority group, among the poorest of the poor, got hit with over a TWO THOUSAND PERCENT tax increase as one of Obama's first official presidential acts in signing the SCHIP bill. That bill, as it had been floating around for months or years had specified a "modest" 814% increase up until Obama's election. Within a month the figure was hiked to about 2,200% - from a bit over $1/pound up to $24/pound. But the response of most of the tax protesters seems to be "Well, that's not taxing ME - it's just the dirty smokers - so who cares?"
Which brings me to my two final points: Smokers are truly the ones who've gotten hit with "taxation without representation" in the deal the state Attorney Generals made with the tobacco companies in 1998 (The Master Settlement Agreement) which added a 50 cent "invisible tax" to all packs of cigarettes. And while the masses may not care about the smokers being taxed now for SCHIP, wait until the revenues don't appear and the costs of enforcement against a Prohibition-style black market kick in and then EVERYONE gets taxed to deal with the problems.
Then they'll care... but there'll be no one left to speak up for them.
I think you are missing a very critical issue in all of this. While people may vote for the politicians who end up raising taxes on their constituents, they are not in contol of the hidden tax - inflation. Inflation and its increasing grip on our ability to survive is a direct result of the Fed's monetizing debt. Thus, the people have every right to be upset, to protest, and to call for a change of the system, whatever and whoever they voted in office. Too bad so many are uninformed and cannot put their finger on exactly how they are being robbed. It is imperative we pass along the information.
A couple of points. You talk about using alternatives to govt (tutors, private security). In theory that sounds good, but in the real world people can't afford them after being taxed so much. I also understand that some states (most?) have laws against disbanding the local police & bringing in private security.
Your point about not filing or paying taxes is well taken. There may come a time when a tax strike will be in order. To do so now only means jail time. An activist taken out of circulation for a while. I know several people who are & have been at Club Fed on tax charges. It would seem that their sacrifice didn't acomplish anything.
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