They're back. This time around they are being billed as July 4th Tea Parties. Although they aren't using "teabagging" any more, not much seems to have changed. Here's what I have learned so far, including how to find a Tea Party near you.
I haven't seen much about this in the news, but apparently teabagging er I mean tea parties- are back, just in time for people to "re-declare their independence" on July 4th. I thought it was just a local thing, until I googled it and found that there is a national website for July 4th Tea Parties.. There is an interactive map, so you can find out if there is a July 4th Tea Party near you.
Here's what the official July 4th Tea Party website has to say:
The America’s Independence Day Tea Party Movement is a nationwide protest forum for any and all groups and individuals dissatisfied with the current governance of the United States, regardless of ideology, partisan identity, or political affiliation.
While we may disagree on the solution, on July 4th, 2009 we will come together as Americans to peacefully express our dissent from the current political status quo. We are individuals of all ages, sexual orientation, creed, color, rank and file with a common message: We are sick and tired of our out of control government and we don’t trust the major parties in Washington DC to bring real changes. We are demanding that our representatives uphold their oath to defend and protect the supreme law of the land, the Constitution.
More than anyone in the world, the American people understand our inalienable rights:
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
On July 4th, 2009, let’s Re-Declare them!
When you follow this site's link to "tea party merchandise" it gets a lot snarkier- I found a lot of Obama bashing. Some of my favorites were " Flush Hope" with the Obama logo as a toilet seat, Commander in Thief, and Best Little Whorehouse in D.C. with Obama and Pelosi.
What are they protesting you may ask? Well this time they have a list of potential objectives, and are taking a poll to see what the top 5 are:
Balance the federal budget
Lower taxes across the board
Increase state sovereignty in political, economic, and social issues
Institute constitutional term limits in Congress
Decrease federal spending
Borrow less money from foreign powers such as China, Russia, Japan, Saudi Arabia, etc.
Make Congress cite chapter & verse in the Constitution when passing bills
End all federal bailouts
Increase ballot access for Independent & Third Party candidates
Increase the value of our Dollar
Throw out every single candidate, regardless of party affiliation, who voted for any of the federal bailouts
Increase transparency & accountability at the Federal Reserve
Reform the entire tax code
Elect Washington outsiders in upcoming elections
Start paying down the national debt
Throw out big government & big spending incumbents, regardless of party affiliation
Make Congress read the bills before they actually vote
Build the foundation for a new, third party
Start running for political office ourselves
Our local event is being billed as non-partisan, and open to everyone. We'll see. A group of us is planning to attend, wearing our county Democratic party t-shirts. Who knows, with any luck we may surround them! Three minute speaking slots are allowed, and if it gets nasty we plan to try to speak, and if we aren't allowed to speak we plan to document that also. We are planning to bring some home-made signs with a positive message of change around a patriotic theme. So far we have thought of " Paying Taxes Is Patriotic", and "We support our troops". Any suggestions for signs and/or talking points?