While the original Boston Tea Party took place in December, there is still a parallel to be drawn with today's nationwide "tea party" protests.  That is, the original tea party took place because of a specific event - A protest by the colonists against the landing of several shiploads (100+ tons) of taxed tea.  Today's parties also mark a specific, albiet annual, event - The income tax filing deadline.

 

I listened to reports of the events on several media outlets, even such notoriusly liberal ones as NPR.  It seemed to me there was a unifying message:  Quit spending!!  Of course, the income tax filing deadline doesn't involve spending per se; but it is symbolic of the average Americans perception of the government's main source of funds to spend - a tax on income.  So today's message was really:  Quit taxing!!  Just like 1773.

 

If more and more of the populace start to think like today's tea partiers, the same thing might happen to our current government that happened starting in 1773 to the British.  That was not a good thing for the government then and wouldn't be a good thing for the government now.

 

Today's question is:  Do the likes of Reid, Pelosi, Dodd and Frank have the smarts to realize what might happen?  I'll bet a whole pre-1965 silver dime they don't.  They only know how to prostitute themselves to buy re-election with handouts of tax money.  The taxes from one successful businessman can buy the votes of myriads of do-nothings who depend on the government to survive.  Special interests?  Yes, and they're not just PAC's.  They're every person out there who has their hand out for a handout.  Who react to any criticism with "you owe me".  Who refer to their monthly welfare stipend as "my paycheck".  Who have no idea of what their best interests are and depend on the government to tell them how to live.

 

The good of the People and the United States mean less to a Congressperson up for re-election than any colonist meant to King George III in 1773.  The only thing the Congresshmuck cares about is your being alive to vote.  And even that doesn't matter in Chicago.