We were merry, in an undertone, at the idea of making so large a cup of tea for the fishes but we used not more words than absolutely necessary. I never worked harder in my life. While we were unloading, the people collected in great numbers about the wharf to see what was going on. They crowded around us. Our sentries were not armed, and could not stop any who insisted on passing."
― Joshua Wyeth, 16-year-old participant on Dec. 16, 1773
Time to cock the ol' tricorn hat and grab a flag! Fling your tea bags and hoist your principles on the mast.
Right now, you're on the hook for $42,000 ― to pay off the monetary experiments of your federal government.
(If you voted Ron Paul for president and you're not living in Texas, you may say you live in a state of taxation without representation.)
And maybe, just maybe, you were one of the thousands that gathered in various towns and cities around America to protest this hefty bill on Tax Day, April 15…in a little tradition we call "the Tea Party."
Some say it's not so much a tradition as it is a neo-con, Fox News-phenomena of faux-populism…Others cry from the blogosphere: Here's the crowning demonstration of a new era of McCarthyism from a bunch of malcontents, "malcontent" being a fancy word for ne'er-do-wells leveling less dignified terms at those they see as other ne'er-do-wells: those embracing the welfare state. When the mud starts flying, everyone comes out looking awful foolish. But it is good to see a bonafide non-hippy-liberal-green contingent take to the streets for something.
Couldn't make it? Here's the Whiskey Room's front-rail barstool view.
Southbound Go Your Sons and Daughters of Liberty
Gary Gibson and I got on the Baltimore Light Rail at 10:30 am, southbound to Glen Burnie, MD. That rendezvous point joined us with one of the four organizers of the state capital's Tea Party, Pat.
Imagine, in the face of such nasty weather, signs streaming South to the Annapolis Harbor all the way from Route 50. Crowds poured from church parking lots and garages. (We noted bitterly not being able to park in Annapolis' newest and fanciest garage: roped off 'specially for employees of the state.)
Some 2,000 souls, we were told from the podium's speakers, gathered on the waterfront and blocked the wooden docks of this colonially-quaint little capital. Our count exceeded 700 for sure.
Commerce-wise, we succeeded only in blocking a few tourists from finding their way to the Starbucks ― a breech clearly mended by the protestors who were cold in the pourin' friggin' rain and needed caffeinated reinforcement.
The protest was a little "every man for himself" ― each sign was its own platform. One man might protest the creation of the Federal Reserve. His sign: a parade of historic personages ― in yellow and red ― ending with Obama's face, writ underneath: Proudly Bailing Out Since 1913. Another man, in camoflague poncho, simply holds up a piece of cardboard: "Global What?"
So each man and woman and child foisted up his or her own complaint, there was no overwhelming unity. Only a couple hundred voiced the cries: "Throw the bums out!" "Cut our taxes!"
This is always encouraging…I like my demonstrations and parades a little disunited, otherwise I start to worry about Czech marches…beer hall putsches…and other sundry ugliness of humans meet ideals meet the streets.
Cut to a man in white gaiters and a kilt: "Bring back the Brits ― They taxed us less!"
On the way to the harbor, the local oyster house hoisted a sign: "Somalia has nasty pirates, we have LEGISLATORS!"
Best of all were the protesting babes in arms of mothers. Little girl of 16 months in Ma's arms, the sign: "My Children Don't Want to Pay for Your Toys."
Most eloquent protestor prize: A man pulled his private historic schooner into the harbor with the help of friends. Left on the ship, in full view of the assembled multitude, were wooden crates stenciled "TEA" ― and a few more were scattered on the docks.
Another fine touch that only Annapolis could offer: a patriot in his Revolutionary garb shirking duty from state capital tours to take a stand. His trusty mount: a Segway. Poised high and proud, he held a flag aloft. (We drank our morning espresso with him in the coffeeshop nearby before penetrating the dense brush of demonstration...he was delightful, and said, in parting: "See you on the other side of the breech!")
No one voiced this aloud, but stickers wrapped round stems of umbrellas proclaimed: "Impeach Obama." We already wowed Europe with our stupidity in the impeachment process of Clinton…now shall we use the right as a prophylactic measure?
After braving two hours of wind and torrential rain, your hardy Whiskey & Gunpowder headed for the bar, warm Irish coffees and carried on a heated political discussion with our fine barkeep who gave Gary a free beer.
Sons of Liberty: Then and Now
For a dose of reality, let's check back with our forefathers…the first Sons of Liberty.
Basic scenario: You had this giant trade monopoly called the British East India Company hit the American shores with cheap product that undersold all competitors: An addictive substance called tea, upon whose back the Age of Enlightenment had been borne.
The Brits assumed that no man would give up his tea, and therefore, that they'd pay the import duty…and therefore sanction the royal taxations sans representation.
Three ships, the Dartmouth, the Eleanor, and the Beaver hit Boston harbor on Dec. 8. Eight days later, 60 Sons of Liberty split into three groups and mounted the boats waiting to unload their cargo. These fellas were surrounded by British armed ships, but carried on splitting up crates with axes and tomahawks for three straight hours ― broke up 324 crates ― some 10,000 lbs. of tea.
Just think about it. Your fledgling patriots ducked into the local blacksmith, smeared their faces in coal dust, pretended to be Mohawk Indians, and got away with it! When they passed the house of the British Admiral, he yelled out: "Well boys, you have had a fine, pleasant evening for your Indian caper, haven't you? But mind, you have got to pay the fiddler yet!"
Will we pay the fiddler…or just keep paying our taxes with much grumble and bah? Frankly, this wasn't a bona fide protest, so much as a bitchfest. In fact, many protests incorporated the 1976 mantra: "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore."
Those words, of course, spew from apartments all over Manhattan in the film Network. A film as notable today for its zeitgeist (and the lovely actions of Ms. Faye Dunaway) as it was when my parents saw it before me. In that movie, the "prophet" is assassinated ― we hope our bourbon-gravel voice won't be stifled the same way.
Just so you Shooters know: I held the umbrella while Sam snapped the photos.
A Shooter sends us their account from my old hometown.
I attended the NYC Tea Party with my kids. I wanted them to experience political activism by protesting out of control government, mad deficit spending, bailout boondoggles that will encumber them for the rest of their lives, and the rapid descent into socialism granted in the bailout bill without public discussion or vote. The Congress voted for the bill without the benefit of reading it! An act for which they should be imprisoned!
The rally was scheduled to be held in City Hall Park across from City Hall. Police were everywhere in clusters of 5-6. Police cars, vans and command vehicles lined the streets. They had the park closed and barricaded. Police would not let anyone walk around to the south if they were carrying a sign. We tried to walk across the park, but were refused admission by police. I asked if this was not a public park.
And they admitted it was but refused entry. My teenage girls carried their signs folded and out of site. I tried to encourage them to hold them up with pride, but they told me they felt scared and intimidated by the police. We were routed up several blocks, then across and then down to get to the rally. The park remained empty and barricaded. Police had set up metal barriers along the street so that there was only a narrow lane between the street and the metal fence of the park. This resulted in a diffused body that was half spread out a quarter mile down Broadway, and half on the sidewalk on the other side of Broadway and across a closed side street. You could not move or get close to the speakers.
The energy of the crowd was good, but had fewer and not as good signs as the ones out west. There might have been 1000 people there. (Rough guess). I was appalled by the feeling of repression and complete disregard for free speech and public assembly rights essential to our Bill of Rights. I heard people complaining that they were not being permitted to walk where they wanted to. When we were ready to leave we gave our signs away, so that police wouldn't block our route back to the car, but they wouldn't let us walk a block south to our car. We were told we had to go north, across, and back down about 8 blocks out of our way.
The stoic, expressionless responses of the cops, saying, "it's not my idea, just following orders," is scary to experience because it makes me see that armed forces aren't there to defend the constitution, they are there to execute the orders of the superiors as directed by whatever politician happens to hold the power. Didn't they take an oath to defend the constitution as I did? Why is there no accountability for this? Then I remember that the president took that oath as well.
The way that this was handled does not reflect well on NYC. It is the same heavy-handed treatment that protesters received during the political convention, for which NYC is still handling the many civil actions.
The humorous piece for me when we left the party was when my kids said they were relieved because they had thought I was the only one who felt this way about the government handling of the economy!
And here's a report from Fresno…
Hey Gary,
In Fresno Calif. there was a great turnout. Some 7500+ signed in, and there were 10,000 by car estimates. It's good to know that there are others willing to show up.
The libertarian types and the republican "conservatives" are going to have to figure out how to get together in some sort of "Liberty Coalition" before the Socialists and the fascist Republicans suffocate our liberty & ability to conduct business.
Good point, but this Shooter sees things a bit differently…
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I, like you, hate both political parties. But unlike you, I have no faith in the Republicans ever listening to your music and paying attention. Or have you forgotten the Bush (mal-) administration?
A better close would be to pray for America, because whether it's a Democratic Congress spending money on "Democratic" priorities, or a Republican Congress spending money on "Republican" priorities, the country is getting the shaft.
And maybe after all the trillions and trillions of dollars are spent to save capitalism from itself, and the dollar is better used as toilet paper, maybe America will return to the values and work ethic that once made it great. All the geegaws, trinkets, toys and trifles that we currently get from foreign producers, maybe we'll decide to make them ourselves or do without.
And here comes trouble…
You seem to enjoy the prospect of disillusioned, ignorant, and desperate people rising up armed to the teeth and resorting to unlawful behavior. Once such a calamitous event commences many innocents will suffer. I think it is so irresponsible to promote this type of behavior, and you know not what you wish for. Instead of being a positive force to help others wisely choose their investments in these unnerving times, your writings seem to relish the thought of a collapse in which the union falls apart.
Moi?
Tune in tomorrow, Shooters, for more Tea Party accounts and more rabble-rousing with Samantha Buker and me.
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