15/04/2009 / USA
April 15 is traditionally the day when Americans
send their tax returns. It's also the day thousands of protesters chose to express
their opposition to the tax policy and spending of the Obama administration, by
organising tea parties throughout the US.
The tea party movement was launched to protest against a
number of issues, including the fiscal reforms and federal bailout plan of the
Obama administration, as well as national debt. This year, the federal
government spent 3.9 trillion dollars. This is more than the total federal
funding until 1979, meaning over a period of 185 years! Even taking inflation into
account inflation, that's still huge.
Our movement gathers a very large
spectrum of people and viewpoints but basically the idea is that we shouldn't
be bailing out private companies. If you can't manage your company and you
don't do a good job, then you should just fail. Obama will raise taxes on people
who make a lot of money. We think that's counter productive because those are
the ones who create jobs. Besides, the money collected won't even be used to
create jobs or jump-start the economy but to set up welfare programmes. Our
movement isn't just about Republicans or Democrats, it's about America.
Obama faces anti-tax 'Tea Parties'
It all started on February 19, as CNBC host Rick Santelli went on a rant about the new administration's tax policy and bailout plan, saying that the founding fathers would "be rolling over in their grave". During his impassioned speech, the television editor brought up the idea of a Chicago Tea Party; a direct reference to the 1773 Boston Tea Party, when a group of Americans threw overboard 45 tons of tea from British ships to protest against the taxes the British government imposed on their American colonies.
Rick Santelli's idea spread like wildfire on the Web. Three national conservative organisations, Don't Go Movement,Top Conservatives and Smart Girl Politics, joined forces to organise a first "tea party" event on February 27, gathering 30,000 people nationwide. Since then, the tea party movement has gained momentum. A second protest day is set for April 15, the national tax day. In the US, taxes represent less than 30% of GDP, making it one of the lowest taxed countries in the industrialised world (tax ratio in Europe is about 38%). Some Americans, however, want taxes to be even lower. A Conservative Observer tells us why.
Contributors
"Many Obama voters didn’t understand the fiscal implications of their choice"
Juliana Johnson is the Communications Director for the Nationwide Tax Day Tea Parties.
The tea party movement was launched to protest against a
number of issues, including the fiscal reforms and federal bailout plan of the
Obama administration, as well as national debt. This year, the federal
government spent 3.9 trillion dollars. This is more than the total federal
funding until 1979, meaning over a period of 185 years! Even taking inflation into
account inflation, that's still huge. Just being friendly and nice, a candidate can be elected in the US. What we see today with the tea party movement is that many of Obama's voters didn't understand the fiscal implications of their choice. We're trying to build a coalition to make people politically active and put pressure on the government. On April 15, 500 tea parties will be held throughout the US and we expect to gather between 500,000 and 1 million protesters."
Modern Tea-Party memorabilia
Tea-Party T-Shirts
"Revolutionary" tea label, complete with the flag of the original thirteen colonies!
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Comments
health for solace, yes we can! don't change, we do.
Submitted by Vince (not verified) on Fri, 17/04/2009 - 18:22.Every people are not for Obama. CNN said during elections french should vote for Obama with 90%. It's a delirium: the promotion of a good man, black, well educated who has the face of a TV show man.
Sure it's better to vote for him than the old men: he made its time, we need more young, because it's "in".
The unanimity for financial and showbiz support for democrats is the sign of a social consensus between liberal fortuned classes of the world.
These classes don't have Nations, they don't feel membership for any Nations. They form the elite of globalization and search the way to form a standard culture to get exportations and importations more easy.
The culture of France, England, US, Japan, India is falling to the advantage of standard culture.
1st
Obama proposes one program: to save this system of free exchange (ex: with China), and he give to American people a social system.
But the social system built in Europe has been installed during 30 years, 50 years in France. He really can do that in 4 years?
If it's the free hospital operations, it was proposed by republicans too.
But more is not required and necessary. In France we are spending 500 b euros per years for social gifts. 260 b are used and necessary because it's to protect oldness,big families,pregnant women, handicap and unemployed but the rest: 240 are giving for non governmental org, people who have never worked, illegal immigrants.
We are spending in wrong budgets: we need a better army to rebuild employment in industry.
The Obama deal is not honest because he do not say the plan: to conserve this globalization: with poverty in middle classes, outsourcing, poverty in South countries, standard culture, massive immigration to pay lower.
This world and the consensus proposed by Obama will not cost to the richest, but to the middle classes. Trust me, in France when rich people don't want to pay taxes, they come in financial minister or they transfert in Caribbean banks.
2nd
Obama talk about New Deal, but the new deal worked when US enter in war ^^ Hoover city continued in 1938.
in Obama economical policy, I see that:
US Saving fall: 12.5% of GDP in 2008 estimate to 10.5 % in 2009> -2%
Invests fall: the new deal!: estimate to 15% of GDP in 2009> -2.5%
(-1.5% between 2007/2008)
(centre d'études sur l'intégration et la mondialisation = Studies center of globilization and integration)
(take into consideration the fall of the GDP)
Next, Obama think there will be growth next year... He's very good. Nobody knows, but he guess it.
it is normal it has already made its next budget on its predictions:
such a fortune-teller, he is also going to be able to say to us if these fundamental are going to improve?
He CAN taxes more, because he propose you the better for the world: free exchange, poverty and taxes for middle class
and health for solace, your moral health it is not its problem!
Obama will not change the system, he conserves it.
Unregistered user
Ridiculous
Submitted by Unonymous (not verified) on Fri, 17/04/2009 - 06:13.Many of these people are unaware of how ridiculous they are.
Paul Begala said it best.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/04/15/begala.taxes/
Unregistered user
Balanced?
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Thu, 16/04/2009 - 15:50."A Conservative Observer tells us why."
Excuse me for not ignoring the elephant in the room, but why isn't there a progressive voice to balance the conservative one?
Ranging from the astroturf argument to the polls showing most Americans are just as happy as ever with Obama and his policies, and even their own taxes, I'd think there is more than one critical note to be made to argue with this talkingpoints PR piece.
Unregistered user
revolution, civil war, or successionist movement
Submitted by LouisLeGrand (not verified) on Thu, 16/04/2009 - 04:55.one or more will happen in america within a decade. the stock market collapse and the bad economy are the results of moronic politically correct policies supported by both major parties. as a means to bring up the percentage of non-white homeowners, the government forced banks to give loans to people that should not have been given loans. this was started by clinton, continued by bush, and will be increased by obama. this is not any particular partys fault, but the fault of our irrational society as a whole. there is a global disease sweeping the earth that is causing europeans to be pathetically submissive. the NAACP was demanding the irrational loans, and any opposition would be branded racist. now the NAACP says minorities were victims of predatory lending practices. the western world is in a lose-lose situation and many know it. the lack of faith in americas future is the result of obamas election. i know many that actually voted for him, yet will also say that he will hasten americas collapse. it is depressing knowing that all of this was just about skin color. america brought harm upon itself and is proud of it.
Unregistered user
coffee or tea
Submitted by RY (not verified) on Wed, 15/04/2009 - 21:41.Paying tax is a civic duty; I don't mind tax dollars put to good use, such as to revive our economy.
In respond to Ms. Johnson's statement "many of Obama's voters didn't understand the fiscal implications of their choice" I would argue that "many of Bush's voters didn't understand the fiscal implications of their choice." Now, was that a sound argument?
These "tea party" protesters ought to be reminded that we are now in this recession partly because of the policies implemented in the past 8 years of George W. Bush administration; one can hardly argue that we are in this financial mess because of President Obama's policies set in the last 8 weeks.
Today, I will have a cup of green tea for a different purpose--to celebrate the fact that I have filed my federal tax return and already received the refunds two months ago. Taxation is one of the certainties in life if you live in the US, and as I understand in many other countries as well.
Unregistered user
You just don't get it do you?
Submitted by Ed in Arizona (not verified) on Wed, 15/04/2009 - 21:51.RY: The protest is not about "the mess" our economy is in. The Tea Parties are protesting "the fix" that our Congress and President are forcing on the American tax payer.
I guess if you don't pay taxes, what would you care?
Was a 6 Trillion dollar national debt the change you Obomo voters were seeking?
Unregistered user
I don't get it how you get it wrong
Submitted by RY (not verified) on Thu, 16/04/2009 - 00:33.Ed in Arizona, "I guess if you don't pay taxes, what would you care?" Did I say I do not pay taxes? Please quote from my previous comment where I say so; refund simply means that I overpay through paycheck withholding or through tax credit and other deduction that gives me a refund.
Why do we need to "the fix"? Precisely because we are in this financial mess. So why are we in this financial mess? Because the lack of financial regulations from the previous administrations, going back to the Reagan administration.
What alternative would you suggest instead of "the fix" to remedy the economy recession? It's easy to just complain than come up with original ideas to fix the economic recession.
Do you still believe that the trickle-down theory would work? Please fact check, it did not work during George W. Bush's two terms. Also, I'd like to remind you that Hank Paulson under George W. Bush started "the fix", do you complain then like now? The reality is that the US need a bigger "fix" than what was implemented by Mr. Paulson. Moreover, the fiasco of AIG bonuses was the results from the rescue package aka "TARP" implemented by Mr. Paulson and the Bush administration.
Furthermore, the ballooning national debt that you (and most Americans concerned about) has started since the budge surplus disappeared after George W. Bush took over from Bill Clinton. Please remember that Barack Obama inherited this budget deficit, national debt, and economic recession from the last president.
You line of argument would suggest that a person who intentionally use "Obomo" instead of Obama discounts the credibility and substance of his arguments on this forum; calling people nickname like that is childish and almost an ad hominem argument.
Unregistered user
americans are really weird!!
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Wed, 15/04/2009 - 21:45.i don't understand americans, you all voted obama but not only one year later, you're already regretting. i'm trying to understand what's going on in your mind but i'm still trying. it's too hard for me
Unregistered user
i don't understand
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Thu, 16/04/2009 - 14:39.i don't understand americans, you all voted obama.....
NO WE DIDNT
Unregistered user
Not so weird really...
Submitted by Ed-in-Arizona (not verified) on Wed, 15/04/2009 - 21:57.Americans are not really all that weird when it comes to voting for BO one month and then wanting to "undo" their choice 5 months later.
You see, we Americans tend to vote for the "celebrity" candidate. When all the glitter wares off, we find we are in bed with an "ugly Jane".
Also, please understand, the U.S. President does not run the U.S.
The President runs the Executive Branch of the Federal Government.
Congress, the Legislative Branch, runs the nation and controls all the money.
Unregistered user
celebrity society is a problem
Submitted by LouisLeGrand (not verified) on Thu, 16/04/2009 - 05:14.we just vote for whoever makes us the most popular, not the best candidate. we have become a style over substance society and i fear that we are exporting this stupidity to europe. bush won in 2000 because gore was seen as a nerdy intellectual. bush won in 2004 because kerry was seen as an upperclass intellectual. obama won in 2008 because he is idolized as a hip civil rights leader, while mccain is an old white war hero. any democracy is only as smart as the average voter. americans love to pretend that we are still in the civil rights era, and voting for obama meant that you were against the evil white racist mccain. what a joke.
Unregistered user
you don't speak for all of america
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Thu, 16/04/2009 - 22:25.this is absurd... I did vote for Obama, and like the majority of Americans, think he's doing an excellent job. (His approval rating is higher than Bush's ever was.) It's such a relief to have an intelligent, articulate, compassionate person representing our country instead of that moron who embarrassed us for eight long and painful years.
The teabaggers want us to forget that Obama inherited this mess from Bush, and that he is trying to fix it the way that pretty much all economists agree is the only route available.
His tax policy only affects the very rich, and by some tiny amount, like 3%.
He is actually trying to make tax policy simpler, and make the rich actually pay their taxes instead of allowing them to jump through the loopholes. How is that a bad thing? The super rich don't create jobs, their companies do -- many of them the same companies that are receiving bailouts from the federal government.
argh! can the stupid people please move to Texas and seceed from the union like you keep promising to do? We'd be glad to be rid of you!
Unregistered user
"that moron who embarrassed
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Mon, 20/04/2009 - 10:40."that moron who embarrassed us for 8 long and painful years." You must be talking about Bill Clinton.
Unregistered user
Dumb
Submitted by Unonymous (not verified) on Fri, 17/04/2009 - 06:23.Somehow, Fox News and the very rich have convinced people that Obama is instituting socialism rather than Congress trying to save the economy before it collapses, in large part due to the last eight years under George W Bush and six of those years being under a Republican hegemony.
Many of these people evidently don't know what socialism is.
Many of these people are only upset that Obama won the election and Democrats are in power.
Many of these people don't know that their taxes won't change until 2011.
Many of these people don't know that the only people who will experience a increase in taxes is those who earn more than $250,000 a year.
All of these people insult American history by claiming their protests as a Tea Party, the original Boston Tea Party being against taxation without representation, which all of these people have.
No wonder America rejected conservatism in 2009. I hope the neocons continue to alienate themselves from the rest of mainstream America, and this shift from center-right to center-left is permanent.
Unregistered user
Denmark...
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Fri, 17/04/2009 - 15:34.The country of Denmark have the highest rates of income tax in the world and yet the Danes rank as the happiest worldwide! Why? Because thru their tax dollars they get affordable Childcare, Universal healthcare, free college education, long maternity leave and so on. Besides the Danish gov't doesn't spend half it's national budget, like America does, on it's military! America has 1000 foreign military bases at a annual maintenance cost of 1 Trillion dollars! American Empire is over extended like the old Soviet Union and in ancient times the Roman Empire!
Unregistered user
it will not change anything
Submitted by Vince (not verified) on Sat, 18/04/2009 - 02:46."ancient times the Roman Empire!" loool
Denmark has 1% grows per year, I prefer French system.
Don't change anything of US system (may be the hospital operations free for all okey)
Because you cannot change the culture of a country:
Denmark, France, we ever had big taxes since middle age! It's our system.
The system we need to change is the world exchanges. It eradicates little companies, favorise immigration then pay employers lower, it get pover countries more poor.
You know that Obama has been chosen by financial elite to save this system, that's why he's not different of US president since Kennedy. (in economical and social perspectives)
Unregistered user
General
Submitted by hopeforall (not verified) on Fri, 17/04/2009 - 20:06.Most of the American people wanted to rescue the US from the Dictator George W Bush. Thus they voted for Obama. Because Americans have nothing to compare it too, they failed to see that the country was being ruled by a dictator. Realizing that things were not right however, Obama was elected to clean up house and set things straight.
However there is a small minority of 20-30% of the population who, rather than do their homework and pay attention to what's going on, prefer to drink the cool aid that Fox News and other neo-cons are serving up. These 20-30% are gullible and believe anything they hear. As a result you have the so-called Tea Parties. Most of those who attended had no idea that the original Boston Tea Party was a protest by the colonial American liberals who were trying to gain freedom from a king who was over taxing them without representation in parliament and was forcing them to follow his religion. The then American Liberals rebelled by throwing the tea overboard. All of those who participated knew and understood the purpose of the protest. Unlike the recent 2009 tea party participants who had absolutely no clue as to why and what they were doing. It was pathetic to say the least.
Here is what progressive liberals want: to clean up the mess that Bush created, remove the Reagan tax cut for the top 2% so that they may pay their fare share, create a national health care system so that everyone can receive health care when they need it and not be told by insurance companies what illnesses we can or cannot have. Health care is a right not a luxury. We also need a high speed rail system that runs throughout the country like in Europe or Japan.This will create manufacturing jobs. Reduce the military increase diplomacy, free college education, a better public education system with smaller classrooms, enforced rules and regulations for financial institutions and the private sector where dangerous waste is concerned. Create new manufacturing jobs that will build electric cars, solar panels and windmills. Help reduce global warming. Keep government out of religion and religion out of government. Everyone should respect everyone's religion and culture. America does not need to be the world's police however, it can offer help when asked or needed. Help other poor countries find ways to become self sufficient through teaching. In other words, don't keep bringing food, teach them how to farm the food. Think long term rather than short term. The George W Bush "Me Society" is over. It's time for America to go back to being the kind and helpful America once again.
Unregistered user