Tea Parties

April 15th was not only tax day but over 700 "tea parties" were held throughout the country in protest of over taxation. I attended the tea party in Chicago which is actually rare for me since I usually will prioritize work over such things. It was entertaining though I must say. Probably 1000 - 1500 people there. The signs were great. Every thing from "Don't tread on me" to my favorite this young kid had, a large reproduction portrait of George Washington standing by a desk with a large bubble next to him with WTF ! in it. The speakers were good. Mostly emphasising the need for individuality, liberty and freedom.
This rings so true but the dissapointing thing is so many have forgetten what those words really mean. In a recent poll it was announced that 53% of Americans are ok with big government for now. "For now"? This is where the uninformed and just plain ignorant come in to play. When have you ever seen government reduced? It is like a tempory tax, there is no such thing. How many times does it have to be demonstrated that government spending does not stimulate the economy? The level of frustration on this topic is immense. The whole point is about rugged individualism. We can generate our own stimulis by working hard. Another great sign at the tea party read "Don't spread my wealth around spread my work ethic". I just can't for the life of me understand why anyone would want to be under the yoke of the government for their existance. Have these people never experienced the joy of self accomplishment? Do they really not know what it is like to work hard at a difficult task and complete it successfully? Have they been so coddled that this experience has escaped them? Look at the banks that were "forced" to take TARP money who didn't need or want it. They are trying to give it back but the government will no take it. Other banks figured the system out quickly. They did all the paper work for TARP funds but when it came time to get it they said no thanks. As long as they went though the hoops to apply they were left alone. That is buerocracy at work for you. The government should not be running business, period. They can't balance their own books!
People need to be aware of this slow, deliberate action to undermine capitlism by the government. The more they control the more they dictate your way of living. The government machine has a voracious appetite, the more it eats the more it grows, it's an endless upward cycle. I have never heard of one government institution that has eliminated a benefits package for their work force. They complain they are all in record deficits but they don't work very hard at job and benefit reduction for their work force like a normal business would. They lay off 1,000 workers on occasion, which is like a flea on an elephant, only to rehire them as soon as no one is paying attention. Which in this day in age is about a week. They make the big announcement about government layoffs for the press to get sympathy and out rage but you never hear a big announcement about the rehiring of this same dead weight they cut loose. I know as for me when they loose these "workers" my life is not affected one bit. So lets try an experiment, Keep cutting government jobs until it actually affects 60% of the population. I'm pretty sure we'll have a rather small government when it hits that point. I implore you to look at yourself and ask "what can't I do for myself?" If you give it hard thought I believe you will realize, as any true American would, it is very little.