Time For a Tea Party

In 1773 angry colonists dressed as Indians captured a British vessel in Boston harbor and dumped its contents of tea overboard. The Americans were protesting a tea tax imposed by a British Parliament in which they had no representation. Eighteen months later the first shots of the American Revolution were fired not far from the sight of the Boston Tea Party. Thanks, in many ways, to the now famous rant of CNBC reporter Rick Santelli ad hoc tea parties protesting the policies of the Obama Administration and the Congress have sprung up all over the country. As the new administration and Congress appear ready to pass and sign a $3.6 trillion budget which virtually assures massive debt for the country and higher taxes in some form for everyone a rising tide of anger and frustration is sweeping the country.

On April 15, the day when most Americans are reminded that the price of liberty and civilization is not cheap, "Tea Parties" are planned all across the country. In recent years most mass protests have been promoted by liberal groups for a variety of causes. The upcoming tea parties, however, appear to have the support of more conservative groups and individuals who believe the policies coming out of Washington are a threat to individual liberty and are a danger to the long term well being of the country.

It will be interesting to see what kind of messages come out of these gatherings, how large the crowds are and what kind of media coverage they receive. The main stream media loved to provide substantial coverage of any protest against former President Bush (ten people camped outside of his ranch in Texas would receive major press attention). It will also be interesting to compare how the attendees at the tea parties conduct themselves compared to violent leftwing demonstrations such as those witnessed at the current G-20 meeting in London. (I have a hard time believing that the tea party participants will be throwing rocks at government buildings).

In 1773 American colonists protested what they viewed as the bad policies of a remote government. Britain failed to heed the protests and the rest as they say is history. It will interesting to see how the administration and Congress react to what may be many massive outpourings of protest. See you at a Tea Party.