Tea Party: Will you be drinking or dunking?
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/04/15/art.teaparty1.gi.jpg caption="Activists nationwide are holding gatherings on Tax Day, April 15."]WASHINGTON (CNN) – Finger sandwiches won't be served, but there will be a lot of frustration brewing about the current tax system at "Tea Parties" being held Wednesday across the nation.
Activists are holding these events on tax day to voice their opposition to the current tax system and the federal government's spending decisions, such as bailing out the banks and the auto industry.
So, what do you think? Have President Obama and Congress taken the right steps to help the ailing economy? Have Republicans been smart to oppose his fiscal policies? Does the tax code need an overhaul?
Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below.
Here are some CNN stories about the nationwide "Tax Day Tea Party":
Activists gear up for national 'Tax Day Tea Party'
GOP uses tax day to raise money
GOP encourages supporters to send virtual tea bags to top Dems
Listen: CNN Radio analyzes the politics of Tax Day
Free Speech! Freedom of assembly! The ACLU must be so proud!
To the bitter hating Democrats on this blog: Did you feel the same way when Obama tried to ochestrate a faux "grass-roots" campaign in support of his bloated budget? They sent 13 MILLION emails to Obama campaign donors, and got less than 300,000 signatures on their so-called petition.
Haha these idiots don't realize they are protesting against a tax policy instituted under Bush. When are the Republicans going to stop blowing smoke up each other's a$$es and start facing the facts?
Republicans are such hypocrites. It's too bad their moronic followers don't channel their energy into something constructive that will actually improve life in America. But, whatever. Have fun, and I hope you get a bunch of tickets for littering.
Liberals........its a FREE country, the last time I looked. People can voice their opinion about anything they want. This administration is spending out of control and we don't like it. Any one who opposes a taxpaying citizen of this country opposing BO's policies should be ashamed of themselves. This country was founded on having the freedom to raise our voices. For you idiots that don't have all the information, these tea parties consist of both republican and democrats......people fed up with the federal government. Its not all about taxes either. And now the DHS is labeling our young people who have served this country in the military right-wing extremists?? These young people put their lives on the line every day for us and then BO's administration has the audacity to put out such report. He needs to know who the real terrorists are. Obama better revise the tax laws because it seems some of the people he is appointing to his cabinet don't understand it and only pay their taxes when they get caught. They need a law they can understand. The rest of us understand it just fine and pay our taxes!!!
Angry McCain and Palin voters
TJ:
We do know we are protesting Bush's policies as well as the current administration....this is not bi-partisan, it is protest our government at large, regardless of political affiliation! Wake up people and get over your hatred before it's too late for all of us average citizens!
Carl: What is it you would like to see this government become? Nothing but some troops for security? Do you want the states to handle everything? What would you do to Social Security? Medicare? No Federal Government at all? Please tell us.....noone seems to be able to exspress exactly what they want! Give us a solution to this economic crisis besides what the government is doing now.
All of you screaming about how taxes went down for 95% of Americans apparently failed math and also disregard the findings of the Congressional Business Office who debunked that garbage. You do realize that things like cap-and-trade will increase your energy costs by 30% because they are going to increase the taxes astronomically on the energy companies? They may not get you directly with federal taxes, but they will get you through the backdoor with things like this. Bottom line is less money for every working American, not just the top 5%.
And I cracked up when someone said history repeats its self, I agree – Obama is trying to do what FDR did, except he apparently doesnt realize it did not work when FDR did it. It created a deeper depression with greater reliance on government hand outs and it took a world war to get us out of it. Want to discuss history repeating itself, go read a history book or two. This approach is doomed, its a vast waste of money that they are taking from you and I.
Obama's spending is working? Exacly how much of the stimulus has reached the economy? According to the government, its something like 3%. Gee, ya think maybe the market corrections would have occured without spending the other 97% of those billions and billions of dollars?
These tea parties have nothing to do with what party you belong to, it just happens that the liberals could care less if we end up with 75% taxation and a socialist state. Ask the Russians how that worked out for them.
Great high property taxes, state, cig. and soon to come cell phone taxes.
The people who say Republicans got us into this mess over the last 8 years are the same people who thought Congress was still contolled by republicans until this last election. In fact, if the republicans gain control of congress in 2010, these same people will STILL think congress is controlled by democrats because President Teleprompter will still be in office. Chris Dodd and Barney Frank had more to do with the economic collapse than the Bush administration did.
OK, my wife is a nurse, I work 50 hours a week climbing communication towers, retired from the army after 22 years, and we are both sky diving instructers. We work HARD for our money so we can afford a house, my son's hockey, and his music interest. We volunteer for blood drives and donate to church. WHY shold I have to pay more in taxes (percentage) than somebody that is not making good carreer decisions. We didn't buy a house until we could afford it. All the folks that don't want bail out money for the big companies are the same ones that want bailouts for themselves for making bad decisions. They were not fooled. They just got whatever loan they could without thinking it through. I just want to say this to the high school kids: have fun and plan ahead, you have college, military, maritime service, clergy, vocational programs.... DO NOT let people say you do not have the resources or ability to succeed.
I don't know why anyone likes the idea of taxes. It's your money, don't you want to keep more of it?
"Tax freedom day" was April 13, so every dollar you've made thus far goes to taxes for the year.
Both Dems and Reps tax the hell out of the population. Sales, income, capital gains, death... tax tax tax. There's an additional 5 cent tax on bottled water here in Chicago. Just crazy.
Neville April 15th, 2009 12:58 pm ET
"Freedom is'nt FREE. We use the roads, the policemen,firemen, teachers etc.. Pay your taxes and stop wining!"
We don't mind paying our taxes... it's paying yours that gets old!
Ross Perot – WHERE ARE YOU????
I wonder how many of these protestors, who are claiming taxation without representation, are receiveing medical or medicade benefits, social security benefits, have children in public school, drive on America's bridges and roads, or use a mirad of other tax sponsored services provided by our government.
Unless they live in caves, drive on unpaved roads, use a horse and buggy for transportation, home school their kids, or call in the local country doctor, they are being represented by the taxes they are paying.
These GOP tea parties don't make much sense. Since we're paying our taxes for 2008, it really means they're protesting the policies of the Bush administration, and the Obama administration has not raised any taxes. Personally, I think taxes for the wealthy are much too low. If we're going to be paying corporate executives hundreds of millions, they should be paying at least 50% taxes on amounts over say a million instead of placing so much tax burden on middle income people who are barely making a living.
Totally childish. These people believe in a free lunch. Pay your fair share and grow up.
For the genuine libertarians out there: when your protests are co-opted by Newt Gingrich, Dick Armey and Fox News, and your protests are filled with people asking about Obama's birth certificate, don't be surprised that the general public considers your movement to be fringe and anti-administration.
I guess the pro Keith Olbermann / Chris Mathews anti-American crowd here would have sided with the Brits back in 1773, meaning we would still be ruled by England today.
Now we know why the republicans don't support education reform. Where would they get their protesters from then. Intelligent, well-informed Americans can see through this scam. All the republicans are doing is inciting people with incorrect information. When they can offer something more than tax cuts for the rich or tea parties for the ignorant or uninformed, maybe I will listen. Their goal is to keep the middle and lower class down so they can keep us subservient to them. Sad indeed.
The GOP is dying a slow, painful, self-inflicted death.
But at least they're still good for a few laughs.
Carl April 15th, 2009 12:53 pm ET
Some facts about today, since 90% of you are lying or misunderstanding….
I'm all ears...
1) For those that don't understand, $12.8 trillion has been spent since the start of our crisis.
12.8 trillion is a projected total over the next decade. It is not money already spent. We've currently spent roughly $3 trillion to fix a $9 trillion Republican-deregulated mess.
2) These tea parties are a peaceful protest for those that used to be called Democrats and Republicans to come together and voice their frustration with unreasonable big government spending and abuse of power from both parties. We are coming together to stop this infighting of liberal vs conservative.
These protests are peaceful yes, and you have every right to assemble. No one's taking that away. I have yet to hear ANY conservatice articulate what abuses they've suffered under any democratic president that don't have to do with limiting the rights of non-conservatives. And this as partisan event as you can have – it started with Rick Santelli's grandstanding in February and continued with Michelle Malkin's ultra-right blog. Stop trying to sell this as something else.
3) The President made one of his biggest blunders today by not only calling this a tax protest, but angering all of those against him by stating he created the biggest tax cut in history.
He did create the biggest tax cut in history in that it cust taxes for the largest volume of people. I didn't read a single news item about Obama saying the words 'tax protest' but I certainly heard it loudly from Sean Hannity.
4) I am upset that Fox News has jumped on this.
I can completely understand why, but Fox has never been out to help anyone but their own profit margins. They would sell their grandma if it meant another advertising dollar. Now, with a permanent minority of ~25% who will never be moved to support anything Obama does, Fox has a captive audience.
5) I am upset that CNN and MSNBC and many liberal blogs take this as an attack on this administration.
I really want to understand your position better, but
6) I am upset the government thinks states rights is a non issue, when 35 states are currently voting or passed bills that uphold the 10th amendment.
Texas Gov. Perry mentioned the 10th Amendment yesterday because his legislature is trying to override his denial of the bailout money. He knew that if he mentioned any part of the bill of rights against the bailout that the right wing world would prick up their ears immediately and start partially echoing him.
7) I am upset at many here who simply don't get, and never will get it.
From this end of the perspective, so are we.
The teabaggers are the Republiklans that have long enjoyed the silver spoon that Bush put in their mouth at the expense of the middle class. Now that they have to pay their FAIR SHARE they are griping. We should throw them in the water instead of tea bags.
After the past eight years in American politics, it is impossible to reconcile current promises by conservatives for small government with the historical record of President Bush's administration. Most experts on the left and right can find one issue upon which to agree: The federal government expanded significantly after 2001 when Bush was in the White House.
The growth did not just take place with national security spending but with domestic programs as well. Even as the administration fought to reduce the cost of certain programs by preventing cost-of-living increases in benefits, in many other areas of policy - such as Medicare prescription drug benefits, federal education standards and agricultural subsidies - the federal government expanded by leaps and bounds. And then there are the costs of Afghanistan and Iraq.
I stand behind the president's effort to revive the economy.
THANKS FOR NOT POSTING MY COMMENTS CNN. WAY TO BE AN UNBIASED NEWS ORGANIZATION.