Tea Party, Taxes and Terror

The fundamental issue of the original Boston Tea Party in American history, was taxation by the British Parliament on tea consumed in the colonies. Colonists objected to the tax because they believed it violated their right to be taxed only by their elected officials. At that time, colonists were not allowed to vote for members of Parliament. Their battle cry was: "No taxation without representation." Our constitution gives the Federal Government the right to levy taxes in order to "provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity." The current tea partiers have the right to vote for the president and members of the congress, unless they have blown up a federal building or committed some other heinous crime. The issue is not whether they are obliged to pay taxes or not.

In addition to the right to vote, contemporary tea partiers have the right to refuse government benefits, decline Social Security Benefits, refuse to congregate in parks that are funded and maintained by the government. They can make huge donations to Black Water. Decline to travel on highways. The list goes on and on. It should be noted that current tax rates are the lowest they have been in 50 years. And current American tax rates are the lowest among industrialized countries. Nobody likes to pay taxes, but the freedom and quality of life that we as Americans have, has a price. No democracy without responsibility.

The fringe element of the tea party is another matter. An armed march on the anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing  by a militant group, is bordering on sedition. Anyone that doesn't view the actions of McVeigh  as "right there" with the bombing of the twin towers has got a screw loose. Janet Napolitano may want to institute the previous administration's ingenious color code warning system to protect the American public from this threat of domestic terrorism.

It's bedtime for Bonzo and the insanity in American Politics.