TEA party in Goodland protests raising taxes
Published on -4/16/2009, 12:35 PM
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By MIKE CORN
On Wednesday morning, Ken Klemm had no clue how many people might show up for the Goodland edition of an anti-tax rally.
It was a TEA party if you will -- Taxed Enough Already -- and modeled after the historic Boston Tea Party.
"Anywhere from me to 100," Klemm said. "I'm guessing we'll have 20 to 50."
A similar TEA party that had been scheduled for Ellis was a no-show, but there had been no advance warning about where the protest might take place. No one, other than people taking advantage of recycling containers, were on hand at the downtown park in Ellis.
The Goodland protest was the only one of its kind in northwest Kansas. Across the state, 35 protests were scheduled. But much like the Ellis event, many didn't list a time or a location. Eighteen listed both categories.
The TEA parties, appropriately enough, were scheduled Wednesday -- the final filing day for income tax returns.
"It's a taxpayer's revolt," Klemm said of the reasons behind the protests. "Citizens are very disappointed."
He joined with the national group sponsoring the protests to cite a recent $500 billion tax bill that recently was approved.
"And they didn't even read it before they passed it," Klemm said of Congress.
In anticipation of the event, Klemm had affixed an American flag to a flatbed trailer he owns for use as a speakers podium. If the wind wasn't blowing too hard, he said, he had hoped to fly the Kansas flag as well.
"We'll have invocation," he said, "cite the Pledge of Allegiance."
Klemm said he planned to give a short talk, turning over the podium to anyone else who might want to say a few words.
The group then walked around the block, passing in front of the Sherman County Courthouse.
He had expected the group might even sing a few songs.
"Then I guess we better get back to work," Klemm said. "We're all working people."
Klemm said he's helping organize the event simply because it's time to do something.
"We feel like something needs to be done," he said. "If not us, then who? If not now, when?"
To the extent that government failed to regulate the financial sector, or regulated it inadequately, government became "the" government. That is, the regulatory machinery was controlled by business and represented the interests of the few. It was not not "our" government representing the best interests of the people. The right is driven by paranoia, and the paranoia serves the interest of the same people who got us into this mess. President Obama is doing what must be done at the moment. The pea tardies are a distraction.
(Posted by: Volatairetoday)
: 4/17/2009
Yes, the federal Govt. giveth, the State Govt. taketh,now for the next magical trick! Race my butt, lame,this is about Govt. out of control take over, commie, and not for the better!
(Posted by: deleted)
Pea tardies plus: 4/17/2009
The pressing issue is not taxes nor debt, but fiscal collapse. I am well aware of the pinch on local, county, and state budgets...but again those relatenot to taxes but to job losses, decreases in consumer spending and loss of personal income, not to mention devastating losses in 401k's etc. and, yes, fear--that FDR talked about. Yes, both political parties bear responsibility for the era of Reganism (the Government is the problem) whereby private corporporations, notably the fiscal sector, were supposed to regulate themselves. No, I don't rely primarily on the mainstream media (though it is superior to FAUX News and talk-radio). To you, I'd recommend reading Atlantic Monthly May -09, "The Quiet Coup" and Harper', Jan. 07, "Republic or Empire." Read also John Kenneth Galbraith's "The Great Crash 1929" --a classic. President Obama's approach is Keynesism, ala John Maynard Keynes. Typically the Republican approach (and sometimes the Democratic) has been a variety called "military" Keynesianism. The Harper's article covers that fairly well. There's more, but you seem able to do some independent research (along with recommending it). As to most of the average people who attended the pea tardies, I'll stick to calling them nincompoops who, like many in this neck of the woods, are galvanized by God, Gays, and Guns (and not a little racism, I'm afraid)--and steady readers of unflagging e-mail crapola. Bottom line: at the moment, this is a crisis, and government spending is in order. I wish we weren't in desperate debt, but Mr. Bush, more than anyone else, must bear responsibility. You might remember that people out of work don't pay higher taxes nor any taxes at all; they can't. The pea tardy protests do not help, and I am encouraged that nationally Americans were not hoodwinked by the right wing.
(Posted by: Voltairetoday)
Voltairetoday: 4/17/2009
You are obviously well satisfied with the half truths our government (both political parties) have been spoon feeding us over the years. You may want to venture out on a limb and do a little independent thinking. The TEA parties were organized and attended by everyday, ordinary folks that live next door to you and me; educated, law abiding citizens of this country. I don't claim to be a financial wizard but one doesn't have to be to figure out that putting our country trillions of dollars further into debt isn't sound economic policy. If anything, as people's faith in our government diminishes, (it has under Bush and continues to under Obama) the more people will hold on to their hard earned money. Not sure where you got your data that 95% of Americans are getting a tax cut. I know 95% of the middle class folks I live around and work with aren't getting a tax break this year and aren't anticipating one next year. Even if federal taxes are cut, state and local taxes are going to be increased to make up the difference; how is that stimulating the economy? Every day you hear in the news about local governments proposing tax increases to avoid cutting services to their community. If all you know about the economy is what you hear and read via the mainstream media, you are getting a blatantly biased picture. Do some homework, do some critical thinking and quit labeling people that don't happen to share your opinion as "right wing nincompoops", what purpose does that serve?
(Posted by: western kansas reader)
Pea tardies: 4/17/2009
Taxes are reduced for 95 pct of Americans this year. With 650,000 jobs lost each month, an unemployment + under-employment rate of 15 pct. (or more); with 70 pct of the economy depending on consumer spending and the fact that consumers are NOT spending, the situtation grows worse IF the government also cuts spending. The only relevant question here is how the stimulus money is spent and whether it creates jobs, and by that restores some private spending by consumers. The majority "tea baggers" are emotionalized nincompoops--fired by ignorance, anger, and more than a little racism. It was all cooked up by right wing think tanks--the same ones who promoted the fiscal deregulation that got us into this mess.
(Posted by: Voltairetoday)
: 4/16/2009
To bad the national tea party didn't have a turn out like the illegal immigrant had supporting their rights in this country, maybe the govt. would have taken notice?
(Posted by: Deleted)
Tea Party: 4/16/2009
Tea Party: 4/16/2009 I applaud the Hays Daily News for covering this event. I attended 2 parties yesterday and even though there was some coverage my the TV news media in Wichita it was tainted. It was implied that this was organized by the Republican party. Not true. I have been involved since the first seed for a resistance was planted and since the request from the non-partisan organization for volunteers to organize these parties. I am a non-party registered voter and I vote but I get informed first. The internet is a great way to get connected with like minded persons and to organize across the country. I'm sure it's just a matter of time before that path will not be available to those of us that resist the government on any level but we will stay strong and we will prevail. Again God bless you Hays Daily and Mr Klemm. You are what America is all about.
(Posted by: Maureen Fike, Hesston, KS)
Tea Party: 4/16/2009
I applaud the Hays Daily News for covering this event. I attended 2 parties yesterday and even though there was some coverage my the TV news media in Wichita it was tainted on channel 12. Roger Cornish tried to imply that this was organized by the Republican party. Not true. I have been involved sense the first seed for a resistance was planted and since the request from the non-partisan organization for volunteers to organize these parties. I am a non-party registered voter and I vote but I get informed first. The internet is a great way to get connected with like minded persons and to organize across the country. I'm sure it's just a matter of time before that path will not be available to those of us that resist the government on any level but we will stay strong and we will prevail. Again God bless you Hays Daily and Mr Klemm. You are what America is all about.
(Posted by: Maureen Fike)
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