I am sitting here putting the finishing touches on my government charity work, AKA doing my income tax. Amazing what i will pay, and people like me pay less than 10% of all income taxes.

I'm sure some of you think griping about taxes is just wrong. Yes, I understand the need for taxes, but I think we could do a lot better job of taxing and of spending. If you paid more than the legal minimum on purpose because you think it was your duty, feel free to brag.

But in a curious segue, it made me think there would be some tea parties, likely on April 15th. Some i did a little research, and came up with these:

http://havinganaustinteaparty.com

http://www.texasteaparties.com/press/

I don't know if I will attend one or not. Health problems could prevent me from going - I can't walk far or stand long - but I would like to see for myself what is the tone and demeanor of the partiers. Are they really the racist homophobe gun-toting militia types claimed by the far left? Are they all just peace-loving capitalists claimed by the far right? Will I be in danger, and if so, from who? I would like to see for myself without the filter of national news media.

JAAO, I think you were the one I debated with about the prevalence of death threats. left vs. right, and civility - if you are available, I could make the trip down to Austin and we could see for ourselves. If interested, PM me. Anyone else who goes to any of these, i would like a report on what you found, right here. If anyone, left or right, wants to do the Burleson one, and would like some company, PM me.

However, we will all have to be critical of what we see.

http://crashtheteaparty.org

Hoping to hear some first-hand reports.

Last year the really "over the top" signs ("Obama is the Anti-Christ" type garbage) were brought in by the Larouche supporters, who are not really involved in the TPM.

The Media swarmed to get video of them.

Well, I assume nobody went to any of them. I did look at some of the coverage on two networks today, paying special attention to the placards and signs. I do see one that mentioned race: It said, "The only race that matters is the one on November 2". Most of the signs referred to spending, taxes, and the constitution.

(04-15-2010 10:13 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  Well, I assume nobody went to any of them. I did look at some of the coverage on two networks today, paying special attention to the placards and signs. I do see one that mentioned race: It said, "The only race that matters is the one on November 2". Most of the signs referred to spending, taxes, and the constitution.

Atlanta had 5 different events scattered all over town. Each little group from each county wanted to have their own instead of "one big event'

Here's a report from the Austin paper:
Central Texas Tea Parties

Sounds as if the weather kept folks away. Mentions "infiltrators" in Georgetown of all places.