Tea Partys Continue...

The Tea Party protests have been mocked by liberal elites.

The political class hates the movement. According to a Rasmussen poll, 81% of the political class had an unfavorable view of the protests. Only 13% had a "somewhat favorable" view while NONE had a "very favorable view". 60% had a "very unfavorable" view. The political class includes Republican politicians, staffers, lobbyists, consultants, government benificiaries, etc.

Significantly, "one in four adults... personally know someone who attended a tea party protest"! In the world of political influence, this is a solid foundation for a movement.

Something is happening. While far too many have been busy working and raising families, there was an assumption that politicians on 'our' side (either one) were doing the right things while the 'other guys' were the problem. It seems more and more Americans are coming to a simple realization - maybe most politicians are the problem.

Similar protests started the last time we had an out of touch aristocracy with high taxes.

In March of 1765, British Parliament passed the "Stamp Act" to help pay for the costs of the Seven Years War - or the French and Indian War as it was called in the colonies. This act placed taxes on documents and other items. Some examples:

For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be ingrossed, written or printed, any declaration, plea, replication, rejoinder, demurrer, or other pleading, or any copy thereof, in any court of law within the British colonies and plantations in America, a stamp duty of three pence...

For every pack of such cards, the sum of one shilling.

And for every pair of such dice, the sum of ten shillings...

And for and upon every paper, commonly called a pamphlet, and upon every news paper, containing publick news, intelligence, or occurrences, which shall be printed, dispersed, and made publick (a variety of taxes were listed based on the size of the paper)...

For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on which shall be ingrossed, written, or printed, any licence, appointment, or admission of any counsellor, solicitor, attorney, advocate, or proctor, to practice in any court, or of any notary within the said colonies and plantations, a stamp duty of ten pounds...

To place these in some perspective, here are some food costs for Philadelphia in 1765:

A bushel of corn was 3.01 shillings - today it is $3.38.

A bushel of wheat was 4.70 shillings - today it is $5.50.

Of course, prices vary widely, but these should provide some idea of the taxation. And, in colonial times, a Pound was made up of 20 shillings and each shilling was 12 pence.

So a three pence tax would be, roughly, $0.10.

The fee to pay for a Bar Admission document, would be $23.00.

The 'vice taxes' would be cards - $1.15, a pair of dice - $11.50.

Taxes today are significantly higher and we pay them for virtually everything we buy or even do! Yet, this was too much for the colonists, who were probably made of sterner stuff and a bit more principled.

Patrick Henry led a protest movement in the Virginia House of Burgesses. A mere 39 delegates passed five resolutions which included the following:

Resolved, that the taxation of the people by themselves, or by persons chosen by themselves to represent them, who can only know what taxes the people are able to bear, or the easiest method of raising them, and must themselves be affected by every tax laid on the people, is the only security against a burdensome taxation, and the distinguishing characteristic of British freedom, without which the ancient constitution cannot exist.

The colony of Massachusetts convened the Stamp Act Congress in 1765. These citizens, without official government authority, met in New York City with delegates of nine colonies.

The King relented and repealed the Stamp Act. However, the Townshend Acts were implemented in 1767 which enacted a tax on unprinted paper. The government also 'socialized' the tea industry by declaring that the nearly bankrupt East India Tea Company would be the only authorized seller of tea in the colonies. This, of course, led to the initial tea party, held in Boston Harbor.

The government increased its pressure upon the colonists and especially the minority who continued to protest and resist authoritarian actions. These culminated in the Boston Massacre in 1770. In 1772 the Committee of Correspondence was formed among the colonies which led to the formation of the Continental Congress. As tensions grew, the British government moved to seize guns from the dangerous colonists which led to a firefight at Lexington and Concord - the 'shot heard around the world'. The, rest as they say, is history.

Small groups with seemingly trivial concerns, often called 'naysayers', can change the world.

Here are some links to some Tea Party videos:

July 3rd, Easton
http://wfmz.com/view/?id=1223655

July 4th, Independence Mall, State Representative Curt Schroder (155th)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJ0yElAU8bU

July 4th, Bushy Run Battlefield Park (A battle during the French & Indian War!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFiCX_J1jk4