First a little history:
The issue at hand in Boston in 1773 was taxation without representation. You know, that unfair and despicable thing that the British did to us, and that we now do to Washington, DC. The British East India Company successfully delivered a shipment of tea to Boston, where it was taken on consignment by the sons of the royal governor. Every other American colony had managed to force the shipments back to England in protest of the hated Tea Act, but the consignees in Boston refused. 17 days after it arrived, an unruly mob of Bostonians, dressed as natives, boarded the ships and tossed all of the cargo into the harbor.
So what exactly are the 500 planned "Tax Day Tea Parties" all about? Surely the British aren't trying to tax us again. According to taxdayteaparty.com:
... We believe the government is far too big already. Yes, this includes the previous administrations excess spending and the idea of bailouts to banks. The plans of the current administration are to make it even bigger. We resent the intrusion and control of government into our lives and liberties. This is a key factor prompting protests.and from the site specific to Boston:
The “stimulus” bill and TARP subsidise some favoured companies, banks, and people at the expense of those that the government does not take as kindly to. Any company whose cost of doing business decreases is given an advantage over its competitors, not on the basis of excellence or ingenuity, but on the basis of favourable government treatment - bought and paid for by its competitors and the American people. Less costly and more ingenious ideas, rather than pushing the American economy forward, will be sidelined as the government artificially lowers the cost and increases the resources given to more expensive and less effective business models, inventions, and ideas.I think these statements could read "we're freaking out about all of this spending. It's too complicated and we don't understand it. Bankers make millions and they caused this whole fucking problem. All of this is unfair." That's my interpretation, because these statements don't actually make a whole lot of sense. Bailing out the banks is an attempt to control our lives and liberty? The Stimulus Act shows favoritism? Of course it does. To the squeakiest wheels. And the government has intervened in markets since there have been markets. Why is it suddenly not OK to do that?
But, motive aside, what are these protesters actually going to do? Nothing as far as I can tell. They're going to assemble near the capital buildings in each state, wave some home made signs, and listen to speeches. There's no real agenda so there can't be a strategy. I think I'm going to head over to Boston Common on Wednesday to see this circle jerk, but I expect to see a lot of nothing going on.
