Apparently these folks are "angry as heck, and they ain't gon' take it no darn mo'". But what exactly are they angry about? Have taxes "gone up" under President Obama? Unless you're amongst the richest 2% of Americans (or small bid'nesses), no. Will the tens of thousands out marching today fall in that tax bracket (who, BTW, don't see their "increase" for another year)? Prolly not.
To wit.
The Making Work Pay Tax Credit (which took effect April 1st) will mean a tax reduction of $400 to $800 for many Americans. Individuals earning less that $75,000 per year will get $400, and married couples earning less than $150,000 will pay $800 less.So, again, I ask, what exactly is all the fuss about?
Taxpayers buying a new vehicle this year can deduct the state and local sales taxes paid on the purchase.
Unemployment Benefits (up to $2,400) will be tax free in 2009.
If you buy a house in 2009, you can get a credit of up to $8,000 with no payback requirement.
There are enhanced credits for 2009 and 2010 for the earned income tax credit, additional child tax credit, and a new higher education benefit, the American Opportunity Credit.
The credit for health coverage will increase from 65% to 80% of qualified health insurance premiums, and more Americans will be eligible for the credit. The Health Coverage Tax Credit will be offered to newly enrolled participants for payments they made in 2009 while enrolling in the HCTC program, and the HCTC will soon be available to family members for an extended period of time. Beginning in January 2010 members can continues receiving the credit for up to 24 months if there has been an enrollment in Medicare, a divorce, or a death.
If it's about bailouts, how come these idiots didn't get all riled up last Fall when President Bush doled out the first round of payments? Do they think AIG got their first check on January 20th?
If it's all about spending and the deficit, where were they the past 8 years when Bush lead us into a pointless war, and took the country from a record surplus in 2000 to a record $4 Trillion debt?
If it's all about "grassroots activism", how come the big money organizers of this are a collection of well-known GOP stans and lobbyists? How come Fox News is promoting this sh*t like it's GOP Freaknik? Fair & Balanced my a$$.[1]
Call me silly, but this ain't nothin' more than an anti-Obama backlash. These folks have sour grapes, and can think of no more productive way to lash out than to take to the streets in feigned outrage. And that's why despite however many thousands of folks assemble in cities nationwide today, their display of "bipartisan unity" will look like nothing more than a bunch of salty a$$ed haters.
Personally, I have no problem with outrage. There's nothing wrong with being salty either, I do it here all the time. But just be real about what you're angry about, you TeaBaggers! Otherwise, your message, whatever the hell it is, just gets drowned in all the HaterAde.
TeaBaggers = DoucheBags.
With all this "activism", I'm conflicted. These folks are so adamant about "reclaiming their country" and "returning to real American principles", that I wonder if they fail to see the irony in their statements. The original "Boston Tea Party" which they are so intent on uplifting, wasn't attended by a lot of folks that look like me. Given the rapid browning of the country, it seems a wee bit odd, if not a little disconnected from reality, to harken back to such imagery.[2]
Where the hell is my march?!?
Oh, yeah, I forgot. My march was on November 4th.
Good luck, TeaBaggers.
Question: Have you even heard anything about today's "Tea Parties"? Do you think the protesters have a point, or is their outrage misplaced? Do these TeaBaggers realize the unintentional comedy of the term they're calling themselves by?
[1] The fact that FoxNews has more or less hijacked this whole thing and turned it into a spectacle is oddly reminiscent of the Jena 6 story which went from Innanets activism to Michael Baisden. Or maybe it's just me.
[2] For the record, I do not find these marches "racist". I simply invoke the whole "Tea Party" imagery to note how out-of-touch these protesters seem with America circa 2009, to me. That is all, don't make it anything more.
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SMH at these folks. These people are just getting worked up over nothing. Go to work, hit the bar, or something. Change the damn name "who the hell wants to named the teabaggers?
I wonder what percent of the people attending these "tea parties" in fact got tax REFUNDS this year. I'd love to go to one just to ask around.
They have no point and no clue.
The only thing I've heard about that here in ATL is that there may be lots of traffic...ummm, what's new?
I wish I understood where you were coming from sometimes, AB. Hearkening back to the founding fathers now has racist overtones?
Please.
"taking america back"
-- from whom? the scary marxist gay- marryin' black man in the white house? the evil mexicans?
-- to where? the stone age? the fifties?
please tell me these people are the fringe, not the norm, in america. are the birchers back in fashion?
During McCain's concession speech, there were people in the crowd booing Obama. Not everyone wanted to concede as gracefully/graciously as McCain himself appeared to on that night.
It's silly to expect that these McCain supporters who poured their hearts and souls into something that they believed in would just disappear after losing the election.
The elation that some of us felt on Election Night was matched by sadness and fear from some on the other side. These people need to do something with their frustration.
I don't agree with their stance, but I support their right to voice their opinions.
I'd be curious to find out how much of a minority the "Teabaggers" really are.
As for the name, I seriously wonder how come someone (anyone?) didn't mention this to them before the name gained traction.
It's supposed to mimic the 1773 Tea Party but they want to "party like it's 1789" Huh?
The Boston Tea Party was protesting England's taxing the colonies without any representation in parliament.
The Right Wing has had pretty solid representation in U.S. government for a while now.
I think they'd get a lot more done taking their own representatives to task.
I don't envy the soul-searching the GOP has got in store for itself.
I can respect these folks' right to voice their opinion. And here is mine: Go home and STFU! Somebody tell me what the hell they're protesting against because I'm confused. Barack Obama's place of birth hasn't a damn thing to do with taxation. This is definitely misplaced outrage.. Just be honest and say "We're having a rally because we're mad the dark one won". For real.
Of course there will be a tea party here in DC, about a block from the White House. If anyone should be mimicking the Boston Tea Party, it should be DC residents!
This farce just proves that the anti-intellectual/anti-education movement within the GOP has backfired on them.
Most people learn about teabagging in college or on the "internets" via "the google".
Now, you have a bunch of idiots (most of whom will be getting tax breaks and tax refunds because of the Obama plan) yelling in the streets for scr$tums to be put in their mouths.
It would be more funny, if it weren't so sad.
These were intended to be about the people voice over spending and not the taxes themselves. The started during the Bush Administration but are getting a lot more attention now during Obama's.
There isn't "supposed" to be separate sides to these Tea Parties. Republicans, Democrats, and everyone else come make your voice heard and keep the political rhetoric on the news where it belongs. If Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry want to use this as a platform for 2012 they may as well stay home.
Call me silly, but this ain't nothin' more than an anti-Obama backlash. You damn skippy it is! However, relatively speaking, this is harmless and I'll take this version of "Taking America Back" any day of the week.
Working people have time to stage protests? If they do then they have too much time on their hands.
There will always be idiots.
There will always be someone to lead, even if it's to a ditch.
I agree 100%. Cool blog. Gonna have to put this one in my blogroll.
I had been out of the loop till some time last week when my mother called me and asked had I heard about the "Teabaggers."
I just knew I hadn't heard her right.
I said "excuse me" as my mind went DIRECTLY to the song I first heard when I was in Nashville by Trap Squad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCfVwXsu2Bc
**Hopefully those that click it have used headphones.**
My ultimate question is whether or not that "love it or leave it" theory applies to these people? I just get the impression that these could have been the exact same group of individuals who would have told some liberals during the Bush administration to "love it or leave it" when it came to criticizing the president.
It's our God-given right as Americans to criticize our elected officials. I think the problem comes in when you deal with the jingoistic rigmarole that has been exhibited by this particular group of people.
And this is how I personally feel about taxes:
I don't like them. In fact I hate them, but I realize that this country is like a membership organization; this is the same concept as churches, frats and sororities or any other organization that one is a part of that pays dues. The more money paid in dues, the more perks the members can afford. I think conservatives are so against higher taxes is because it reeks of all Americans being on the same page, all doing their part and that's too close to Socialism.
HAHA! I kid.
But all jokes aside, taxes help pay for infrastructures and ultimately help in the maintenance of our well-being. Moreover, last I checked, taxes rarely have broken the bank for individuals and their income. It just sucks because the big question is "Where did it all go?" and therein lies the rub.
**teabag dat hoe**
Like I said it amazing to me that how the GOP can get people to vote and protest against there own economic interest. Most of these folks only prob make somewhere between 30K-50K a year and they are willing to go out and protest against a tax increase on millionaires. Where was this movement when Bush was spending like a drunken pastor in a strip club.
Yet more troubling is that these folks are going around talking about teabagging. I'm sure Larry Craig will definitely want to attend.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teabagging
"But all jokes aside, taxes help pay for infrastructures and ultimately help in the maintenance of our well-being."Well I do believe that the Local Governments should be in charge of most infastructure projects but the current Congress is claiming that this spending is for infastructure and in fact less than 20% of it is.
"Moreover, last I checked, taxes rarely have broken the bank for individuals and their income."I do have problems with a lot of inport taxes but I don't really have a problem with the amount of general taxes being taken. The taxes themselves may not be breaking the bank but the per capita debt for this country is somewhere around $22,000. Conservitives are predicting that to triple and the Liberals are predicting that to stay the same. It's hard to get actual figures but I would imagine that the actual number is probably right in the middle.
@ Travion
Ditto. If they are so against taxes, they should return those checks to the IRS.
@ Spool
You misread. I simply noted the Tea Party imagery to note how out of touch these folks are with America Circa 2009. Not racist. Never used that word.
@ Zen
I wonder how much of that sentiment was fueled by a year full of "terrorist/UnAmerican/not like us" attacks from both the Dems (Hillary) and GOP. Again, not necessarily racist, and definitely NOT the GOP only.
@ Ezra
"I don't envy the soul-searching the GOP has got in store for itself."Truer words have seldom been uttered.
@ D n S
In all fairness, the "he was born in Kenya" undertone is likely a very unvocal minority of those marching. I think this is more garden-variety "I'm just mad my guy didn't win". I think you'd see these demonstrations had Clinton or (God forbid) Edwards won.
You are right though, DC Residents (whose right to taxation w/o representation the GOP is cockblocking) need to have their own Tea Party over the Potomac. Waiting on that one.
@ James
I have indeed heard that these were organized last year. The problem is, that line is severely blurred with Fox News essentially sponsoring today's events. Sadly, Perry, Stanford, and Newt are all using this as a launchpad for 2012. That also undermines the bipartisan angle.
The original organizers of this thing made a deal with the Devil.
@ Jio
Thanks!
@ Uppity
The Teabag that Hoe was completely uncalled for. Funny, but uncalled for.
@ Wave
These folks have indeed been hypnotized into protesting against their own interests. Why they can't see the irony that the folks on Fox News convincing them to protest are multimillionaires who would indeed lose money under Obama's tax plan is beyond me.
@ James
Respectably, the Stimulus Plan is pretty spread around in terms of how the money is spent. A smaller percentage (about 20% as you note) was spent on infrastructure than originally planned to placate Republicans who needed more tax cuts for street cred. An excellent breakdown of where the money goes is here.
http://www.propublica.org/special/the-stimulus-plan-a-detailed-list-of-spending
Lots of the money went into "maintaining" (ie: health benefits, bailing out state budget, and unemploment insurance) as opposed to stimulating. This was meant to prevent even more people from falling by the wayside. I don't in ANY way consider this wasteful. I'm sure lots of folks marching and complaining about "rampant spending" are benefitting from jobs that were saved with this money, food stamps, extended umemployment benefits, etc.). It's not fair to pick at this whole thing as being "wasteful". Untimely is perhaps a fair complaint, but wasteful? Not really.
I highly enjoyed Rachel Maddow's 'teabagging" puns on her show last night. One guest even had props!
Most of these people protestin' got refunds. I saw quite a few stay at home moms being interviewed. Lots of college students and the elderly.
You know who isn't out there? My good friend who cleared 250k last year. The lady who owns my apartment complex. My OB/GYN.
I can't wait to see the coverage of this madness tonight.
Did this fool just say Obama was born in Kenya? LMAO.
Cool -- for more on the teabaggery, check out http://hellodollyllama.blogspot.com/
Come visit!
Where are all these folks when we desparately need them for volunteer work?
They go out into the street to protest with money used to purchase tea, posters, markers, sparklers, etc., and then what, go home and watch American Idol???
I think I'd start by asking the "Teabaggers" if they actually read the stimulus plan. Then I'd ask them if they were getting a refund. Follow up question would be, "Where the F*ck were you when Bush was spending trillions in Iraq--a war based on imaginary WMD's?" Oh yeah, and after all of the money we spent to fight terror where the f*ck is Osama bin Laden?? Did they sleep through the Bush administration?
Folks are drinking the Fox News Kool Aid...
Did anyone else hear the young guy say who was talking about "Can I print some money?" almost slip and say Obama's criminal record hasn't been released??? (2:51 mark)
I get freedom of speech, but to really take time off work for this?? I think this is just a weee bit silly. Can we really say the Boston Tea Party worked? Not really because we ended up taxing ourselves anyway. And before someone says the whole taxation w/o representation thing, DC is still not represented correct? I could be wrong. I loved AM History in HS and I am getting up there, so someone correct me If I'm wrong.
Ann:
Well, considering the amount of charity Republicans give away, they're probably doing as much as anybody.
This really has become the "trash Republicans" thread of the week. I feel so loved!
I do have to say that it's no surprise Rachel Maddow hears about a tea party and the first thing she things about is some nuts in her mouth...
@Spool
If you think Rachel Maddow is thinking about nuts in her mouth you'd may want to ask her lesbian partner about that.
I doubt nuts are on Rachel's menu...unless they're strap on. And then by all means...
And when Tea Baggers went with that premise they should have known it would be a virtual comedy fest. Come on, even you'd laugh at that, Spool.
@Spool what I would like to see instead of phony grassroots movement funded by Republican financiers and Fox News is a honest debate on the role of Government.I for one find it disingenuous and hypocritical that the GOP didn't object to all the Bush spending.
My basic beliefs are that government should be small as possible and all individuals and businesses should pay there fair share of taxes. Also it is childlike to call anyone who doesn't believe those ideas socialist with the point smearing them as a believers in Soviet-styled Marxism. Its not fairer to call what you a Fascist or Nazi for the Laissez-faire ideas that you believe in.
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