Ever since the Secret Service showed up at my home during the 2008 Presidential Election cycle, I have been active in seeking ways to restore the vision of Individual Liberty our Founders blessed us with. To understand my frustration, you can read the story of my experience here.
The next defining moment in my anti-political awakening came with the bailouts of failing companies under George W. Bush. I will never forget watching with shock as a Republican President, whose Party Platform ostensibly promotes limited government, lower taxes, and less interference into the private sector, order the infusion of unimaginable quantities of taxpayer money into the private sector. When the Tea Party Movement came along I was primed.
My husband and I attended our first Tea Party Protest in Ft. Worth in February, 2009. We left feeling good that there were so many others who agreed with us about government staying out of the private sector, but something was nagging at me.
During the three and a half hour ride home we pinpointed two problems:
First, waving signs would not solve the problem; once momentum was gathered, legislative and leadership changes would have to follow.
Second, the problem was much deeper than taxes and spending.
The taxes and spending were simply a symptom of a deadly disease. Our leaders had long ago abandoned the belief that Individuals are inherently free and any exercise of power over their lives should be limited to protecting the same freedom in others. The collective now had precedence in the concern of the government, and the destruction of individual liberty for the benefit of that collective was rampant.
When I joined with a handful of people in a neighboring town to hold our own Tea Party on April 15th, I determined that I would use the platform to speak about the Rule of Law which protects us from the whims of Man. I recognized that in some way, shape or form, nearly the entire citizenry is beholden to the Federal Government. I saw that Jefferson's prediction had come true, and we had forgotten to fight for our liberties, instead paying for the very shackles that enslaved us.
2,000 people showed up in our small East Texas town. Video of the entire event is available here, but you can see my personal rant below:
On July Fourth we will be holding "The New American Independence Tea Party" in Lufkin, Texas. Information is available here.
