[Southsider2k12]

Our own Keith Harris is one of the organizers, so I am sure he can give us all of the info on this.

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=44229.42

LA PORTE - A T.E.A. Party is scheduled to be held on county courthouse property in La Porte from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 18.

It is billed as a non-partisan event to protest government waste, excessive taxation and the socialization of private companies using tax dollars.

"Bailout after bailout has not worked and we want more control over our money," said Keith Harris, one of the organizers.

This La Porte County T.E.A. (Taxed Enough Already) Party is being promoted as a United S.T.A.N.D. (Stop Taxing & Amassing National Debt), he said.

"If you are tired of the way your elected officials are handling your money, please come out to this event," Harris said. "Bring your families, your neighbors and your friends. Let those elected officials know that from now on you will be supporting only those candidates who represent your values."

Anyone wanting more information on this event can contact Harris at (219) 878-9780 or by e-mail at kharris1010@yahoo.com.

[lovethiscity]

Our own Keith Harris is one of the organizers, so I am sure he can give us all of the info on this.

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=44229.42

Everything happens to late in Laporte County, we miss the boat every time. The leadership I was tired of are almost all gone. The new leadership on the other hand in just a short time has already got the economy moving a bit.

1. Banks have already started to repay stimulis money

2. Housing sales have gone up for the third month in a row

3. Stock markets have shown healthy improvements month after month

4. Unemployment in Michigan City has even gone down a bit

5. Health care for 47,000,000 Americans an illness away from financial ruin, is finally being addressed.

All this in only 5 months, I say not bad. we needed a TEA party when we had leadership that did not know gasoline was going over $4 a gallon, a group that was sure the economy was fundemently healthy.

I am willing to give the new group at least a year before I will start thinking of protesting.

[digger262]

Everything happens to late in Laporte County, we miss the boat every time. The leadership I was tired of are almost all gone. The new leadership on the other hand in just a short time has already got the economy moving a bit.

1. Banks have already started to repay stimulis money

2. Housing sales have gone up for the third month in a row

3. Stock markets have shown healthy improvements month after month

4. Unemployment in Michigan City has even gone down a bit

5. Health care for 47,000,000 Americans an illness away from financial ruin, is finally being addressed.

All this in only 5 months, I say not bad. we needed a TEA party when we had leadership that did not know gasoline was going over $4 a gallon, a group that was sure the economy was fundemently healthy.

I am willing to give the new group at least a year before I will start thinking of protesting.

Does anyone understand the economy is cyclical? History shows this time after time. Must not have been paying attention in econ and history class.

Does anyone understand the ONLY role of the federal government, democrat, republican, independent, is to provide national security. Nothing else. Must not have been paying attention in government class.

Does anyone really believe we are not paying enough taxes? All the T.E.A. parties are saying is stop taxing to make up for poor spending decisions. ALL federal govt leadership has and is doing this in the last 100 years. There are billions and billions of dollars that can be and should be cut from the federal budget which would require LESS taxes, even with adding programs. But the bottom line is the federal govt is and has been getting into many, many areas they have no right to get into.

You also realize each of the points you made above could have been made during the Bush admin(and I think that was a failed admin).

1. Bush signed the bank stimulus bill.
2. Housing sales soared during the Bush years.
3. Stock markets hit record levels during the Bush years.
4. Unemployment was at record lows from 2001-2008.
5. While I agree this needs to be addressed, just because it's a problem doesn't mean any solution at all is the right one.

What I'm saying is 'snap shots' mean little to nothing. Let's see sustained progress over years. And since you are so wrapped up in 'snap shots', where is gas today compared to early January?

[Dave]

Does anyone understand the ONLY role of the federal government, democrat, republican, independent, is to provide national security. Nothing else. Must not have been paying attention in government class.

No, I don't know that. I don't live in Libertaria, I live in the United States of America.

Though I understand libertarians think the federal government should only provide national defense, and I'm sure in Libertaria that's the case. Personally, I'm glad I live in the USA where the federal government gets involved with stuff like pure food and drug acts, bank regulation (though that did get screwed up a few years ago -- some economists are of the opinion bank regulation was the reason for sustained growth from 1950 to 2000 or so), social security, federal highways, air traffic control, regulation of the public airwaves so I can't just get the radio station with the biggest transmitter, and environmental regulation. Not to mention numerous other things too long to list here.

Though I'm sure libertarians love it in Libertaria.

Oops, there isn't a Libertaria, is there? The closest thing we have to Libertaria on this planet is probably Somalia. I don't think I'm going to go there on my next vacation, though. Anyone interested in finding out more about Libertaria Somalia, look in wikipedia -- under "failed states".

"Taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society" -- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

[lovethiscity]

No, I don't know that. I don't live in Libertaria, I live in the United States of America.

Though I understand libertarians think the federal government should only provide national defense, and I'm sure in Libertaria that's the case. Personally, I'm glad I live in the USA where the federal government gets involved with stuff like pure food and drug acts, bank regulation (though that did get screwed up a few years ago -- some economists are of the opinion bank regulation was the reason for sustained growth from 1950 to 2000 or so), social security, federal highways, air traffic control, regulation of the public airwaves so I can't just get the radio station with the biggest transmitter, and environmental regulation. Not to mention numerous other things too long to list here.

Though I'm sure libertarians love it in Libertaria.

Oops, there isn't a Libertaria, is there? The closest thing we have to Libertaria on this planet is probably Somalia. I don't think I'm going to go there on my next vacation, though. Anyone interested in finding out more about Libertaria Somalia, look in wikipedia -- under "failed states".

"Taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society" -- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

You make me so proud to be an American!

[digger262]

No, I don't know that. I don't live in Libertaria, I live in the United States of America.

Though I understand libertarians think the federal government should only provide national defense, and I'm sure in Libertaria that's the case. Personally, I'm glad I live in the USA where the federal government gets involved with stuff like pure food and drug acts, bank regulation (though that did get screwed up a few years ago -- some economists are of the opinion bank regulation was the reason for sustained growth from 1950 to 2000 or so), social security, federal highways, air traffic control, regulation of the public airwaves so I can't just get the radio station with the biggest transmitter, and environmental regulation. Not to mention numerous other things too long to list here.

Though I'm sure libertarians love it in Libertaria.

Oops, there isn't a Libertaria, is there? The closest thing we have to Libertaria on this planet is probably Somalia. I don't think I'm going to go there on my next vacation, though. Anyone interested in finding out more about Libertaria Somalia, look in wikipedia -- under "failed states".

"Taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society" -- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

I guess you are accusing me of being a libertarian? As far as I think we need less govt rather than more, then I'm guilty as charged. But I don't like to pigeonhole myself. I vote along the lines of my beliefs not a party. That means in every election I've voted for all different parties. But if you believe govt has to continue to grow for a society to prosper help me understand this: when govt controls everything and there is no longer room for growth, then what?

You want a failed state? Name me any country that has tried socialism and is successful?

"Taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society" Wow, I agree completely with OWHjr. What I disagree with is the concept we must ALWAYS add taxes. What I also disagree with is our country operating without a clear and enforced budget. Why do citizens, businesses, cities, counties, and states have to operate within a budget but our federal govt does not?

Let me use analogy. I think we can all agree for kids to grow up as physically, mentally and socially healthy, they need to have fun growing up. But what happens to those kids who all they have is fun, paying no regard for responsibility, discipline or safety? Just as a country needs taxes to be, in Holmes words, civilized, that doesn't me we need to tax without regard to anything else or tax beyond what has been budgeted.

It reminds me of an argument I heard once saying 'rich' people should always be taxed more than they already are. While a progressive tax is up for debate, and I think actually has some merit to a degree, it's all relative. For example, if I told you taxes were going to be raised on a person making $30,000/year and lowered for a person making $1million/year you would say that's not right. But what if I told you the $30K guy wasn't currently paying any taxes and the $1 mil guy was paying 98% in taxes? While I understand this is an extreme, you never see it presented this way. You always see it presented the first way. A blanket statement of saying since taxes are needed for a civilized country doesn't give a free checkbook to tax as much as you want.

Sorry for the rambling, but what I'm trying to say I believe these T.E.A. parties are saying(and I realize others use them to say other things) is simple and I think most all people agree. Let's set a budget for the country and then lets live within that budget. If new programs are deemed necessary or need more funding, fine. But let's not keep adding those taxes on top of current ones. Let's get rid of programs and their costs that aren't working or have run their course.

[Southsider2k12]

Get rid of a government program? Ha! That'll be the day. Besides we haven't seen anything yet. Wait until we get health care and Cap and Trade rammed through. I predict the bill for those will double our current debt levels. We haven't seen anything yet.

[Southsider2k12]

No, I don't know that. I don't live in Libertaria, I live in the United States of America.

Though I understand libertarians think the federal government should only provide national defense, and I'm sure in Libertaria that's the case. Personally, I'm glad I live in the USA where the federal government gets involved with stuff like pure food and drug acts, bank regulation (though that did get screwed up a few years ago -- some economists are of the opinion bank regulation was the reason for sustained growth from 1950 to 2000 or so), social security, federal highways, air traffic control, regulation of the public airwaves so I can't just get the radio station with the biggest transmitter, and environmental regulation. Not to mention numerous other things too long to list here.

Though I'm sure libertarians love it in Libertaria.

Oops, there isn't a Libertaria, is there? The closest thing we have to Libertaria on this planet is probably Somalia. I don't think I'm going to go there on my next vacation, though. Anyone interested in finding out more about Libertaria Somalia, look in wikipedia -- under "failed states".

"Taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society" -- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

If we are going to exagerate and throw out outrageous comparisions, could I compare the US with the overspending in a contracting economy like the Soviet Union in the 80's?

[mcstumper]

If we are going to exagerate and throw out outrageous comparisions, could I compare the US with the overspending in a contracting economy like the Soviet Union in the 80's?

Zing!

[Dave]

If we are going to exagerate and throw out outrageous comparisions, could I compare the US with the overspending in a contracting economy like the Soviet Union in the 80's?

Does this mean you're in agreement with the "only thing the feds should do is national defense" sentiment set forth above? I thought that was on the outrageous side myself.

Not to mention exaggeration and outrageousness is my shtick.

Compare the US with the USSR of the 1980's or 1920's Germany if you think it's relevant. Then I'd appreciate an anaylsis of what would happen to the economy if the federal government would eliminate every department except the Department of Defense -- or for that matter, just sat back and did nothing at all to try to stimulate the economy except cut taxes. How'd that work out?

Long rebuttal to Digger's last post will be forthcoming later.

[Michelle]

Does anyone understand the ONLY role of the federal government, democrat, republican, independent, is to provide national security. Nothing else. Must not have been paying attention in government class.

In Dave's defense, I took this the same way as he did--that digger thinks that the extent of federal government was established to be and should be limited to only national defense. That's how it reads to me. In that case, Dave's rebuttal regarding food/drug safety, regulation, etc., seems like a fair point. I'm not going to speak on the tone, of course, but the argument doesn't seem out of line.

[edgeywood]

Our own Keith Harris is one of the organizers, so I am sure he can give us all of the info on this.

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=44229.42

...getting back to the TEA Party...If you are tired of the way your elected officials are handling your money, stand up and SAY something specific. Blaming "the government" or "elected officials" does nothing to educate voters about the real problems. I recognize that taxes are necessary to provide for services such as sanitation, utilities, and yes, even the salaries of public officials.

The tax that raises my blood pressure is the Corruption Tax, the tax we all pay for nepotism and cronyism. Examples includes Michigan City Sanitary District Managers who failed to report sewer overflows while planning to extend the system into unincorporated areas, a Planning Department that approves plans that violate their own ordinances, and a County Assessor that used county funds for "pop money".

Complaining about the monolithic entity of "the government" is not helpful. It does nothing to raise awareness of the real problems.

(Note, this is not directed at Keith Harris who routinely calls attention to issues in LaPorte County)

[Southsider2k12]

I don't know what other people are putting into this, but I agree with what Rick Santilli was going for when he made his now famous statements on CBNC.

We are at a crossroads of economic history right now in this country. The last time we were at this point was in the Great Depression. Our response was to set up an economic house of cards that we are still not paying for today, eighty years later. We instituted hugely expensive social programs that we set up as underfunded ponzi schemes that worked well as long as our population expanded fairly rapidly to support those who were moving into the programs. Now that population growth has stabilized at a much smaller percentage (natural growth is pretty much zero, it is immigration that is adding people to this country.)the programs are getting top heavy. Look at the deficit projections for social security and medicare/cade. We are looking at tens of trillions of dollar of future costs from those alone. So in response we are looking at adding tens of trillions of more in obligations through things like Cap and Trade and Universal Health Care. People don't realize that a smaller and smaller portion of our population is paying for these programs. These are also the people who employ most of our population. When the inevitable tax increases come to pay for these programs, the system isn't going to be able to sustain both jobs and taxes. There is a huge problem right now in this country, even if we don't want to acknowledge it.

[IndyTransplant]

...getting back to the TEA Party...If you are tired of the way your elected officials are handling your money, stand up and SAY something specific. Blaming "the government" or "elected officials" does nothing to educate voters about the real problems. I recognize that taxes are necessary to provide for services such as sanitation, utilities, and yes, even the salaries of public officials.

The tax that raises my blood pressure is the Corruption Tax, the tax we all pay for nepotism and cronyism. Examples includes Michigan City Sanitary District Managers who failed to report sewer overflows while planning to extend the system into unincorporated areas, a Planning Department that approves plans that violate their own ordinances, and a County Assessor that used county funds for "pop money".

Complaining about the monolithic entity of "the government" is not helpful. It does nothing to raise awareness of the real problems.


(Note, this is not directed at Keith Harris who routinely calls attention to issues in LaPorte County)

Well said.....and Amen

[kharris]

Join our T.E.A. Party
Our elected officials of both parties are spending money that we don't have. The federal deficit this year will be $1.8 trillion, and the only way to get anywhere near a balanced budget is to raise taxes and/or cut spending. History has shown us that the choice is normally to raise taxes. Are you fed up with a Congress that votes in a $500 billion tax bill without reading it? And they are spending trillions of borrowed dollars that will need to be repaid by our grandchildren.

We're gathering a non-partisan group at the Court House in La Porte to protest our ever rising tax burden. Please join this effort on Saturday, July 18, from 11 a.m to 2 p.m. There will be scheduled speakers and you as a participant will also have a chance to state your beliefs.

Remember this is non-partisan (Democrats, Republicans and Independents) and it's of utmost importance that we have an orderly and respectful protest.

Leigh Coburn

Michigan City

[Southsider2k12]

I will be there, speech in hand!

[The_Mikester]

It's not our economy, we're just borrowing it from our children! Have fun kids!

[kharris]

I'll be talking about the the T.E.A. Party tomorrow (Monday July 13th) on WEFM 95.9 on their Community Showcase program. Program runs 8:15am to 8:30am. If you able ... tune in.

[Southsider2k12]

Join our T.E.A. Party
Our elected officials of both parties are spending money that we don't have. The federal deficit this year will be $1.8 trillion, and the only way to get anywhere near a balanced budget is to raise taxes and/or cut spending. History has shown us that the choice is normally to raise taxes. Are you fed up with a Congress that votes in a $500 billion tax bill without reading it? And they are spending trillions of borrowed dollars that will need to be repaid by our grandchildren.

We're gathering a non-partisan group at the Court House in La Porte to protest our ever rising tax burden. Please join this effort on Saturday, July 18, from 11 a.m to 2 p.m. There will be scheduled speakers and you as a participant will also have a chance to state your beliefs.

Remember this is non-partisan (Democrats, Republicans and Independents) and it's of utmost importance that we have an orderly and respectful protest.

Leigh Coburn

Michigan City

Remember this is tomorrow now! Hope to see some people there!

[kharris]

Remember this is tomorrow now! Hope to see some people there!

I think we had a great turnout today for the T.E.A. Party over in LaPorte. Southsider was there with his speech in hand. I put the count for the day at about 150 souls who came out to voice their disapproval of government spending. I'll see about posting some pics when they are sent to me.