Citizen commentary from the Providence Tea Party by Kathy Santos
I went to the Taxpayers Tea Party at the RI State House on April 15. The East Providence Republican Party joined the East Providence Taxpayer’s Association, RISC (Rhode Island Statewide Coalition), OCG (Operation Clean Government), and other good government groups.
The weather was nice which led to a big success. There were thousands of people who made the time to come. There were families, old, young, different ethnicity’s, and their message was clear. They were tired of the taxes in RI, fed up with the legislature, and our delegation in Washington DC. There were chants of “NO NEW TAXES” and the like. There were signs of every description: Don’t Tax Me Bro, I Pay My Mortgage – Please Pay Yours, No More Taxes, No More Fees, Stop Deficit Spending Now, and so many more clever lines, I could fill the pages of this paper.
I went to the Taxpayers Tea Party at the RI State House on April 15. The East Providence Republican Party joined the East Providence Taxpayer’s Association, RISC (Rhode Island Statewide Coalition), OCG (Operation Clean Government), and other good government groups.
The weather was nice which led to a big success. There were thousands of people who made the time to come. There were families, old, young, different ethnicity’s, and their message was clear. They were tired of the taxes in RI, fed up with the legislature, and our delegation in Washington DC. There were chants of “NO NEW TAXES” and the like. There were signs of every description: Don’t Tax Me Bro, I Pay My Mortgage – Please Pay Yours, No More Taxes, No More Fees, Stop Deficit Spending Now, and so many more clever lines, I could fill the pages of this paper.
Hopefully this groundswell will continue, and people will get involved. Talking to assorted folks, one thing was clear; there is fear for the near future, as well as the over the next decade. Parents were worried about what our state and nation are doing to make this state and nation a livable place for their children.
The leaders of this event, Colleen Conley and the rest of the good government groups are encouraged. They collected contact information, and hope to have more events soon.
The speakers were on point. We have to fight and make sure our elected officials are paying attention to us. We also need to get people to run for office, and not settle for what is being dished out statewide and nationally. Perhaps the best speaker was Bob Healey of the Cool Moose Party and former candidate for Lt. Governor. He said he was so impressed with this large group that showed up at the Taxpayers Tea Party, and hoped the momentum wouldn’t die out.
Rhode Island, and our nation, is in tough shape. Hopefully this is the beginning of something good. Having motivated, responsible people take the time to go to Smith Hill, with signs waving, expressing their frustrations, will be a wake up call to our elected officials, and give them the understanding that we are mad as hell and we aren’t going to take it anymore.
Kathy Santos is a longtime member of the East Providence Republican Party, a member of the East Providence Taxpayers Association and a lifelong resident of Riverside.
Reprinted from EastBayRI.com
