The Other Side of the Edge…..
The Tea Party….No Changes in 240 years.
By Joe Facinoli

They shouted “No Taxation, Without Representation”, and then old Sam Adams, and a hundred other brave patriots, dumped about 45 tons of King George’s finest tea, into the waters of Boston Harbor. 

Why?

Because the “Tea Partiers” of 1773, who fittingly called themselves “The Sons of Liberty”, stood on principle, what was right, and what would be best for their country, their wannabe nation, and all of the people in it.

They took what they thought to be the best, and perhaps only, course of action,….no matter the cost, even to themselves.

And just what has changed, in the ensuing 240 years, about those individuals who choose to attach themselves, to that much revered, and time honored name?

In principle, the same one which was considered and employed when hoisting those chests of tea overboard, and in effect, into the face of Parliament, and the King,…..nothing, …not a damn thing.

They still stand for the same principles, of country and conscience, which were carved out and written down for eternity by our Founders, the forebears of their honest and transparent beliefs.

They recognize our Constitution first, and that while not always perfect, it still remains as the most proper way in which to proceed, and to grow as a nation, and as free people.

They still reject, and detest, the petty and partisan politics which has overtaken and paralyzed our progress, along with any and all governmental processes, which might facilitate that frustration.

They still favor less regulation, and far fewer intrusions into our daily lives, by the government which, we the people, have set up, paid for ourselves, and have asked only to protect and safeguard our freedoms, and not to limit nor minimize them.

All honorable, and honest, wishes and goals for a prosperous and free society.

No more, and no less. And no agenda, other than the continuance of the principles set forth in the document now being treated so disrespectfully, and cavalierly.

And they are absolutely NOT an obstacle, nor a hindrance, nor a roadblock to our progress and prosperity.

They are instead,….the way to it.

And maybe now,….the ONLY way there.

The colonial Tea Party didn’t need to ask permission of the other colonists, nor of the leaders of the other colonies, before doing what they believed to be right.

They acted with fierce determination, in unison and solidarity, in defiance of unfair, restrictive, and economically suffocating policy and regulation (much like today’s Obamacare).

So much so, that it prompted fat King George to bring down upon them, some of his harshest reprisals: closing Boston Harbor, and imposing the Coercive Acts of 1774, or more commonly known as “The Intolerable Acts”.

That was the last straw, for the independence minded Americans.

With these acts, Parliament’s intention was to end local self-government, and increase the rule of the monarch to near complete control,….of all parts of American colonial life.

These oppressive actions, specifically a single act, the “Tea Act”, which although already implemented, and “The Law of the Land” (heard that recently?), was considered to be highly detrimental to the colonists’ way of life, and extremely harmful to their economy.

Much like Obamacare.

Once the “Party at the Harbor” was done, however, Parliament and the King knew for certain who and what the core of resistance would be for them, and who to target accordingly.

Sound familiar??

Flash forward, those 240 years, to 2013. See any difference, as to how a group like this is viewed, by those “in power” ?

Not really.

Except that the ones now trying their best to take them down, or out, or at least lessen their influence on the American public, is not some King, nor some random dictator somewhere, ….but none other than our own Federal Government !!!

They act as if the modern Tea Party is to blame for anything and everything they can’t accomplish, and with what’s wrong with the country, from their way of viewing it.

When, in reality, by any honest measure, the absolute reverse is true.

Notwithstanding all the accusations and finger pointing, regarding the Tea Partiers of this era, they (and it seems only they) are the ones who still want to, and try to, “stand on their principle”, and do the right things.

This government, of today, treats this Tea Party no differently than the British King did Sam’s boys, in 1773, on that cold December night in Boston, and then later in 1774.

They hold them up, and try to make examples of them, for all their “loyalists” to see, and hopefully ridicule.

Didn’t work then, NOT working now.

In fact, it backfired on the King, big time, and is ready to immolate the current President, and his entire political party as well.

In 2013, much like with the plight of the American patriots, at the hands of the King in colonial times, the federal government is now seeking, with all its power and twisted abilities, to take control and dictate to all modern day Americans.

And has now clandestinely removed, in so many ways and areas, virtually all “representation” from the people, and is attempting to block all use of democratic means, to address, and re-dress, our grievances.

It, our federal government, has left us little choice, but to act in extraordinary ways and manners, to take back our own government, and with it our country, and our treasured way of life.

“Our” Tea Party, is not ruthless, certainly not lawless, nor is it an out of control, out of touch, racist mob, as it is so often portrayed by Liberals, and their lapdog media.

To the contrary, they push consistency and Constitutionality of laws, and a reduction of centralized federal power, and a re-distribution of that power, to the people, and to the individual states, to use in a more proper, fair, and representative way.

It is not obsessively concerned with election, and re-election, nor in campaign contributions, nor with perks and pork barrel projects.

Only in what’s right for America, using the Constitution, and the “common sense” that we are all born with, but which is usually quickly, and selfishly forgotten.

“Holding Hostage” the federal budget, as the Tea Party is being accused (although, btw, one of these has not been passed in the 5 years since Obama came into office, in 2008), and attempting to secure the nation from an oppressive and economically destructive law, is easily akin to the dumping of that precious tea, so many years ago.

The major similarity being, that it is the last and desperate act, and perhaps only remaining option, of a group who refuses to give up, and should never, and who fights the hard and good fight for us, against a cabal of inept pretenders and liars.

Their “breakthrough” victory, in the 2010 Congressional elections, was proof positive of where the American people are, and what they still want.

Far more, even, than the vaunted election of BHO in 2008, and even his re-election, in 2012.

That’s because it is a “grass roots” movement, and it has liberty, righteousness, independence, and personal freedom, all on its side, and is not the work of party and governmental “hatchetmen”, who spend far too much time looking for victories, and not for ways to improve our lives.

Bless this group, The Tea Party of today, and give it the strength and perseverance it needs.

The name hasn’t changed.

The Principles haven’t changed.

Only their adversaries have, ….but in name only.

As Walt Kelly said, through his “Pogo” character, years ago, “We have met the enemy, ….and He is Us.”

If only enough of us could realize this, about our own too often repressive federal government, and our soulless, counter intuitive political party system.

The Tea Party is not the problem, nor even the source of our political problems.

Far from it.

It is The Answer.

Joe Facinoli

(Joe can be reached at: joefacinoli@gmail.com )

Intelligent Response Encouraged !!

© 2013, Joe Facinoli