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Students, Athenians protest taxes at the Arch
CAROLYN CRIST
Issue date: 4/15/09 Section: News
History tends to repeat itself.
In 1773, it was in Boston. Today, it's in Athens.
Instead of protesting a tea tax imposed by the British, the College Republicans are meeting at the Arch today to protest taxes on tax day.
"More than 500 of these are planned across the nation - Americans coming together to protest economic policies and government bailouts," said Greg Wilson, chairman of the College Republicans.
"And all of these are grassroots events, they're not headed by a large organization or political party."
When several College Republicans from the University attended the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington D.C. in February, many also took part in their first protests, Wilson said.
"It was my first protest, actually it was the first protest for all of us," he said Tuesday.
"I've never really been an activist like that, and it made sense. It's important for us to have a voice, so we decided to organize a similar one on campus."
The group is holding the protest mainly to "get the voice out," said Matt Ralston, public relations chair for College Republicans.
When: 4:30 p.m. today
Where: The Arch
"We want to send a message that a lot of people are tired of taxes and bailouts, so we're calling ourselves the 'silent majority no more,'" Ralston said.
"We believe most Americans do not support needless taxes for companies that are failing and are going to fail."
Wilson said the group is getting a good response while promoting the event.
"People are really interested, even people who aren't very political," he said.
"It's time to stand up and show that we're tired of this."
This tea party is particularly geared toward college students and Athens residents.
"These taxes are creating a burden on our generation - that college students now will pay for. Our future is being stolen from us," Wilson said.
"At the same time, we're attracting soccer moms. This is for people local to Athens to voice their concerns, not just students."
In 1773, it was in Boston. Today, it's in Athens.
Instead of protesting a tea tax imposed by the British, the College Republicans are meeting at the Arch today to protest taxes on tax day.
"More than 500 of these are planned across the nation - Americans coming together to protest economic policies and government bailouts," said Greg Wilson, chairman of the College Republicans.
"And all of these are grassroots events, they're not headed by a large organization or political party."
When several College Republicans from the University attended the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington D.C. in February, many also took part in their first protests, Wilson said.
"It was my first protest, actually it was the first protest for all of us," he said Tuesday.
"I've never really been an activist like that, and it made sense. It's important for us to have a voice, so we decided to organize a similar one on campus."
The group is holding the protest mainly to "get the voice out," said Matt Ralston, public relations chair for College Republicans.
TEA PARTY
Who: College Republicans, featuring Sen. Bill Cowsert and Rep. Jack KingstonWhen: 4:30 p.m. today
Where: The Arch
"We want to send a message that a lot of people are tired of taxes and bailouts, so we're calling ourselves the 'silent majority no more,'" Ralston said.
"We believe most Americans do not support needless taxes for companies that are failing and are going to fail."
Wilson said the group is getting a good response while promoting the event.
"People are really interested, even people who aren't very political," he said.
"It's time to stand up and show that we're tired of this."
This tea party is particularly geared toward college students and Athens residents.
"These taxes are creating a burden on our generation - that college students now will pay for. Our future is being stolen from us," Wilson said.
"At the same time, we're attracting soccer moms. This is for people local to Athens to voice their concerns, not just students."
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 17
Joe
posted 4/15/09 @ 8:16 AM EST
Funny. I, along with EVERYONE I know, actually received more money in my paycheck as of March 31 because of the tax cuts offered in the stimulus package. (Continued…)
JOEfan
posted 4/15/09 @ 8:44 AM EST
Good point, Joe. Taxes are lower now than for the previous eight years of the Bush administration. Funny Fox news waited until now to do the Repblicans' bidding. (Continued…)
Hello Bailout
posted 4/15/09 @ 9:18 AM EST
So I totally understand the view of the previous two commenters but I wonder how long those tax cuts will be sustainable. Maybe for you, these policies have been better because you have a little extra change in your pocket but the two of you and I will be paying for the bailout until we die. (Continued…)
Nick
posted 4/15/09 @ 9:38 AM EST
Tired of bailouts! Me too, and I'm a socialist.
bubba
posted 4/15/09 @ 10:28 AM EST
Ooooooh Joe, you got an extra $5 on your paycheck now. Wow, what a tax "cut". The fact that you think that's a break is pathetic. You got more welfare, not a tax cut. (Continued…)
Ron
posted 4/15/09 @ 10:29 AM EST
Too late.
The $700 billion bank bailout was passed under the previous administration. Bush and his Republican-controlled Congresses also racked up the largest deficit than the all previous administrations combined!
The only thing Obama has done is pass the latest stimulus package, of which more than half the funds went to the tax cuts Joe mentioned. (Continued…)
bubba
posted 4/15/09 @ 10:35 AM EST
Ron you're an idiot. Obama's stimulus package quadruples the deficit total over the next couple years alone. Me, you and our kids will be paying for this socialist, keynesian, imaginary mathematical nonsense forever. (Continued…)
Message boards make me lose faith in humanity
posted 4/15/09 @ 11:03 AM EST
I was going to write a long rebuttal of everything this "Tea Party" is supposedly protesting, but I don't have the time or the energy right now.
Suffice to say that calling this a "Tea Party" is both unimaginative and a reinvention of history. (Continued…)
Ron Burgundy
posted 4/15/09 @ 1:17 PM EST
As usual the libs miss the point. They are not protesting paying taxes or even tax increases (since there haven't been any, yet). What they are protesting is how their tax $ are being spent. (Continued…)
Eliz21
posted 4/15/09 @ 2:26 PM EST
As many Americans rush to file their 1040 forms on national tax day, cheering crowds across the country are heaving huge coolers with "Tea" painted on the side into bodies of water, harkening back to the pre-Revolutionary War protests in Boston, Massachusetts. (Continued…)
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