Hundreds Show Up For Local 'Tea Party'
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
With more than 700 people on the Kosciusko County courthouse lawn, speakers encouraged everyone to help send a message to Washington that enough "taxing and spending" is enough. The people agreed, holding up signs reading "Keep your hands off my piggy bank," "Stop stealing from my grandkids" and "Give me liberty, not debt."
The Kosciusko rally was Kody Linville's second TEA Party rally. From Kendallville, he already attended one in Albion, and is going to the Fort Wayne rally Saturday.[[In-content Ad]]"I'm tired of the government taking everything," Linville said prior to the rally. "Government doesn't listen to the people anymore. They need to start listening to us."
Sue Stevens, Pierceton, said she was there "because I'm fed up with the way the country is going." She said the government wasn't handling taxing, spending or the budget right.
"You read your bills, you read your legal agreements. You don't just (hand out money)," she said.
Stevens held up a sign that read "Say no to Fascism and Socialism."
"It seems like that is the direction we are heading with some of these decisions," she said.
Retired Staff Sgt. Paul Snell said ever since the military existed, the military has had to take an oath to uphold and protect the U.S. Constitution.
"Now, they (the government) are taking the Constitution and running it through the shredder," Snell said. "Congress is suppose to work for us, we don't work for them."
Ryne Schaden, 23, Warsaw, said, "I don't feel like giving my money away to useless spending. I don't want to be considered a terrorist; I do own a gun and I aim to keep it."
He said he was surprised by the large turn out. "I didn't think there'd be this many people on the same page," he said.
As the rally began, event co-organizer Monica Boyer said they were gathered there for one purpose, to send Washington one message.
"We are tired of them spending our money," Boyer said.
It doesn't matter what political party is in charge, or what administration sits in the White House. She said, "We want to see Washington stop the needless spending."
Boyer said common sense needs to return to Washington. Is it too much to ask Congress to read legislation before it is passed? she asked. The politicians need to do as the people say, or they all can be replaced in 2012, she said.
Al McClelland said he felt that the rally didn't need and shouldn't have had to happen. "I thought in 1776, we discussed this business," McClelland said.
Jim Heierman spoke about when America's founding fathers came together and asked God for help and guidance. He said the country today needs to ask God to be America's leader again.
With politicians absent from the organized event, citizens like Sue Bendorf spoke. She said she wasn't deeply involved in politics, but she loves the United States.
Not only was the crowd there to send their leaders a strong message about taxation, she said, but the crowd also was there for their love of the country. She said America needs to do a lot of soul searching.
"If we continue to remove God, who is the author of freedom, from America, then it will cease to exist as we know it," Bendorf said.
Adrian Messer Jr., community coordinator with the Indiana Fair Tax, said, "I am scared to death about what's going to happen to my grandkids and their kids."
He said the country has politicians who manipulate the tax code for their own purposes and special interests. "What do we do? We have to go back to common sense," he said.
America has the second highest tax rate in the world, he said. He spoke about the Fair Tax Bill and how it would help the country get back on its feet. More information about the bill can be found online at www.infairtax.org
"If your politicians are at least not entertaining it, they're being disingenuous," Messer said.
With the Fair Tax Bill, Messer said, "You get to keep all of your check. Nothing is taken out of it."
Gordon Velle, another citizen, said there are many things people can do to keep the movement going. Prayer is a starting point, but people also need to become active.
"We may not realize it, but we are in the majority," he said. "The problem is we've become passive for far too long."
Other things people can do, Velle said, is find out how the American system works and make it work for the people; keep meeting with each other; don't rely on mass media to be informed; share information on who are good candidates; help educate others; contact public officials on issues; and take an active role in a political party.
"I'm tired of not having choices" in elections, Velle said.
"One more thing: We must never give up. Twenty years from now, I don't want my grandchild to say, 'Grandpa, why didn't you do something? Why didn't you do something when you had the right to speak? Why didn't you do something when you had the right to vote? Why didn't you do something when you had the right to worship?' I don't want that to ever come up," Velle said.
Event co-organizer Jeremiah Heierman said he was told by someone that he was anti-tax. But, he said, that's not true - he likes paying taxes for roads and schools. However, he doesn't like pay taxes for bridges to nowhere.
"If Washington doesn't have a backbone, we can send all they need from Kosciusko County," Heierman said.
Later he said he was told he was a radical because he wants people to be fiscally responsible. "So am I hanging out with a bunch of radicals?" he asked the crowd, which shouted with a chorus of "Yeahs!"
"I'm proud to be a radical American," he said.
Jon Fussle, event co-organizer, spoke of the founding fathers and how public service is a dying form of patriotism where the servant sacrifices personal gain for the good of the nation. He spoke of the Boston Tea Party in 1773 and how it brought about the American Revolution.
"Today we gather on the lawn of our county courthouse to ignite a new fuse, a fuse that will lead directly to Washington. The ensuing explosion will sound across this nation to tell them that we are through with the wasteful ways of Washington. It will sound across this nation as hundreds of thousands of people from coast to coast gather together as we have today. It will sound across this nation to tell them that it is time for a new generation of Americans to step up and take this country back," Fussle said. "Look around you. The people you see around you are the first sign of a tidal wave headed toward Washington. The people you see around you today are here to join you in sending a signal to Washington; change your ways or find a new job. Get out of my government."
Fussle then read the Declaration of Independence that the founding fathers sent to King George in London.
"Washington would like this to be the end, but it is only the beginning. You have shown up today to show your support for a change in our government, an ideological and fundamental change in the way they look at us taxpayers. We are not servants," Fussle said, "we are owners. We are not here for the pleasure of the government, to fund the pet projects of crooked politicians. We are the boss of those politicians. And I propose that we the people fire those politicians who have made a mockery of our tax dollars."
For more information about the TEA Party or related information, e-mail [email protected]
With more than 700 people on the Kosciusko County courthouse lawn, speakers encouraged everyone to help send a message to Washington that enough "taxing and spending" is enough. The people agreed, holding up signs reading "Keep your hands off my piggy bank," "Stop stealing from my grandkids" and "Give me liberty, not debt."
The Kosciusko rally was Kody Linville's second TEA Party rally. From Kendallville, he already attended one in Albion, and is going to the Fort Wayne rally Saturday.[[In-content Ad]]"I'm tired of the government taking everything," Linville said prior to the rally. "Government doesn't listen to the people anymore. They need to start listening to us."
Sue Stevens, Pierceton, said she was there "because I'm fed up with the way the country is going." She said the government wasn't handling taxing, spending or the budget right.
"You read your bills, you read your legal agreements. You don't just (hand out money)," she said.
Stevens held up a sign that read "Say no to Fascism and Socialism."
"It seems like that is the direction we are heading with some of these decisions," she said.
Retired Staff Sgt. Paul Snell said ever since the military existed, the military has had to take an oath to uphold and protect the U.S. Constitution.
"Now, they (the government) are taking the Constitution and running it through the shredder," Snell said. "Congress is suppose to work for us, we don't work for them."
Ryne Schaden, 23, Warsaw, said, "I don't feel like giving my money away to useless spending. I don't want to be considered a terrorist; I do own a gun and I aim to keep it."
He said he was surprised by the large turn out. "I didn't think there'd be this many people on the same page," he said.
As the rally began, event co-organizer Monica Boyer said they were gathered there for one purpose, to send Washington one message.
"We are tired of them spending our money," Boyer said.
It doesn't matter what political party is in charge, or what administration sits in the White House. She said, "We want to see Washington stop the needless spending."
Boyer said common sense needs to return to Washington. Is it too much to ask Congress to read legislation before it is passed? she asked. The politicians need to do as the people say, or they all can be replaced in 2012, she said.
Al McClelland said he felt that the rally didn't need and shouldn't have had to happen. "I thought in 1776, we discussed this business," McClelland said.
Jim Heierman spoke about when America's founding fathers came together and asked God for help and guidance. He said the country today needs to ask God to be America's leader again.
With politicians absent from the organized event, citizens like Sue Bendorf spoke. She said she wasn't deeply involved in politics, but she loves the United States.
Not only was the crowd there to send their leaders a strong message about taxation, she said, but the crowd also was there for their love of the country. She said America needs to do a lot of soul searching.
"If we continue to remove God, who is the author of freedom, from America, then it will cease to exist as we know it," Bendorf said.
Adrian Messer Jr., community coordinator with the Indiana Fair Tax, said, "I am scared to death about what's going to happen to my grandkids and their kids."
He said the country has politicians who manipulate the tax code for their own purposes and special interests. "What do we do? We have to go back to common sense," he said.
America has the second highest tax rate in the world, he said. He spoke about the Fair Tax Bill and how it would help the country get back on its feet. More information about the bill can be found online at www.infairtax.org
"If your politicians are at least not entertaining it, they're being disingenuous," Messer said.
With the Fair Tax Bill, Messer said, "You get to keep all of your check. Nothing is taken out of it."
Gordon Velle, another citizen, said there are many things people can do to keep the movement going. Prayer is a starting point, but people also need to become active.
"We may not realize it, but we are in the majority," he said. "The problem is we've become passive for far too long."
Other things people can do, Velle said, is find out how the American system works and make it work for the people; keep meeting with each other; don't rely on mass media to be informed; share information on who are good candidates; help educate others; contact public officials on issues; and take an active role in a political party.
"I'm tired of not having choices" in elections, Velle said.
"One more thing: We must never give up. Twenty years from now, I don't want my grandchild to say, 'Grandpa, why didn't you do something? Why didn't you do something when you had the right to speak? Why didn't you do something when you had the right to vote? Why didn't you do something when you had the right to worship?' I don't want that to ever come up," Velle said.
Event co-organizer Jeremiah Heierman said he was told by someone that he was anti-tax. But, he said, that's not true - he likes paying taxes for roads and schools. However, he doesn't like pay taxes for bridges to nowhere.
"If Washington doesn't have a backbone, we can send all they need from Kosciusko County," Heierman said.
Later he said he was told he was a radical because he wants people to be fiscally responsible. "So am I hanging out with a bunch of radicals?" he asked the crowd, which shouted with a chorus of "Yeahs!"
"I'm proud to be a radical American," he said.
Jon Fussle, event co-organizer, spoke of the founding fathers and how public service is a dying form of patriotism where the servant sacrifices personal gain for the good of the nation. He spoke of the Boston Tea Party in 1773 and how it brought about the American Revolution.
"Today we gather on the lawn of our county courthouse to ignite a new fuse, a fuse that will lead directly to Washington. The ensuing explosion will sound across this nation to tell them that we are through with the wasteful ways of Washington. It will sound across this nation as hundreds of thousands of people from coast to coast gather together as we have today. It will sound across this nation to tell them that it is time for a new generation of Americans to step up and take this country back," Fussle said. "Look around you. The people you see around you are the first sign of a tidal wave headed toward Washington. The people you see around you today are here to join you in sending a signal to Washington; change your ways or find a new job. Get out of my government."
Fussle then read the Declaration of Independence that the founding fathers sent to King George in London.
"Washington would like this to be the end, but it is only the beginning. You have shown up today to show your support for a change in our government, an ideological and fundamental change in the way they look at us taxpayers. We are not servants," Fussle said, "we are owners. We are not here for the pleasure of the government, to fund the pet projects of crooked politicians. We are the boss of those politicians. And I propose that we the people fire those politicians who have made a mockery of our tax dollars."
For more information about the TEA Party or related information, e-mail [email protected]
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