No "Bagging" This Tea Party

Though the weather was not pleasant, more precisely, it sucked, my husband, daughters and I made the trek to downtown Richmond for our area's Tea Party. Rain hit the windshield as we took turns guessing how few other gluttons for punishment would make their way to the scene. A good omen struck when we lucked into a free parking spot not a block from our destination. And so, amongst the droplets we criss-crossed our way to Kanawah Plaza where much to our amazement, quite a respectable showing of folks had already staked their spot in front of the covered stage. For those not familiar with Richmond, the venue was a city square down in the center of Richmond's financial district just a few blocks from the James River. The city space is said to accommodate 3,000 people. This tells me there had to be close to 3,500 folks there total since the spill over was significant.

The crowd was well-mannered, even jovial but the reason for this gathering was anything but a celebration. People attending were clear, they have had it with the incompetents in Washington, regardless of the party. "The borrowing of funds we don't have for spending that we do not need" was a recurring sentiment. The idea that most attending would be receiving a "tax rebate" from the government was taken as a joke since the money used to "pay" us COMES from US in the first place! All the while, the Government makes interest on OUR money before they so kindly give a pittance back to us down the road minus the interest, of course. The tax rebate is viewed as more of an insult than a sincere help to the average person attending yesterday's event.

There were women, men, black, white, old, young, poor, and rich that seemed to all be on the same page, regardless of whom they had voted or not voted for last November. To be honest, the crowd did have a NASCAR feel but there were just enough surprising sites that established the fact this group was diverse. A punk rocker here, an old hippie there, some British folks holding a sign saying "We left England for this?" along side a guy dressed as Uncle Sam with a pig hat. One of my favorite individuals was a very tall black man with a substantial afro sporting a baseball cap and black leather jacket both proclaiming "Palin for President 2012". He was quite a presence just by his appearance alone but his inner enthusiasm during the speeches matched his exterior garb yell for yell.

All sorts of groups were handing out literature, each trying to build on the organic spirit the tea party has come to generate. The most interesting flyer I collected was entitled The Worlds Smallest Political Quiz put out by Advocates for Self-Government, ie; Libertarian Party. The sheet had 5 personal issue questions and 5 economic issue questions. 20 points went for "Agreeing", 10 for "Maybe or Don't Know" and 0 for "Disagree". Once your points are totaled you plot your personal issue score on the side of a grid with the economic number plotted on the adjoining side. Where the two points meet tell you where you lie on the political spectrum, either liberal, conservative, libertarian, statist or centrist. The flyer defines each of these philosophies and why they support what they support. The quiz does say it is not an absolute but aides in helping a person find tendencies in their own political leanings. It pegged me, that's for sure.

I have to say I think the Libertarians may have had a good day recruitment-wise. Seems the young folks in the crowd were eating up their message. Young people wanting total control over all aspects of their lives as individuals seems like a much more attractive message than what the left offers. I've never understood why so many college-aged fall for Liberal thought which essentially steps in as a very fun, very permissive parent but all the while stripping them of central decision making in all economic matters. Where's the power over self if your own purse strings are governed by an authority figure, ie; GOVERNMENT. Think management of the Post Office, Amtrak, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac. Arrested development or what? However, I digress.

One of the greatest parts of the event were the thousands of signs to be seen. My kids and I spent the afternoon making ours. My oldest daughter held one saying "I limit my texting, Government should limit their taxing." We thought we were creative but were put to shame when we came up against the throngs of homespun but highly artistic signs of our fellow tea party attendees. There were plastic pigs on stakes and giant pitchforks with fake money stabbed on the points as well as an endless list of clever quips that emoted the lack of trust in our "representatives" in D.C. One of my favorites asked, "Are you better off than your were $4 Trillion ago?" Another said, "Just Say NO to THUGS": Thieving, Hypocritical, United States, Government, Spenders.

The event had a good line up of speakers that too were a mix of sorts, a couple local radio personalities started things off followed by a student from VCU, some guys speaking and dressing as a selection of Virginia patriots of old, highlighting Patrick Henry with his "Give me Liberty of give me Death" speech that he made here in Richmond giving this town its slice of Revolutionary pie fame. There was also a mom who got up and honestly, I thought her speech was the most compelling. She addressed the implications all of this has on our children. She was incredibly well-spoken and had a little of that Sarah Palin flair with her ability to connect and call down the powerful the way only a mom can.

I had to chuckle to myself when I looked over at my kids shivering as they cheered. Had I not subjected them to an equally but opposite hell the last time we attended a political event? Wasn't it 100 degrees, no shade, or water to drink as we stood on a dusty open field waiting to hear Sarah Palin speak not 6 months ago? Social Services!!!!! Am I assuring my daughters a perpetual subconscious association with political rallies and physical pain?

Luckily, the rainy Richmond rally was short compared to most of the tea parties held across the country. We were there under 2 hours. That paled in comparison to the 6 hours in the sun for Sarah! As we were driving home in our heated non-hybrid SUV with our Catholic school stickers on the back (undoubtedly landing us amongst the right-wing extremist ranks, according to Janet), I asked the girls if they were glad we went. All three had aspects that appealed to them. My youngest, who honestly does tend to zero in on religious stuff (again, right-wing extremist) liked the sign that proclaimed GOVERNMENT IS NOT GOD from the Book of Psalms. My middle daughter loved the way the crowd was cheering, yelling out and waving their signs at the speakers in support of the speeches. She's my thrill seeker and no doubt, the energy was a thrill, especially when you're wet and cold as all get out! My oldest daughter was most contemplative. She was comforted by the fact that there were so many people who we didn't know that feel the same way as our family does and were willing to come out on a crappy day to stand and say it. To tell you the truth, I was thinking the same thing. I sold my fellow "extremists" short. I really did think a little precipitation and chilly air would keep them held up in their right-wing lairs.

Ironically though, our local news reported that Kanawah Plaza was full with Tea Party attendees but the square across the street that had been barricaded off (on our tax dollar) for an anti-Tea Party protest yielded ZERO attendance. Or maybe they did come but melted in the rain? Who knows? All I know is that the Tea Party in Richmond was inspiring, fun and the first of many to come.