As most Americans know, a group of colonists, dressed as Native Americans, boarded ships and threw crates of tea into the Boston Harbor. This became known as the Boston Tea Party. The protesters objected to being forced to purchase tea from the East India Tea Company for two reasons: 1) they could not buy tea from any other source and 2) they had to pay tax added to the price of the tea. The colonists opposed the tax because they did not believe Parliament had the right to levy taxes against them since they were not represented in Parliament: "No taxation without representation." Parliament, of course, insisted that all British colonies were represented in Parliament. The colonists did not object to paying any taxes at all. Nor did the colonists believe that Parliament did not have the power to tax or that the taxes were too high. The men who took part in the Tea Party that night believed that they must have a voice in Parliament. That their rights as British citizens must not be denied.
The present day Tea Party objects to paying taxes they believe are too high. They believe government spends too much and uses taxes to regulate too much. Ironically, the colonists in 1773 believed that levying taxes to regulate was appropriate and acceptable. The present day Tea Party uses quotes from the past to justify their positions. They also state that they are not a political party. However, they have clearly allied themselves with the Republican party to the extent that candidates seek their support in order to get elected. They have also targeted Republican office holders who hold moderate political views. Additionally they have contributed to attempts to suppress the rights of voters by sending lists of thousands of names to supervisors of elections stating that those names might be fraudulent. Their concern for voter fraud would be admirable if not for the fact that the lists they submit are composed of voters who tend to vote for Democratic candidates.
The very idea of attempting to deny citizens the right to vote is a betrayal to the colonists who gave their lives to gain our independence. Perhaps the Tea Party needs to rethink their ideology or, at the very least, change their name.
Read more about it:
The Boston Tea Party, 1773
Tea Party Platform
Voter Harassment, Circa 2012
The present day Tea Party objects to paying taxes they believe are too high. They believe government spends too much and uses taxes to regulate too much. Ironically, the colonists in 1773 believed that levying taxes to regulate was appropriate and acceptable. The present day Tea Party uses quotes from the past to justify their positions. They also state that they are not a political party. However, they have clearly allied themselves with the Republican party to the extent that candidates seek their support in order to get elected. They have also targeted Republican office holders who hold moderate political views. Additionally they have contributed to attempts to suppress the rights of voters by sending lists of thousands of names to supervisors of elections stating that those names might be fraudulent. Their concern for voter fraud would be admirable if not for the fact that the lists they submit are composed of voters who tend to vote for Democratic candidates.
The very idea of attempting to deny citizens the right to vote is a betrayal to the colonists who gave their lives to gain our independence. Perhaps the Tea Party needs to rethink their ideology or, at the very least, change their name.
Read more about it:
The Boston Tea Party, 1773
Tea Party Platform
Voter Harassment, Circa 2012
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