# I'm not sure why, but the "Tea Party" Tax Protests really rub me the wrong way. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 15, 2009, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149 "2009-04-15T05:01:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![LilShieste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@LilShieste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilShieste)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/281 "2009-04-17T20:21:56Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > I’m betting if you went up to the Carl Marx guy and pointed out politely that it was spelled **K** arl, he’d probably accuse you of being some kind of commie for knowing that. Is that what they learned you in your fancy shmancy elitist “college”? You _scholiast_! ---
**Author:** ![LilShieste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@LilShieste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilShieste)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/282 "2009-04-17T20:25:03Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > _laugh_ I don’t think even Wal-Mart has size 2,000. Are we looking at the [This sign]([http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve](http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve) > [URL="[Tea Party Fallout: Independents Turned Off, Some GOPers Worried | HuffPost Latest News](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/17/tea-party-fallout-indepen_n_188235.html)) is one of the more kookoo. Interesting article too. Those Independents continue to be totally impressed by the right’s antics. [Fixed link](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/17/tea-party-fallout-indepen_n_188235.html) (I think). ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/283 "2009-04-17T20:32:04Z")
> [@LilShieste](#): > > [Fixed link](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/17/tea-party-fallout-indepen_n_188235.html) (I think). I couldn’t open it, but Huffington’s website is a piece of shit. I’d read it if I could get the thing to fucking open and operate properly. ---
**Author:** ![LilShieste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@LilShieste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilShieste)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/284 "2009-04-17T20:43:56Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > I couldn’t open it, but Huffington’s website is a piece of shit. I’d read it if I could get the thing to fucking open and operate properly. (I feel your pain - I’ve had that problem before.) Here’s an excerpt: > [@](#): > > It is a development that has tripped up the GOP before. The rallies outside McCain-Palin events included some of the same bile that was seen at the tea parties: charges of fascism, terrorism and other malicious criticisms leveled at Barack Obama. And it did the Republican ticket little good in its efforts to bring moderate voters to the cause. > > Not everyone sees the connection. But some Republicans and Independents do view the fallout between the tea parties and the McCain-Palin rallies in a similar way: bad for the GOP. > > “It is not clear-cut that the tea-party phenomena helps the GOP, unless they have a specific measure or policy (like Prop. 13 in 1978, and income tax cuts after that) to coalesce around,” said Steven Hayward, a scholar at the conservative American Enterprise Institute. “Right now it reminds me a bit of the free-floating ‘angry moderates’ of 1992 who fueled the Ross Perot candidacy, and that is the hazard for Republicans I think. I think the crazies at the rallies are a problem, but probably out of proportion (they always get the media attention) to the real breadth of sentiment underneath, which I think is largely authentic.” ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/285 "2009-04-17T21:23:50Z")
> [@LilShieste](#): > > Is that what they learned you in your fancy shmancy elitist “college”? You _scholiast_! That’s not funny. My uncle died when his scholiast ruptured. ETA: Who knew [scholiast](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scholiast) has a wiki. > [@](#): > > Scholia (singular, scholion; from Greek Greek: σχόλιον “comment”, “lecture”), are grammatical, critical, or explanatory comments, either original or extracted from pre-existing commentaries, which are inserted on the margin of the manuscript of an ancient author, as glosses. One who writes scholia is a scholiast. Obama wants to me make us into a nation of critical commentary on ancient manuscripts! . ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/286 "2009-04-17T21:39:29Z")
Well, that’s just your gloss on it. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/287 "2009-04-17T22:18:28Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > **Crafter\_Man** , thing is, your definition of socialism and mine, and say, **Equipoise** ’s, might be completely different. I think Wiki has a good definition: > [@](#): > > Socialism refers to a broad set of economic theories of social organization advocating public or state ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods, and a society characterized by economic equality for all individuals, with an egalitarian method of compensation. I certainly do not believe we are currently a socialistic country; it’s obvious we’re not. But I believe many U.S. citizens desire it. I also believe the government control of social security, financial institutions, energy, education, and health care are stepping stones for achieving socialism. If left unchecked, I believe we could become a socialistic country in 20 or 30 years. As mentioned in a previous post, I believe socialism is evil, hence the reason for the sign. > [@Guinastasia](#): > > And how do you define “inalienable rights”? “Individual sovereignty & liberty?” That’s where it gets tricky. It’s impossible to define it in an objective sense, as it’s based on a belief system. Let’s just say that I believe I was born with certain rights. I do not need to justify the existence of these rights to anyone. > [@Guinastasia](#): > > For example, there was some guy on Free Republic, talking about how he’d like to back and start with repealing the Meat Inspection Act. Think about it. The Meat Inspection Act. Now think about when the MIA was put into law. Think about WHY. And think about how damned SCARY it would be without it. I do not believe the federal government should be involved in the business of food safety. But if states want to do it, that’s fine with me. > [@Guinastasia](#): > > I’m not saying YOU’RE a Freeper (or are you?) No. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/288 "2009-04-17T22:28:15Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > As mentioned in a previous post, I believe socialism is evil, hence the reason for the sign. All socialism? Would you get rid of public schools, street lights, public funding for highways, firefighters, libraries and the like? Or are there some socialist institutions that are evil, but just not evil enough to abolish? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/289 "2009-04-17T22:31:35Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > As mentioned in a previous post, I believe socialism is evil, hence the reason for the sign. BY that logic, would it be fair for me to make a sign saying “I believe socialism is purple”, then when asked why I made such a sign merely repeat that I believe that socialism is purple, like I said earlier, without describing why it is purple to me? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/290 "2009-04-17T23:27:09Z")
**Crafter\_Man** : fair enough. Obviously, we disagree. (At least, you know how to spell. Seriously though, see anything interesting?) As for things like food safety, it really doesn’t matter to me whether it’s done at state or federal level. I honestly do not see WHY it should. The fact that someone wants it repealed is what frightens me. (The recent peanut butter/salmonella scandal should be reason enough). I just don’t want to find rat tails and human toenails in my hamburgers. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/291 "2009-04-17T23:46:01Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > I certainly do not believe we are currently a socialistic country; it’s obvious we’re not. But I believe many U.S. citizens desire it. I also believe the government control of social security, financial institutions, energy, education, and health care are stepping stones for achieving socialism. If left unchecked, I believe we could become a socialistic country in 20 or 30 years. As mentioned in a previous post, I believe socialism is evil, hence the reason for the sign. That’s a much better answer than I was expecting. I still think you’re being deliberately obtuse by just putting “Socialism is Evil” on a sign, though. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2009, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/292 "2009-04-18T01:40:50Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > Running up debts in the trillions is the government running amok. . Well, if you look at it it isn’t really trillions of dollars of debt. The generations to come, who are being victimized by this, will not receive booklets of monthly repayment coupons that they have to mail in every month accompanied by a check. What it actually is, is just inflation, generated by sluicing gushers of money into the economy. The only way this country can keep the bridges from falling down, mediocre public schools in operation, and a pitiful public health system is to rob the value of monetary assets by inflating the currency. In the more progressive societies so reviled by the Right, one would simply tax the stuffing out of all income in excess of $200K, but here such a proposal would result in riots. As a leftist I find this infuriating. There is so much work that needs to be done, and I am far from convinced that pure self interest–even enlightened self interest–can make that happen. And, just as a side issue, another problem with the inflation tax is that it robs not only from the very rich, but also the not so rich, all the way down to the person who has only two pennies to rub together. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2009, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/293 "2009-04-18T03:13:04Z")
> [@LilShieste](#): > > [Fixed link](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/17/tea-party-fallout-indepen_n_188235.html) (I think). Damn, my link skilz sucked today. I posted literally right before rushing out the door to go to work and didn’t check it first. You got the Huffington Post link, which was meant to go with another post, but here’s the [underpants pic](http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/06CqaEK49qfWU/610x.jpg) I meant to link. _fingers crossed_ ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2009, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/294 "2009-04-18T03:56:59Z")
Wonder if maybe they went to Good Will? (Cuz those look stained!) :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2009, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/295 "2009-04-18T05:16:20Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Aside: WTF is with the “Barry Soetoro” and “Barack Soetoro” and other Soetoro signs in some of the D.C. pics (can’t link but it was on CNN and MSNBC at the Lafayette Square rally). Yeah… Obama had a stepfather named Soetoro, to my knowledge he never adopted him, certainly he hasn’t gone by that name in decades if he ever did… Soetoro was no more a devout Muslim than Obama,Sr. was… Did “Barack Hussein Obama” signs get old? Or is Indonesian the new black? I believe it’s part of the “make him seem foreign” thing, or else an implication he’s being disingenuous somehow by “changing his name,” or else an aspect of the “he isn’t an American citizen” claim. From what I can recall offhand, I’d say the last is most likely. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2009, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/296 "2009-04-18T05:17:04Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > One quick thought I had, the teabaggers should take a look at the Susan Boyle phenomenon to understand what TRUE grassroots passion is all about. President Obama inspires. Susan Boyle inspires. They got their millions of fervent followers because of a purity of soul and huge talent, and because they’re decent people. My Old Ladies, who, on Lutheran Movie Night, subjected me to _The Bucket List,_, mentioned her. [Dayam!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY) Hell’s bells, I’m tempted to vote for her, and it’s a WAY long-distance call. And Simon Cowell is STILL a lying sack of shit. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2009, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/297 "2009-04-18T05:31:54Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > I believe it’s part of the “make him seem foreign” thing, or else an implication he’s being disingenuous somehow by “changing his name,” … Like Barack Soetoro is any more an unusual name in this country than Barack Obama. That’s senseless. > [@](#): > > … or else an aspect of the “he isn’t an American citizen” claim. From what I can recall offhand, I’d say the last is most likely. Yep. The claim is that by marrying Mr. Soetoro, Obama’s mother gave up her U.S. citizenship and her son’s citizenship followed with her. This claim is not just senseless, it’s Grade A Bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![Camus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ba8739/32.png) [@Camus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Camus)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2009, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/298 "2009-04-18T06:37:16Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > I certainly do not believe we are currently a socialistic country; it’s obvious we’re not. But I believe many U.S. citizens desire it. I also believe the government control of social security, financial institutions, energy, education, and health care are stepping stones for achieving socialism. If left unchecked, I believe we could become a socialistic country in 20 or 30 years. As mentioned in a previous post, I believe socialism is evil, hence the reason for the sign. But what on Earth is evil about it??? This is like a dog chasing its own tail. Why is something bad? Well, it’s evil. Why is it evil? Well, it’s bad. This is EXACTLY the kind of fuzzy thinking that was consistently displayed throughout these teabagging protests. People don’t seem to be reacting to actual facts, but as the truthiness comments in pages prior indicate, they’re more reacting to their perception of facts. ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2009, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/299 "2009-04-18T06:57:22Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Yep. The claim is that by marrying Mr. Soetoro, Obama’s mother gave up her U.S. citizenship and her son’s citizenship followed with her. This claim is not just senseless, it’s Grade A Bullshit. Or, alternately, that Lolo Soetero adopted his stepson (there’s no evidence that he did) and that the adoption caused the young Barack to lose his citizenship. This is also Grade A Bullshit. Neither marriage nor adoption can take away American citizenship. The only ways to lose US citizenship are _very obvious and deliberate actions_ on the part of the person stands to lose it. Things like going before a consular official and saying hi, I’m here to revoke my American citizenship, something of that nature. And even _then,_ there’s going to be paperwork. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2009, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149/300 "2009-04-18T12:33:13Z")
> [@Camus](#): > > Why is something bad? Well, it’s evil. Why is it evil? Well, it’s bad. This is EXACTLY the kind of fuzzy thinking that was consistently displayed throughout these teabagging protests. People don’t seem to be reacting to actual facts, but as the truthiness comments in pages prior indicate, they’re more reacting to their perception of facts. I also think Nazism, communism, totalitarianism, and fascism are evil. Why do you not think Nazism is evil? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-sure-why-but-the-tea-party-tax-protests-really-rub-me-the-wrong-way/493149.md?page=16)