# Most Tea Party Supporters Say Their Taxes Are Fair **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 14, 2010, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tea-party-supporters-say-their-taxes-are-fair/536112 "2010-04-14T19:51:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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 14, 2010, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tea-party-supporters-say-their-taxes-are-fair/536112/21 "2010-04-14T21:49:31Z")
If you won’t believe me, than maybe you will believe the [website of Tea Party Patriots](http://www.teapartypatriots.org/Mission.aspx), arguably the largest tea party organization in the country. The first line in the mission statement: > [@](#): > > The impetus for the Tea Party movement is \*\*excessive government spending and taxation. \*\* ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tea-party-supporters-say-their-taxes-are-fair/536112/22 "2010-04-14T21:54:38Z")
Probably tangentially related to the fact that nearly half of households [pay no federal income tax.](http://money.cnn.com/2009/09/30/pf/taxes/who_pays_taxes/index.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tea-party-supporters-say-their-taxes-are-fair/536112/23 "2010-04-14T22:03:08Z")
I find that wanting their already fair taxes lowered is consonant with every other aspect of the Teaparty movement. Get more for yourself, and fuck the other guy!! Yeah, that’s the American Way!! Tris ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tea-party-supporters-say-their-taxes-are-fair/536112/24 "2010-04-14T22:09:01Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Well, you missed the anti-Obama part. And it was in Feb 09 that Rick Santelli made his famous comments about the mortgage bailouts. Ah, that’s an inciting event I had forgotten about. A wealthy TV news anchor and a bunch of stock traders start bitching about the government intervening to help people with less money and bad mortgages. [Like I said- temper tantrum.] They didn’t mind the bank bailout, but they don’t like TARP, and they think their taxes are okay but they’re concerned about new ones that haven’t come to pass. And they don’t like Obama for reasons they’re not entirely sure about. 😉 ---
**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 14, 2010, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tea-party-supporters-say-their-taxes-are-fair/536112/25 "2010-04-14T22:09:06Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Here’s the link to [Tea Party Nation’s web site](http://www.theteapartynation.com/). From [About Tea Party](http://www.theteapartynation.com/index.php/about-tea-party) on that website: > [@](#): > > \*\*The movement originated in anti-tax protests \*\*and arose in response to the increase in the national debt as a result of the stimulus package, as well as the reaction to increases in home mortgage foreclosures despite TARP bailout money paid to the banks. ---
**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 14, 2010, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tea-party-supporters-say-their-taxes-are-fair/536112/26 "2010-04-14T22:27:43Z")
Also [from your cite](http://www.theteapartynation.com/index.php/component/content/article/1-the-tea-party-nation): > [@](#): > > The tea party movement\*\* supports the principals of lower taxes\*\*, limited government and more freedom, and more respect for equality. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tea-party-supporters-say-their-taxes-are-fair/536112/27 "2010-04-14T22:31:50Z")
It’s possible they think both that their taxes are fair and that taxes in general are too high. ---
**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 14, 2010, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tea-party-supporters-say-their-taxes-are-fair/536112/28 "2010-04-14T22:39:25Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > It’s possible they think both that their taxes are fair and that taxes in general are too high. It is possible, but Tea Partiers have yet to demonstrate such altruistic feelings in other areas, so, in the absence of evidence, I am hesitant to attribute it to them with regard to the taxes of others. Based on the signs seen at their rallies, they are largely of an us-versus-them mentality. I suppose they could be in favor of lowering the taxes of richer white guys, but I would have to see something to support that. ---
**Author:** ![Camus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ba8739/32.png) [@Camus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Camus)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tea-party-supporters-say-their-taxes-are-fair/536112/29 "2010-04-14T22:42:58Z")
> [@](#): > > the principals of lower taxes… Is that a union gig? ---
**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 14, 2010, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tea-party-supporters-say-their-taxes-are-fair/536112/30 "2010-04-14T22:47:40Z")
> [@Camus](#): > > Is that a union gig? Heh. I swear, that’s how it was on the website. [Morans](http://news.lavenderliberal.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/get-a-brain-morans.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![yorick73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/b5a626/32.png) [@yorick73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yorick73)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tea-party-supporters-say-their-taxes-are-fair/536112/31 "2010-04-14T22:53:24Z")
> [@Triskadecamus](#): > > I find that wanting their already fair taxes lowered is consonant with every other aspect of the Teaparty movement. > > Get more for yourself, and fuck the other guy!! Yeah, that’s the American Way!! > > Tris Did you bother to read the post above yours…you know, the story about 47% of households that pay NO federal income tax? How is keeping what you earn “getting more for yourself”? How does limiting the amount that government takes from me for the benefit of others “fucking the other guy”? ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tea-party-supporters-say-their-taxes-are-fair/536112/32 "2010-04-14T23:06:55Z")
> [@](#): > > Rick Santelli, the “Rant Heard Round the World” Curious … how’s that being sent to all the non-USA parts of the world, carrier pigeon? 'Cause bro, we ain’t hearin nuttin here. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tea-party-supporters-say-their-taxes-are-fair/536112/33 "2010-04-15T00:22:27Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Also [from your cite](http://www.theteapartynation.com/index.php/component/content/article/1-the-tea-party-nation): “The principle of lower taxes” is fine. Lower than what? Lower than the Democrats want them to be? Lower than Bush got them to? And, as someone has already pointed out, about 50% of the country pays no income taxes. Seems like that would fit in nicely with the poll numbers-- I’d be pretty happy with my income taxes if they were 0, too. Look. I have no doubt that the tea party folks would, in general, favor smaller government meaning lower taxes, in general. Whether that translates into “my income taxes are too high” is another matter. And all the cites talk about fiscal responsibility-- which is revenue and spending-- and the clear problem they have is with the spending, and the (at least perceived) future spending under Obama and the Democrats. In short, the poll shows nothing remarkable at all about the tea party movement. ---
**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 15, 2010, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tea-party-supporters-say-their-taxes-are-fair/536112/34 "2010-04-15T00:31:27Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > “The principle of lower taxes” is fine. Lower than what? Lower than the Democrats want them to be? Lower than Bush got them to? Gosh John, I guess we just don’t know. :rolleyes: Nice try. > [@](#): > > Look. I have no doubt that the tea party folks would, in general, favor smaller government meaning lower taxes, in general. Whether that translates into “my income taxes are too high” is another matter. What it translates into is “Your taxes are too high!” , even if the target demographic doesn’t pay any. It’s just more misdirection and misleading to incite an angry mob. > [@](#): > > In short, the poll shows nothing remarkable at all about the tea party movement. If you say so. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tea-party-supporters-say-their-taxes-are-fair/536112/35 "2010-04-15T00:35:17Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Gosh John, I guess we just don’t know. :rolleyes: > > Nice try. No, we don’t. Bush believed in the principle of lower taxes, and he got them. Mission accomplished. Now the Democrats are in power, and a lot of these guys fear that taxes will be going up. ---
**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 15, 2010, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tea-party-supporters-say-their-taxes-are-fair/536112/36 "2010-04-15T00:36:58Z")
Not buying it. It is clear that they think taxes are too high now. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tea-party-supporters-say-their-taxes-are-fair/536112/37 "2010-04-15T00:44:14Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Not buying it. It is clear that they think taxes are too high now. It’s clear, from the poll, that many don’t think their own income taxes are too high. Do you dispute the poll you linked to in the OP? The only thing that is clear is that they think government spending is too high, that they fear it is going up (which it is), and they hate Obama. ---
**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 15, 2010, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tea-party-supporters-say-their-taxes-are-fair/536112/38 "2010-04-15T00:50:29Z")
It’s clear from the Tea Party protests that they want to incite the masses with dire warnings that their taxes are too high. It clear from the poll that sentiment is falling on indifferent ears. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tea-party-supporters-say-their-taxes-are-fair/536112/39 "2010-04-15T00:54:03Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > What it translates into is “Your taxes are too high!” , even if the target demographic doesn’t pay any. It’s just more misdirection and misleading to incite an angry mob. Well, that could very well be true. But keep in mind that the leaders of this movement, such as they are, probably do pay lots of income taxes. They may be inciting the mobs with “taxes are too high”, even if many in that mob don’t really pay much. So even in that scenario (which I’m not saying is true) things mesh just fine with the poll numbers. I don’t see why you think there is some major disconnect. ---
**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 15, 2010, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tea-party-supporters-say-their-taxes-are-fair/536112/40 "2010-04-15T01:01:29Z")
So they are preaching “your taxes are too high”, even when the audience disagrees, and you don’t see a disconnect? You must be smarter than me John, although that would be damning with faint praise; kind of like being the prettiest girl in the leper colony. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tea-party-supporters-say-their-taxes-are-fair/536112.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tea-party-supporters-say-their-taxes-are-fair/536112.md?page=3)