Shays' rebellion was an uprising of farmers and other citizens unhappy with their government in Massachusetts. Taxes were burdensome and those who had difficulty paying them were threatened with foreclosures on their property.
It was one of the most influential events leading to the Continental Congress that began in Philadelphia and, ultimately, to the drafting of the Constitution.
The origins of Shays' rebellion may sound familiar. As Kenneth C. Davis relates in his book, America's Hidden History, Shays' rebellion began brewing "as early as 1782, when angry crowds closed the courts on the Berkshire Mountains town of Pittsfield to prevent any more foreclosures or confiscated property."
To many of the protesters, the system itself was rotten, and they were as angry at who who was passing the taxes as at the taxes themselves...Across the state unauthorized conventions petitioned for drastic reforms aimed at taking power out of the hands of the Boston merchants and professional men who were gaming the tax system to their advantage...They were seen as crafting laws and tax codes that helped mostly themselves. Indeed history does repeat itself.
Indeed it does. Today's tea party movement is an echo of this long-ago moment in American History.
The alarming difference today is that the Republican Party - the party most responsible for "gaming the tax system" and crafting laws and tax codes that help themselves and their wealthy pals - is the party trying to win over the hearts and minds of this modern anti-tax, anti-government movement.
Most of the Republican furor over taxes basically surrounds President Obama's promise to end the Bush tax cuts, which would raise the highest marginal tax rate from 35% to 39%.
Whoa! If that ain't socialism then I don't know what is!
I can see why that would get hundreds of anti-tax zealots marching on Washington. These folks are mad, dammit! They demand that the rich people be allowed to keep their money! And these angry citizens are turning to Republican lawmakers to help them address their grievances.
Great idea. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, "some lawmakers did well for themselves between 2007 and 2008, even as many Americans lost jobs and saw their savings and their home values plummet."
Among them: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) gained about $9.2 million. Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) gained about $3 million, and Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) gained about $2.8 million.
If you haven't been paying attention, these are some of the same folks who don't particularly care if you can afford your health insurance or not. They're quite sure the "market" will take care of it for you. And if it doesn't? Oh, well. That's the beauty of living in a America. So stop whining!
The Republican Party, as we all know from long experience, is the "party of the people" - rich and powerful people, not you over there in the overalls, Mr. Shays.
It's amazing that we don't have a real revolution brewing based on the fact that millions of people have lost or are about to lose their homes - their homes! - while a small number of millionaires at a small number of very powerful financial firms are pocketing literally billions of dollars and the halls of Congress are filled with 237 more millionaires.
Have we gone completely insane as a society? Who are we trying to protect? And from what? Who is the government actually working for?
Now we have newsthat the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is starting her own organization, Liberty Central, Inc. The organization describes itself as catering to the "citizen activists" of the "tea party" movement and dedicated to "furthering the core principles of the founding fathers."
This is the wife of the man who just decided that First Amendment rights apply to corporations as well as to individuals - a definite core principal of the founding fathers - and who makes no secret of the fact that he has very weird ideas about whether 8th Amendment rights (cruel and unusual punishment) apply to anyone already in prison.
In addition, the Washington Post writes:
Virginia Thomas's biography on [LibertyCentral.org] says she "is a fan of Rush Limbaugh, Mark Levin and Laura Ingraham and other talk radio hosts," and that she is "is intrigued by Glenn Beck and listening carefully."
The LibertyCentral.org Web site also lists an endorsement from former defense secretary Donald M. Rumsfeld, who says that "Ginni can help channel the frustration felt by millions across America at the current course of our country."
Personally, I loved the direction Mr. Rumsfeld took our country. Does anyone still remember?
The Iraq War, Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib, "extraordinary rendition," Jose Padilla, Military Commissions Act of 2006 - now those were the good old days of hewing to the "core principals of the founding fathers."
Clarence and Ginni. Ginni and Clarence. Clarence and Ginni and Rummy. Together. Protecting Liberty in America.
I know I feel safer. Don't you?
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