What a great day April 15, 2009 turned out to be. Estimates put the combined national attendance in excess of 600,000. Not only was I fortunate enough to attended the Tea Party in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, but I was honored to be asked to speak to the group of patriots that had gathered in Market Square. The following is the text of my speech:
A New American Revolution
How appropriate that we gather here tonight in front of the historic North Church, whose parishioners included General William Whipple, signer of the Declaration of Independence, and John Langdon, signer of the U.S. Constitution. This church has also seen the likes of great men such as Daniel Webster, John Paul Jones, and George Washington as they prayed for guidance while leading a young nation in search of its character.
However, the North Church connection to the Revolution that helped form this nation goes much deeper than those who have knelt in its pews. Parishioner Samuel Langdon helped to organize the first Portsmouth Tea Party in 1773, which occurred days before the more famous Boston Tea Party. Much like today, citizens from surrounding communities resolved that they would not pay the tax imposed by a far away, detached government. But unlike their counterparts in Boston, and without firing a shot, the Portsmouth Tea Party politely convinced the captain to sail the tea to Halifax.
And what of the role of the residents of the Seacoast, and beyond, throughout the struggle for independence? They captured Fort William and Mary, and 200 barrels of gunpowder, once again without firing a shot, months before the battle of Lexington and Concord. In addition, a thousand men from the area accompanied that gunpowder to the Battle of Bunker Hill. In fact, the New Hampshire contingent outnumbered the combined troops from both Massachusetts and Connecticut at this pivotal point in history.
But my favorite story of our revolutionary history is the “sudden” departure of the British Royal Governor Wentworth. When Governor Wentworth woke up one morning to find a cannon pointing at his front door, he opted to join the previously deported tea in Halifax, once again, without a single shot being fired. I don’t know about you, but I think we need to find that cannon because we could sure use it today.
But here you stand today, on this most hallowed ground of liberty, not only as a part of the Second Portsmouth Tea Party, but part of a great American awakening that is occurring all across America tonight; an awakening of the spirit of our founding fathers. An awakening that harkens back to the resolve written in the Declaration of Independence ……..
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it……….
And to those who say this is just about money, and that it’s time to be patriotic, time to jump in, time to be part of the deal, I say, you first! The time for politeness is past, the time for niceties has been exhausted. This is not about money anymore than our original revolution was about money. In the words of Ronald Regan:
Our founding fathers understood…… “A government can't control the economy without controlling people. And they know when a government sets out to do that, it must use force and coercion to achieve its purpose. They also knew, those Founding Fathers, that outside of its legitimate functions, government does nothing as well or as economically as the private sector of the economy.”
What we are witnessing today is the resistance to the third great wave of government expansion. But this new wave, unlike the New Deal and the Great Society, will hit us like a tsunami, and many fear it may drown the entrepreneurial spirit of this country. There was a time when we believed in equalizing opportunity. But this new wave of economic tyranny will replace the American way of life with the European model of equalizing results of people’s lives…in one fell swoop our country creed E. Pluribus Unum – Many Into One - will be swept away, replaced with the new order battle cry of the 10 most frightening words in the English language – “We’re from the government, and we are here to help!” I don’t know about you, but when the government says they’re here to help, hold on to your wallets, hide your kids, AND keep clinging to those “bibles and guns,” because, as Thomas Jefferson said, a government big enough to give you everything is big enough to take it all away!
Contrary to how some in the media are portraying these Tea Parties, this resistance to tyrannical change is not a partisan cause. This is not a Democratic or Republican movement, nor is this a Liberal or Conservative movement. What we are witnessing today is an American movement to reclaim the government “of the people, by the people, and for the people….” from a group of far off elites dedicated to the dismantling of our Republic for a false Utopia. These engineers of this wrecking crew that would destroy the American Dream have somehow forgotten the truth that many Americans believe in…….the existence of a free market where both success and FAILURE must occur in an atmosphere of liberty!
In a little over 230 years we have been transformed from a nation shaped by patriots determined to build a new form of government, into a government which thinks it knows how to build cars! In 230 years we have gone from a country which used to refer to our leader as Mr. President, but which now refers to him as Mr. Goodwrench. In 230 years we have gone from a country where our citizens paid for our freedom with their lives, to a government which thinks it can pay other’s mortgages with your money! In 230 years we have gone from a country that fought a revolution in large part because of excessive taxation, to a country where the government thinks that paying excessive taxes is patriotic. Our founding fathers aren’t just rolling in their graves, there are calling out to each and every one of us to stop this lunacy! Our Founding Fathers are screaming ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
Each and every day we wake up prepared to do our part because that is what Americans do. Each and every day we are prepared to carry the burden that comes with being a citizen of the greatest nation that has ever existed on the face of this planet. We do not do this for ourselves. We do it because past generations sacrificed their blood, sweat and tears so that future generations would be better off. We do this for our children so that their lives will be better than ours. But even the strongest among us can only carry so much, and I say to you today….. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
These are the same people who lecture us on what we should do with our money, but have managed to present us with a budget that will raise our debit to 4 trillion dollars in five years, and 10 trillion dollars within ten years. And that’s if their estimates are right….. When was the last time the US government EVER came in at or under their estimates………I will tell you……NEVER! In this present crisis government is not the solution to our problems, government is the PROBLEM. We must return to the invisible hand of the free-market, and break free from the heavy hand of government, because if we wait too long the government’s grip will only grow tighter…...
I know there are people who think that words like tyranny and oppression are mere exaggerations… “just words.” Really? If this current budget is enacted, the second largest expenditure for our government in the future will be the interest on our national debt. This is the legacy we will hand our children if we do not take control of spending, and I don’t mean next year, or in five years, or in 10 years….by then it will be too late. If your child is under the age of 10 years old today, by the time he or she turns 40, their liability to the federal debt will be $154,000.00 DOLLARS, without taking into account interest and inflation….$154,000 DOLLARS.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, if we approve this budget and do nothing to correct the disastrous course we are on, the lower class income tax rate for your 40 year old child will go from 10% to 25%, the middle class income tax will move past 65%, and the upper class income tax (which includes many small businesses) will exceed 92%! Is that what they mean by fair, that all of our children will be equally enslaved to the future debt of this country, so that the politicians of today can satisfy their lust for power? This is not just about money…..NO……this is about our very LIBERTY. You see, those who control our purse strings, CONTROL OUR FREEDOM!
But the waste and out of control spending doesn’t happen solely in Washington. Our own State governments have decided that they know what is best for us, even it is against our will. In NH we thought that last year’s budget, tax and fee increases were irresponsible. This year we have seen a budget increase of 12% in a recession and record unemployment. That is not just irresponsible….I tell you it’s a betrayal of our trust!
Somehow our New Hampshire Representatives have forgotten Article 10 of the New Hampshire Constitution………OUR RIGHT TO REVOLT! However, the revolution will not be fought with bullets, but with the ballot box! I say to our elected officials in Concord, Augusta, and Boston……leave your coats on…….don’t get too comfortable…….because we don’t work for you……….you work for us!
Our Republic is not too complicated to understand, and our founding fathers left us with a map to ensure that we stay on the course to liberty; but somehow our representatives have lost their way. But that’s to be expected, if they couldn’t be bothered to read the bailout bill, why would we ever expect them to read The Constitution. It’s not like they aren’t reminded everyday what this country stands for….one only need look at the very currency they seem so willing to spend like kids in a candy store. Stamped on each of our coins are the words that speak to our greatness. Some would call this the American Trinity:
In God We Trust – a reminder of a greater power than that of individual man. It is a reminder, that even though we are the most powerful nation, we have never been, nor will we ever be an arrogant people.
E. Pluribus Unum – Many Into One – said another way “United We Stand, Divided We Fall.” It is a reminder that our greatest strength does not come from our differences, but from our shared pedigree that we are all Americans. You could move anywhere else in the world and never be a citizen of that country. But you can come from anywhere in the world to this country, and become an American….embraced by all……Many Into One.
And lastly…..
Liberty – A word that some in America take for granted, but has served as a beacon of hope for oppressed people everywhere. Liberty is does not mean undisciplined freedom, but is a birthright that has been won with the blood and lives of past generations….and today by our brave military serving in Iraqi and Afghanistan. Because we are always just one generation away from losing Liberty, we must fight to preserve it.
The Constitution and the American Trinity are our true weapons against totalitarianism. Each of our Representatives should be required to carry a copy of the Constitution in a pocket over their heart to remind them of the ultimate sacrifice many gave to protect that “mere document.” Each of our Representatives should carry a quarter in their pocket to remind them that each coin spent was earned with the lives of our sons and daughters. This is not merely about money…..it is about our identity as the last best hope for mankind on Earth!
Do you want a government that defines patriotism by how much you pay in taxes?
Do you want a government that demands you pay more in taxes, but can’t seem to pay their own taxes?
Do you want a government that thinks it can spend its way into prosperity?
Do you want a government that punishes success and rewards irresponsibility?
They can try to push us around. They can threaten us with the weight of an oppressive tax burden, born from out-of-control spending. But as I look upon my fellow countrymen that have gathered here today, I have but one simple reply. In the words of John Paul Jones….”We Have Not Yet Begun To FIGHT!” We will not let the government bankrupt our country; we will not allow future generations to become enslaved by their reckless spending and the burden of a tax code that punishes success. Today a united America is shouting out to you….Enough is ENOUGH!
If William Whipple, John Langdon, and George Washington were alive today they would have a heavy heart as they sit in the pews just through those doors pondering how the politicians of today are working so hard to destroy everything they fought for. But I know that their spirit would be lifted and that pride would swell up in them if they were to walk out of this church today to find this gathering of patriots. They would say to you that you are the new patriots of a new revolution, a bloodless revolution, but a revolution nonetheless. A new American Revolution to reclaim the very soul of a Nation. A revolution rooted in the very simple belief that “We the People…” are the government. Today is the first day to reclaim the greatness that is America, a greatness that can be found in your hearts and your souls, and not in the dark abyss that has become Washington, DC or Concord, NH.
HOW CAN YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
Have your facts straight – do your research and read both your state and federal Constitutions
Call, email, or write your elected officials
Educate your family and friends
Stay on target and focused – don’t lose control
Join a group of like-minded people
Follow the bills in Congress and your state government and be proactive
RUN FOR OFFICE – or support those who share your values and are stepping up to the plate
Speak up! Communicate your values and opinions , including constructive criticism to your legislators – offer solutions.
Educate yourself – what does history teach us about what’s happening today?
Provides solutions and ideas on how we can reduce our taxes
That is how we keep this new American Revolution alive, that is how we reclaim our country!
Thank you very much.
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