As 2012 closes, I have been pondering making a New Year’s resolution from a Tea Party perspective.
After such disappointing results in the November election, and the fact that Californians approved just about every tax and spend measure on the 2012 ballot, it can be very hard to stay a motivated citizen activist. But, in the words of author and motivational speaker Denis Waitley, “Determination gives you the resolve to keep going in spite of the roadblocks that lay before you.”
And the federal government is putting up tons of fun roadblocks: Obamacare. No budget. A Federal Reserve gone wild. Oppressive gun control legislation. Punitive and secretive federal bureaucracies.
So, my “Tea Party” style New Year’s resolution is to find items that promote and activists who succeed, on the personal and local levels, the push back on statism in its many varied forms. Some examples of featured material will include:
- Author Aaron Clarey, who is Captain Capitalism, will be publishing a book at how individuals can financially protect themselves from the “tax the wealthy” redistributionists entrenched in our government (“Enjoy the Decline”).
- Very practical ways of handling our new regulatory realities, such as “5 Ways to Protect Yourself from Obamacare“.
- Follow-up stories on students at our colleges who are actively resisting the progressive agenda on the campus level (such the Arizona State University’s women’s group highlighting chivalry with their “Gentleman’s Showcase”.).
Other activists are joining me. For example, Mark Meckler, founder of Citizens for Self Governance, agrees that a localized approach is best, as he resolves to,“work to raise money to direct to local tea parties and other organizations who are involved in projects aimed at taking power from DC and the state capitols and returning it to the citizens in their own communities where it belongs.” Michigan activist Lloyd Conway says the best resolution any Tea Partier can make is: “Get involved – school board, city planning commission, county road commission, zoning board, etc. If we won’t serve as dog catcher, we’ll never get to the White House.” As San Diego pundit W.C. Varones notes:
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change (the decline of America into a failed welfare state),
The courage to change the things I can (working to benefit family and community),
And the wisdom to know the difference.
San Diego artist, activist, and Republican Sarah B. aims on a larger scale, targeting the Republicans: “Republicans have become intellectual snobs. We need to use the entire range of media options, just not a few elite ones. If people watch The View, you go on The View. If they watch late night TV, that is where you go. And you make sure your are prepared with how to handle that audience, too. So, I will be working for change in that direction”.
Sarah’s idea corresponds to that of Glenn Reynolds, who thinks conservative dollars would be better spent on women’s magazines instead of Super PACs.
On both small and large scale, there is a lot we can still do…and must do. What are you going to resolve to do, “tea party style”, in 2013?
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God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change (the decline of America into a failed welfare state),
The courage to change the things I can (working to benefit family and community),
And the wisdom to know the difference.
But God, I also ask for the courage to do the right thing, even though it’s hopeless.
I get how you’re feeling. Really. It seems hopeless … but it’s not / it’s just going to take a slog. And a plan that allows for all necessary elements to turn this around.
Or worst case and — only if above fails — a Giant Leap to a different way of carrying on e.g. the island thing, succession etc.
The progressives are working on a plan and a slog. They’re screwing up our country.
I think we can get it together to reverse course.
I’ve had a bit of successful counter insurgency experience. There are strategies that work.
Don’t lose heart.
Some fights just need fighting. No matter how rigged the game is against you… and that’s a lesson from Christ.
Hobby Lobby = nine pound balls.
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/12/28/Hobby-Lobby-Defies-Obama-Administration-with-Civil-Disobedience-for-Religious-Liberty
Its 1773 again
King George III & his elitest parliment occupys Washington DC
The new TEA tax has been enacted and we have no representation.
Time to bring out tyhe war paint
Ramp up vetting of Obama, ramp up exposing his czars and his insane laws, ramp up exposing the plight of Obama-zombies who now realize they’ve destroyed their future, ramp up Hillary Clinton’s lack of talent at anything (ditto, Michelle Obama), ramp up humiliating the democrat media operatives, etc. etc.
But most of all, ramp up pressure on the leadership of the GOP — and people who might financially support it — to dump Boehner, Cantor and Prebuss (or whatever his name is). After which, return to the efforts listed in paragraph one.
What more do you need to see than this before you realize the urgency to get rid of Boehner?
“Dems ‘diss ‘Weeper of the House’ Boehner on vote eve”
http://washingtonexaminer.com/dems-diss-weeper-of-the-house-boehner-on-vote-eve/article/2517130#.UOBiWW_AexV
Conservatism has the winning argument. Limited government, low taxes, individual achievement, freedom, liberty, upholding the Constitution, a strong military, rule of law, In God We Trust, “legal” immigration, business friendly policies and fiscal responsibility. The really tough part is trying to convince more than half the country (who voted for Obama) that if we keep going down the same path that the Obama administration is taking America down right now, we will eventually end up like Greece and every American will be in the same boat; because of socialist policies that have NEVER worked anywhere they have been tried throughout the annals of history.
“The price of freedom is eternal vigilance. The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented, in proportion to the importance of the facts they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions, it is lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty…. And what country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of resistance? When wrongs are pressed because it is believed they will be borne, resistance becomes morality.” Thomas Jefferson
The Tea Party must renew its pledge to take conservatism to the masses. If conservatives remain sullen and discouraged it will simply provide greater opportunity for liberals to continue their collective power grab, and subsequently, will result in the continuing decline of America.
Margaret Thatcher of the U.K. summed it up nicely. “Socialism doesn’t work because you eventually run out of other people’s money.” Barack Obama and his administration are willfully BANKRUPTING the nation at breakneck speed. Unless that trend is reversed, every person in the country will be needlessly burdened as a direct consequence of progressive Democrat’s destructive policies, which are being deliberately shoved down the throats of the American people.
Now is not the time to give up or give in. On the contrary, now is the time for renewal and for a continual advancement of the conservative message. If not us then who? If not now, then when?
It goes beyond just the Tea Party. Every person who loves America must take a stand. What’s at stake is the very survival of America as a free country. Government elitists are seeking greater control over the American populace in an effort to restrict the freedoms and liberties guaranteed to us under the Constitution. Barack Obama is currently shredding the Constitution, not upholding it. If the American people refuse to fight back against Barack Obama’s anti-American (socialist) agenda, then ultimately they will have no one to blame but themselves.
The German people realize all too well the possible scenario that could befall the United States of America. Adolf Hitler was ruthless and cunning and weaseled his way into power. Once Hitler gained power he utilized a “state run” media that churned out propaganda on a daily basis. All the while providing a narrative that was sympathetic to Hitler’s “National Socialist Party” message.
Ronald Reagan stated: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.” If Barack Obama continues implementing his ruthless anti-American (socialist) agenda, then the generation that Ronald Reagan spoke about could now be upon us. Therefore ‘we the people’ must do everything in our power to steadfastly “resist” Barack Obama’s socialist agenda, in order to ensure that his destructive policies are finally thwarted. And thereby the future(s) of our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren are “saved” from indentured servitude, which Barack Obama’s socialist policies will incur, unless they’re soundly defeated beforehand.
Leslie, California is but one state in this great nation, and while I am disappointed by the vote to increase taxes, I take comfort in the notion that we will get the data from this particular experiment. Other states, Texas and Wisconsin, for instance, are trying something different.
By the way, even with the tax increases, revenue in California is down.
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/12/20/CA-Tax-Revenues-Continue-To-Drop-Precipitously-After-Residents-Voted-To-Increase-Taxes
There are a lot of people who still mentally equate increased tax rates with increased revenues, mainly because they are economic illiterates.
The Tea Party has its work cut out to even get their voices heard in a fair manner. After all, most of the media is willingly (happily?) allowing the storyline of the TP being the obstacle to all of the fiscal cliff activity. The obsession with so many of the elected class (Dems) with the TP, evoking their name it seems every time they are in front of any recording device, and the way much of the media has played along, there is a huge force to fight. Heck, you still hear some of the more desperate talking heads – those who have no other real function than to be paid to talk on cable, etc. – continue the ‘racism’ theme.
I like Leslie’s focus on specific activities. I live in NY State where my vote and opinion mean nothing so I started looking outside for candidates to support. My plans are to continue to research individual candidates across the country, and contribute modest amounts to them. I’m also interested in what’s being done by PACs directed by establishment Republicans, such as instances in which they spend money to defeat more conservative candidates. Generally I think it’s better to donate to individual candidates than to large groups. I looked into so-called Tea Party groups “Tea Party Nation” and “TheTeaParty.net,” and both are disasters. Then there’s Dick Armey’s $8 million parachute out of Freedom Works.
I too, live in NY and am thinking of running for the local school board this spring. Lots of school boards on the Island and a good place to start.
If we run candidates in local races some will win and as our numbers increase, we run for local legislative seats, primarying where we need to.
Every election is important and sooner or later, we’ll wake up seeing Tea Partiers where you’d never expect to see them–Albany and (gasp) in our DC delegation.