Through some sort of providence, the day which started as a question mark became one of the best days I have had in many years. The sun came out, the traffic was OK, and the bus we chartered from Traverse City for the Tax Day Tea Party had NO ISSUES and the event went off like clockwork. Lansing Michigan had it “going on” folks.
To see the results of a month’s planning culminate in an attendance figure of OVER 5000! it was truly invigorating.The rally is apparently the largest our state capitol has seen in 25 + years. The Detroit News has a little on this
The rally was one of hundreds being staged on Tax Day around the state and across the country by citizens angry at higher taxes and frustrated with growing government spending.
Keynote speaker “Joe the Plumber,” who made a name for himself when he questioned presidential candidate Barack Obama over taxes, was greeted as a rock star. After being given a rousing introduction, Joe — whose name is Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher — walked down the Capitol steps to the podium, soaking in the cheers.
“I’m here because I love America,” he said in his roughly eight-minute speech. “The mainstream media wants to paint us as a bunch of extremists, and we’re just practicing our First Amendment rights.”
Wurzelbacher described himself as a guy who likes to stand on a soap box and express his ideas. “Six months ago, people didn’t listen to me. Today, I guess I’m sort of famous.”
Joe is still one of us.. but now he has an audience. We all know how he feels. I feel it.
The crew we took down on the bus; all 31 of us, were quite excited, from 12 years old through seniors, each had their own reason for going. (I am going to feature these reasons in an upcoming post) One of the riders, a 17 year old ponied up his own cash to make the trip. I am certain after talking to him throughout the trip that he is one of our future leaders. In fact, many of these folks have more understanding of the purpose of government than those who are currently a PART OF IT. After the trip, my guess is MOST who went will participate in further events and will become more active. YES!!
My wife and I returned to Traverse City to the good news of a (2-300 person ) successful event in front of the Post Office, and then attended the open space event where there were 150-180 folks. What a GREAT finish to a great day.
I will have pictures and personal stories from the Lansing AND Traverse City Events before too long.. ok maybe tomorrow.. (I hardly had the energy to write this.) However, I really want to say how proud I am of those who took time off in the MIDDLE of the week to make their voices heard for all of our sakes. Thank you, and God bless you all.
