Comments on: Remember when dissent was a patriotic duty? http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2009/04/remember-when-dissent-was-a-patriotic-duty.html thoughts and opinions by author s. andrew swann Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:14:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.3 By: Genrewonk » On the nature of astroturf. . . http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2009/04/remember-when-dissent-was-a-patriotic-duty.html#comment-6881 Genrewonk » On the nature of astroturf. . . Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:06:01 +0000 http://www.sandrewswann.com/?p=1423#comment-6881 [...] know I posted about this line of thought earlier: Apparently because I do not accept the Kensyan kool-aid of wild government spending, or the evil [...] [...] know I posted about this line of thought earlier: Apparently because I do not accept the Kensyan kool-aid of wild government spending, or the evil [...]

]]> By: Michelle http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2009/04/remember-when-dissent-was-a-patriotic-duty.html#comment-4913 Michelle Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:38:06 +0000 http://www.sandrewswann.com/?p=1423#comment-4913 David - we all have our epiphanies at different times. For me it came with the passing of the Patriot Act and then TARP 1. So, yes, I was frustrated during Bush's presidency, too. If someone would have organized protests about it in my area, I would have gone. But I am even more frustrated now, as time goes on, as this administration is passing trillions in spending without even reading the bills! In addition to TARP 1 and TARP 2, we also have the omnibus and the budget. Additionally, now I'm considered a domestic terrorist simply because I disagree with the administration. I feel like I was screwed by the Republicans and Democrats, alike. They are 2 branches of the same tree. I'm probably more frustrated with the Republicans, because I expected better from them and they grew our government and debt more than any in the past. But it takes time to get angry enough to mobilize. The tea parties grew from a slow-building frustration and the realization that both parties are screwing the people in order to keep the power for themselves. What I found interesting at the tea party I went to was that of all the people I met, NONE had ever protested before. We were all protest virgins. David – we all have our epiphanies at different times. For me it came with the passing of the Patriot Act and then TARP 1. So, yes, I was frustrated during Bush’s presidency, too. If someone would have organized protests about it in my area, I would have gone. But I am even more frustrated now, as time goes on, as this administration is passing trillions in spending without even reading the bills! In addition to TARP 1 and TARP 2, we also have the omnibus and the budget. Additionally, now I’m considered a domestic terrorist simply because I disagree with the administration.

I feel like I was screwed by the Republicans and Democrats, alike. They are 2 branches of the same tree. I’m probably more frustrated with the Republicans, because I expected better from them and they grew our government and debt more than any in the past. But it takes time to get angry enough to mobilize. The tea parties grew from a slow-building frustration and the realization that both parties are screwing the people in order to keep the power for themselves. What I found interesting at the tea party I went to was that of all the people I met, NONE had ever protested before. We were all protest virgins.

]]> By: S Andrew Swann http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2009/04/remember-when-dissent-was-a-patriotic-duty.html#comment-4883 S Andrew Swann Sat, 18 Apr 2009 12:10:11 +0000 http://www.sandrewswann.com/?p=1423#comment-4883 David, while I feel your frustration, I can't help but point out that if we always measure the validity of evil's opposition based on the point in time the opposition started you can invalidate opposition to just about anything. (Where were you when they passed the Income Tax, huh? I didn't see you protesting then?) More importantly, how do you expect any movement to grow if your response to folks coming to a cause is "where the hell were you when I was voting for Ross Perot?" When things get so ugly and blatant that someone finally comes around to agree with you, be grateful, cause that means something might get done. David, while I feel your frustration, I can’t help but point out that if we always measure the validity of evil’s opposition based on the point in time the opposition started you can invalidate opposition to just about anything. (Where were you when they passed the Income Tax, huh? I didn’t see you protesting then?) More importantly, how do you expect any movement to grow if your response to folks coming to a cause is “where the hell were you when I was voting for Ross Perot?” When things get so ugly and blatant that someone finally comes around to agree with you, be grateful, cause that means something might get done.

]]> By: David http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2009/04/remember-when-dissent-was-a-patriotic-duty.html#comment-4880 David Sat, 18 Apr 2009 07:05:41 +0000 http://www.sandrewswann.com/?p=1423#comment-4880 You know what annoys me about these particular protesters, even though I agree with their complaint? Why didn't they speak out against Republican spendthriftness, too? Where was the bipartisan protest of Democrat/Republican deficits over the last 50-odd years, or the failure to pass a balanced-budget amendment? Now that it appears that the bill we kept putting off and putting off and putting off may actually come due, to the tune of $100,000+ for every man, woman and child, NOW they finally start protesting? To quote another movie line (about Johnnie-come-latlies): "Welcome to the party, pal!" You know what annoys me about these particular protesters, even though I agree with their complaint? Why didn’t they speak out against Republican spendthriftness, too? Where was the bipartisan protest of Democrat/Republican deficits over the last 50-odd years, or the failure to pass a balanced-budget amendment? Now that it appears that the bill we kept putting off and putting off and putting off may actually come due, to the tune of $100,000+ for every man, woman and child, NOW they finally start protesting? To quote another movie line (about Johnnie-come-latlies): “Welcome to the party, pal!”

]]> By: S Andrew Swann http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2009/04/remember-when-dissent-was-a-patriotic-duty.html#comment-4855 S Andrew Swann Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:04:50 +0000 http://www.sandrewswann.com/?p=1423#comment-4855 The protests are, almost universally, about the hemorrhaging of money from Congress and the Fed in what the protesters believe is a terribly misguided attempt to "fix" the economy. The "anti-tax" moniker is actually a misnomer glommed onto by those who really don't want to believe that a majority of people actually don't think all this Federal largess is manna from heaven. These are people who don't want their grandkids to pay for a two-trillion dollar hole this Congress is digging. Secondary issue; People don't like the Federal Government taking over major corporations, either directly, or by proxy (well we gave you the money, now you have to get rid of your CEO, and revise your salary structure. . .) The protests are, almost universally, about the hemorrhaging of money from Congress and the Fed in what the protesters believe is a terribly misguided attempt to “fix” the economy. The “anti-tax” moniker is actually a misnomer glommed onto by those who really don’t want to believe that a majority of people actually don’t think all this Federal largess is manna from heaven. These are people who don’t want their grandkids to pay for a two-trillion dollar hole this Congress is digging.

Secondary issue; People don’t like the Federal Government taking over major corporations, either directly, or by proxy (well we gave you the money, now you have to get rid of your CEO, and revise your salary structure. . .)

]]> By: DekoPuma http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2009/04/remember-when-dissent-was-a-patriotic-duty.html#comment-4854 DekoPuma Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:44:15 +0000 http://www.sandrewswann.com/?p=1423#comment-4854 What exactly are all these protests about? The only information I've really seen is reports like those you quoted. It's obvious that people are upset by something, but what exactly is it that they're trying to accomplish? Is there a goal or just a general voicing of dissatisfaction? What exactly are all these protests about? The only information I’ve really seen is reports like those you quoted. It’s obvious that people are upset by something, but what exactly is it that they’re trying to accomplish? Is there a goal or just a general voicing of dissatisfaction?

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