The Catskill Chronicle

Story by Leni Santoro

Photos by Sharon Space-Bamberger and Carol Montana

It was the Fourth of July in Liberty, the parade had passed, the festival was winding down when a different sort of tea party began.

“Join in our little tea party to show your concern about your rights and freedom [guaranteed] by the Constitution of the United States, Size of our [Government], Term Limits, and our [burgeoning] budget. Show your patriotism and help send a message.  Leave something for our children and grandchildren not $$11,000,000.000,000.00 debt, plus,” reads the statement on the Liberty New York Tea Party site.

Several people took them up on the invitation and marched up Main Street in Liberty to protest the rising national debt and the bailout policies being implemented by the current administration.

“Give me liberty, not debt,” read the sign being held by Becky Robinson, flanked by her sister Carly and father Dave.

In addition to the march up Main Street, a Tea Party was held in the parking lot of Yaun Company in Liberty. 

Richard Yaun was the main speaker. The rally was part of a nationwide protest against what some see as high taxes, uncontrolled government spending and a government that is out of touch with it’s citizenry. About 75 persons attended, many brandished signs with slogans  like, ” You can’t fix stupid, but you can vote them out.” Although the movement claims to be non-partisan, it is based on the original Boston tea party, which protested unjust taxation without representation.

The Liberty action was one of hundreds around the country. Tea Party protests are locally organized events that sprang into being across the country in early 2009. The events are in protest of the Federal budget and the stimulus package. Protesters perceive these as examples of wasteful government spending and unnecessary government growth. They oppose the increase in the national debt as well as possible future tax increases including, taxes on capital gains, estate taxes, federal income taxes and cigarette taxes.

Rush Limbaugh spoke in protest of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, it was a broadcast from the floor of the Chicago Board of Trade made by CNBC market commentator Rick Santelli that really seems to have gotten the ball rolling. Santelli not only criticized the government but raised the idea of a “Chicago Tea Party.” Tea Parties were held across the country on April 15 and now again on July 4th.

The tea parties rely on websites such as facebook to get their message across, though many independent websites such as the Liberty New York Tea Party site are springing up as well. To view more photos from the Liberty July 4th Tea Party, visit the Catskill Chronicle on Zenfolio.