Valdosta Tea Party

By Johnna Pinholster

July 04, 2009 10:56 pm

— VALDOSTA — The core values of American patriotism were on display Saturday in downtown Valdosta.
Citizens and members of the Valdosta Tea Party held placards and protested what they feel is exorbitant spending by the government at all levels.
Organizer John Burford said Saturday’s activities were not only a protest but a way to get educational information about what the government is doing out to the public.
Information from a host of news sources and Web sites was available for free and a copy of the Constitution of the United States of America could be purchased for a $1.50.
People could also sign their names pre-written letters to government officials at all levels. Each letter included a tea bag.
At the April 15 protest, Burfurd mailed 402 letters; on Saturday he hoped to get more than 600.
Burford said the goal is to get people informed about the proposed spending by the national government over the next 10 years, drilling for oil in America and the spending of American tax dollars to bring Middle Eastern refugees to America.
This is Burford third protest and his second tea party protest.
“Like everyone else I sat on my butt and let it go,” Burford said.
But the bailouts and other recent issues have pushed him to speak out, he said.
“We want to educate people and hope to get them thinking about things like term limits,” Burford said. “Our representatives aren’t listening.”
Burford said it seems like many
congressmen are willing to sell a vote on one issue if it brings a monetary
development into their district.
“And if they are going to do that we need to get them out of there,” he said. “You can’t spend your way out of trouble.”
Also on display was a large television showing motivational speaker and actor Bob Basso dressed up as pamphlet writer Thomas Paine.
Basso’s videos—a response to bank bailouts—were originally posted on YouTube in March of this year. In the videos Basso discusses the stimulus package and calls for a second American Revolution.
Amelia Beasley said this was her second time coming out to protest.
“I do not believe in what our government is doing pertaining to taxes,” she said. It is time for all Americans to stand together to get something done, she said.
Eden Dempsey held an American flag umbrella purchased at President George W. Bush’s inauguration and also had tea bags hanging from her sunglasses.
“I care about America and they are bankrupting our grandchildren before they even get here,” she said. “Somewhere along the way America got turned upside down.”
Dempsey said that through events like this the government will remember that it is they who are working for the people, not the people working for them.
Bryan McLeod said he and his wife, Linda, came out because they are patriots.
“Something needs to be done, people need to stand up together,” he said.
The government bailouts where what finally pushed McLeod into action he said.
“I’m also totally against socialism; the Constitution does not recognize socialism,” McLeod said.
Across from McLeod protesters carried signs proclaiming “Taxed Enough Already,” “Socialism is not an American Value” and “Give me Liberty, not Debt.”

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