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.”