My Thoughts on Tea Parties...

Tomorrow Republicans, democrats, and independents will come together from all walks of life in Florence, South Carolina and in other cities across America to make history and to say, “We want our County, State and Country back…and we intend to have our voices heard!” Our voices will join those of Millions of Americans across the USA today who, with one loud voice, are proclaiming NO MORE TAXES and NO MORE PORK BARREL Spending!!

The voters of the Pee Dee do care and WE do have something to say. We must make Washington and Columbia understand that we are not alone in our protest of these horrific tax increases to cover bail outs and irresponsible budget increases that will bankrupt our country. For too long there has been a divide between our ELECTED officials and the citizens of our great nation. Too often we have become discouraged by those who are entrenched in the political world of Washington and Columbia. They have forgotten that they work for the voters! Perhaps because South Carolinians have not often come out in droves to protest, it can be assumed that we do not understand or care about what is happening…but that would be wrong. We do CARE and we will get involved!

Citizens against government waste recently put out the 2009 Pig Book. In this book they identify $19.6 billion dollars worth of pork barrel spending in the 2009 Federal budget. This is shameful and I don’t care if you are a republican, democrat, libertarian or some other party…It is shameful! A portion of this report that caught my attention was an appropriation for $1.8 million in funds which are earmarked for swine odor and manure management research. In his defense of his bill, Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee member Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) attempted to sum up its absurd and ridiculous nature by saying: “I’m sure that David Letterman and Jay Leno will be talking about it because we’ve got $1.8 million dollars to study why pigs smell.” Ladies and Gentlemen, I am no swine research expert but I did grow up on a farm here in the Pee Dee of South Carolina. PIGS smell and they have smelled since they were put on this earth by God. They smell because they are PIGS! What really smells is that the Federal Government is going to waste $1.8 million of our hard earned money in an effort to find out why! This is just one of the many absurd pieces of wasteful pork included in the $19.6 Billion that the Citizens against Government Waste have identified. We must not allow a handful of people and politicians to destroy our country and our children’s futures.

We must no longer allow ourselves to be divided by savvy politicians and media outlets. As we talk to people living in the Pee Dee Area, we are hearing the whispers of a movement that will no longer be afraid of accusations steeped in political correctness with the purpose of dividing and silencing us. We will no longer be patronized and made to believe that we are powerless. Together we can make a difference…and make a difference we will! We will not go silently into the night of socialism and transnationalism. There is a ground swell of people who are bewildered by what is happening in America and South Carolina Government. WE are no longer willing to trust our elected officials with the task of keeping us free from socialism. We are living in a time that will go down in the history books as a chapter in history impacted by phrase “WE THE PEOPLE….” We can and will no longer be silent. I encourage you to stand up and let your voice be heard! As a voter in this county, state and country you deserve both answers and accountability from your elected officials!