After the numerous “tea parties” held around the nation yesterday, there are those who are quick to criticize. Although the purpose of the demonstrations was not, as many claim, to be against paying taxes, there are many people, including politicians, who are trying to be offended by it all. It was perhaps a mistake to hold these parties on the April 15 deadline of income tax payments. This leads short-attention span people easily into this false notion that it is anti-tax or anti-Obama. What the tea parties were supposed to do is make a statement against out-of-control spending and the frantic power-grab that the federal government is trying to do. The demonstrations were a way to show the President, Congress and the rest of the country that there are many people who disagree with this trend. But anyway, why would it be so shocking that some people might express disagreement with the policies of the President or Congress? What a difference one election makes in terms of what is considered taboo.

“News reporters” from the liberal media attempted to engage demonstraters in debates rather than ask what is was that the tea parties were about. Politicians, feeling threatened by the demonstrations began to realize that perhaps all was not well with their visions of utopia and their hopes that the unwashed masses will all flock to their side in a fawning display of undying dependence upon big government.

Rep. Schakowsky, a Democrat from Illinois, was but one example of a big government politician who seemed particularly offended by an opposing viewpoint to her own.

“It’s despicable that right-wing Republicans would attempt to cheapen a significant, honorable moment of American history with a shameful political stunt,” said the Democrat. She then went off on a tangent about how this was all promoted by corporations, evil Republicans, Fox News, and other American citizens. What is always mysterious is how the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution is so cherished by these types of people but then so reviled when faced with a cogent opposing argument. It is shameful that a representative of the United States Government attacks her own constituents with such fervor.

“Shameful political stunts” such as these have occured throughout the history of this great nation. Critical thinking and honest discussion is the appropriate method of dealing with the issue. The right to express one’s grievances against the government is one of the foundations of this nation. The tea parties were held in order to express the views of their participants – that bigger government controlling more of your life is not the direction in which to go; that out of control spending, especially on things that the government is not constitutionally authorized to be spending on (corporate bailouts and takeovers, etc.) must be stopped. In short, people paying taxes are saying that they are not happy with how their money is being spent.

Instead of a calm debate though, we are called “despicable” for disagreeing. Instead of an open forum, we get statistics, “yeah but”, “Well, Bush…”, and hate speech against “rich” taxpayers who fail to toe the line. Instead of reporters reporting the tea parties, we get insults and ridicule by the mainstream media. Instead of accepting opposing viewpoints, we get people fighting for the “Fairness” Doctrine to further limit the ability to air our grievances.

Long live the idea behind the tea parties – and long live the Constitution of the United States of America.