The First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
How did things come to such a pass that the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States feels comfortable calling people exercising their rights to free speech and assembly guaranteed by the First Amendment “Un-American?”
How It Started
–The unprecedented bailout and federal takeover of the financial sector
–The unprecedented bailout and federal takeover of automakers
–The rushed passage of the $787 billion stimulus bill
–The stealthy passage of cap and trade in the House during a late Friday night session, just after the addition of 300+ pages to the bill
–Proposed health care reform legislation that will nationalize 1/6th of the economy
–National debt over $11 trillion
These and other events in Washington led to the formation of the Tea Party Movement, a spontaneous gathering of people who have similar views about the massive expansion of federal government, the rapidly-increasing debt, and a sense that elected representatives are disconnected from ordinary voters. That’s how Northwest Indiana Patriots came into being.
Before organizations like Tea Parties and NWIP were formed, many people would write, email, fax and call their representatives with their views. They would sign petitions, and urge their families, friends and neighbors to do the same. They would write letters to their local newspapers, and call in to local radio talk shows. But mostly, people would complain to each other and shake their heads over the direction in which they saw their country going, feeling helpless to change it.
The Tea Party Movement changed all that. (more…)
