Anti-tax Tea Parties

Gov. Rick Perry fired up people attending an Austin anti-tax "tea party" last week by implying that Texas could secede from the United States, and that if "Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, you know, who knows what might come of that." Perry claimed that when Texas joined the United States in 1845, it retained the option of being able to pull out.

Unsurprisingly, Perry has his facts wrong. Texas had the option of later splitting into four states but never the right to secede. Most folks recall the Civil War was fought because Southern states, including Texas, seceded from the Union. Most folks also recall the South lost that war, which settled the secession question. Texas did consider splitting up into more than one state during Reconstruction, but obviously nothing ever came of that.

It's one thing for the average citizen to entertain such far-fetched notions as the possibility that Texas could actually secede and exist as a separate nation. But it's quite another for the state's chief executive to indulge in such foolish talk.

Besides, if you think taxes are high now, imagine if the state's taxpayers had to completely fund a military, Social Security, Medicare, the postal system, highway construction and repair, diplomatic missions and a myriad of items now funded by the federal government. Admittedly it's with our money, but at least the burden is spread among taxpayers in 50 states.
Perry takes issue with the stimulus package passed by Congress. That's fine. But extending that protest to implying Texas taxpayers could get so fed up they would try to no longer be Americans borders on subversion. We are all Americans first, not Texans first.

Further, Perry's public speaking over the past few months seems to us a direct result of him being locked in a tough re-election battle against U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, who has all but announced she's running for governor in 2010. Most polls show her far ahead, though nobody ought to write off Perry, who is a tough campaigner.

It's not just a good idea for citizens to speak up about how elected officials do their job, it's their duty. And, it's something that should be carried out every day, every week, every month. In other words, it shouldn't be considered a "special event."

The "tea parties" that were held throughout Texas and other states was considered a special event. It was a political protest against a decision by the Bush administration, Congress and the current administration to use taxpayer money to bail out financial institutions and insurers in the hope of avoiding a depression.

I fervently hope that it will work. Considering the devastating and long-lasting effect the Great Depression had on this country, we should all hope that it does, even for those who aren't in favor of a bailout.

The tea parties, while also described as a protest against "taxation without representation," was nothing of the kind. There was representation. President George W. Bush was elected to represent the United States by a majority of the citizens. He didn't ascend to the Oval Office through a royal lineage. Neither did President Barack Obama, nor our congressional representatives.

It's important to note that not every member of Congress supported the bailout plan — U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, for one. I thought his tax holiday plan, though not perfect, had merit. In any case, it was an alternative plan. It wasn't just a hands-off policy to let the market work.
Certainly, a government bailout is going to cost us all, but then so would a depression. Given the choice between no work and working harder or having less and having nothing, I'd choose to work harder and have less.

Unnecessary political projects aren't a new concept. Some of the projects built by the government program aimed at giving jobless young men something to do in the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps, might have been considered unnecessary. Giving people work, which is the aim of an economic stimulus, is useful in itself. Besides, many millions have benefitted from the use of public parks, facilities and schools built by the CCC for the past seven decades.

That's not to say that I support handing over billions, no questions asked. Congress should be asking questions, holding people accountable. They should have been doing that all along. We all should have. More people need to get engaged in the political process. And more importantly, stay engaged, long after the party is over.

However, I find talk of secession from the governor embarrassing. It's reminiscent of what came from the Republic of Texas Militia in the mid 1990s. Most folks then found such talk foolish, even dangerous. I think the same of Perry's remarks last week.