America’s Tea Party | July 4, 2009
The Boston Tea Party was an act of direct protest by American Colonists demanding representation in the British Government. They became known as the original patriots.
America’s Tea Party of 2009 will reinvigorate that American and Patriotic spirit; one that demands respect for individual rights and property. As the bailouts spiral out of control, we are forced to fund failed banks. With foreclosures on the rise, we are made the collateral of reckless spending. And, when the bills come due, the IRS knocks on the door of “self-responsibility”.
ENOUGH!
America is the land of opportunity. To succeed AND to Fail. Without consequences, what is our incentive to learn? What is our incentive to produce? On July 4, 2009, those that ask nothing from the government but the protection of our inalienable right to succeed, will gather in Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston , and everywhere in between across the country in an historic act of direct protest.
Dissent is the highest form of Patriotism. - Thomas Paine
modelmotion said:
It is time to stand up to the corruption that is government in Washington DC. Their corruption and stupidity is now costing us trillions. We simply cannot afford them any more. It is time to change the system.
February 20th, 2009 at 1:08 am
Andy said:
Washington, D.C. is in a state of panic:
—rushing $787 billion bills through without reading them, sending Bernanke to Europe to talk about central-planning with world economic leaders, unable to find out where half of the money goes right-off-the-bat, etc.
They should just at least be honest and tell the American people that they don’t have a damned clue as to what to do. Maybe we can try that old thing called ’self-determination’ and fix the problem ourselves.
Freedom works, too.
February 20th, 2009 at 4:24 am
jose said:
Great job Rick;
Did you forget to open your mouth on Banks bail out and the great American greed?
February 20th, 2009 at 4:30 am
Karen said:
It is time to take back our government. We don’t need a government that will empower people not make them dependent on them. The responsible people in this country who have lived within their means, paid their monthly payment, payed off their mortgages are not going to be responsible for the people who took out these government approved, wrecklessly underwritten mortgages. There people can not pay their mortgages now - THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REPAY THESE NEW
MODIFIED MORTGAGES. Government is delaying the inevitable. Everyone agrees the housing market is the first priority to get this economy moving again. This mortgage bail out will only stall these efforts.
Don’t wait for July for this tea party- the American people forget to easily. Most of them have already forgotten 911.
Santilli is also right in saying that our forefathers are rolling over in their graves
February 20th, 2009 at 4:32 am
Nancy said:
Thank you Rick for standing up and speaking out for ALL Americans that feel the same way. The rest of us try to spread this message through emails and we try to make our point whenever we can. You however had the forum to make a difference and the opportunity to let your and OUR VOICES be heard. You have a tea party my friend and I will come and I know MANY others that will be there also. Thank you!!!! and don’t back down. You are the TRUE American voice in the mess.
February 20th, 2009 at 4:54 am
TheGreatAmericanWimps said:
We only do what American Women & The Government tell us to do.
Social Engineering made us this way.
We fear their disapproval even though G-d, Government, Women, and Society Don’t Care About Us.
February 20th, 2009 at 5:31 am
Brian said:
Is this Tea Party to be in 2009 or 2010? I thought he said this summer?
February 20th, 2009 at 5:34 am
smoothawley said:
Rick,
Absolutely brilliant. We are repaeting the same mistakes that got us into this mess and it is time to stop.
In Hoc signo Vinces +
February 20th, 2009 at 5:45 am
Marcus said:
Supporters of Ron Paul’s Campaign for Liberty are coming together on April 17th to send the first in a series of financial jolts to END THE FED…
LIBERTY or MAYHEM!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nvq7IF7nxds
February 20th, 2009 at 5:51 am
Bill Bro said:
I’m shocked! 300 million Americans are being punished because less than 10% of homeowners were scoundrels? Let’s do the right thing: punish those who defaulted–rather than reward them for this lousy behavior. The banks should fail, as should Wall Street, and the auto makers. If we’re going to bail anyone out, let it be those of us who behaved ethically and responsibly.
February 20th, 2009 at 6:11 am
leo boston said:
I Agree! We gotta stop this maddness… Comming from an ex-communist country I know how it starts and only GOD knows how it ends.
The only problem about Boston is that including me there are a total number of 10 fiscal conservatives left. The rest has moved out of state.
February 20th, 2009 at 6:11 am
houston mom said:
I LOVE this idea. My husband and I have been talking about doing something to say “ENOUGH!” Lets have one in Houston as well.
February 20th, 2009 at 6:46 am
Chri said:
We have all seen the power of Acorn to create a voting base. The true idealistic American who believes in what this country was founded on and stood for, for almost 200 years, has been waiting for a leader to assemble under. Much like the theme of Atlas Shrugged, the people that make this country happen believe in individual responsibility and are tired of supporting the irresponsible behaviors of our follow citizens. As our government teeters on the brink of outright socialism we must raise our voices. I’m with Rick or anyone who believes in responsibility.
I think our first step as a group to make our passive point to the leaders in Washington should be repeated mailings of tea bags, much as they were symbolically displayed at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange today, to demonstrate our resolve to resist socialistic policies. A steady stream to all elected officials will get there attention as well as the media.
February 20th, 2009 at 6:51 am
James said:
Generally, protests are done by grassroots activists. Financial traders are not grassroots activists, they vote and persuade with the checkbook, not the picket sign.
If this movements gains enough support, it has potentially historic ramifications.
February 20th, 2009 at 6:58 am
Ashley said:
It is high time to take back our country:
1. The USA has outgrown open immigration, much like Japan
2. The Social-poverty concentration programs of the Surplus years failed, and must be unwound
3. Our cities must be redeveloped to host taxpayers instead of empowering entitlement dependents
4. Taxes should apply to all adults, instead less than 50% pay
5. Welfare should be abolished
February 20th, 2009 at 7:04 am
Jt-HoustonAg said:
Rick, nice job standing up for us–the people who actually pay our bills, but we all can’t show up to Chicago. We need to do this around the country so everyone who wants to participate can participate. We can do it here in Houston as well. I would be you have people all over the U.S. willing to come out and be heard.
February 20th, 2009 at 7:06 am
Anthony G said:
2009 or 2010 whats the deal with the discrepencies? I will attend Boston but I wish we could do one in the DC Metro area!
February 20th, 2009 at 7:25 am
jt said:
No Los Angeles, I will bring Los Angeles to you. I will bring bus loads of people from SoCal to Chicago. This has to be done on Obama’s turf. Organize man, organize. 2010 is too far away. 2009, we need to be heard right now. Come on, lets go. Ill work SoCal and recruit in SoCal.
February 20th, 2009 at 7:40 am
Texas Aggie said:
2010? Why so far away? Action needs to be taken now, not a year and a half from now!
February 20th, 2009 at 7:50 am
Left Coast Tom said:
I see…we bail out Rick Santelli’s incompetent buddies with $700 billion in TARP money and he’s cool with that. Congress passes a stimulus program to get the real economy moving, increasing the “G” part of GDP=C+I+G to partially make up for Santelli’s incompetent buddies destroying the “I” part, and all of a sudden he has a problem. Boo hoo.
February 20th, 2009 at 7:52 am
some-farker said:
Good thinking, Rick. However, and I don’t want to sound like a Debbie Downer, how do you expect this to really affect anything? The Powers That Be will just see a few thousand people marching around and wave it off like some pesky house fly buzzing around their evening meal.
Do you REALLY think this will have ANY outcome that will benefit the American people? Would be nice, if it did, don’t get me wrong…
February 20th, 2009 at 8:05 am
TJ said:
Unite for Liberty, or we will never see it’s shining light for generations. Fight for your children and thier’s, if not yours.
February 20th, 2009 at 8:15 am
chasd00 said:
Every officer who approved a liar loan for an unsuspecting or ignorant borrower, every speculator who bought what they can’t afford, and every banker who drew up obscene predatory terms and obfuscated risk to investors must be held accountable. They have shown to be a liability to the American way of life. They must be removed from society that is the bottom line that is justice.
February 20th, 2009 at 8:19 am
Joe & Sue Curtis said:
HOORAY!!
Finally someone is speaking up for “WE THE PEOPLE”.
Thank you Rick Santelli!!!!!
Keep speaking for us. Keep fighting for our rights. Keep our voices going to Washington DC. … maybe they will finally listen, knowing that “WE THE PEOPLE” are outraged.
February 20th, 2009 at 8:34 am
Gus said:
I can’t believe people are falling for your bullshit. Divide and conquer never fails with the clueless American people. Here’s a clue, people: people like Rick Santelli are part of the problem.
February 20th, 2009 at 8:38 am
Billy said:
Can we get behind this Rick Santelli? Who is he? A financial trader? I don’t know anything about him and I’m not saying he has any personal responsibility. But aren’t the financial traders the ones who got us in this mess? Offering shady loans to the masses while reaping huge rewards on Wall Street.
If you want to give me confidence that this country is doing the right thing, then put the ones that ARE responsible for this in prison where they BELONG! Including the people in Washington who let this happen while we the citizens could do nothing because we have no lobbying power.
Now Washington is pissing away billions in borrowed money to bail out irresponsible individuals and companies. You can’t fix stupid (Ron White). Giving irresponsible individuals and companies more money to be irresponsible with is not the answer. Let them learn the hard way. Invest in those of us that know what to do with the money.
All of this bailout is sickening. Especially our car companies. Look what Toyota did after their first negative quarter in company history. But our car companies have had negative quarter after negative quarter and did nothing to help themselves until it was too late.
But there is a lot of blame to go around. We need to take back this country and put fiscally responsible people in charge. Not Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid.
February 20th, 2009 at 8:40 am
Andy said:
Here’s Rick Santelli from September of last year, on the $850 Billion bailout:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-1g0OZJIdk&feature=PlayList&p=28F92FD76E8BFCF1&playnext=1&index=37
Government just scares the People to make power-grabs and throw away more money.
First it was Bush and the Republicans doing it, now it’s Obama and the Democrats. NOTHING has changed. Washington, D.C. doesn’t work for us, they answer to the failing corporations that despise free-market competition.
The DOW average didn’t like the bail-outs then, and it won’t like them now.
February 20th, 2009 at 9:15 am
Barbara R. said:
OMG Rick, why didn’t you run for President! I don’t care what party affiliation you are we must take back our country now. This was the greatest country in the world, we stood for freedom and free markets. Now we are becoming everything we ever fought against. When are we going to wake up and smell the roses? This is a diliberate, organized attempt grab the power forever. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to see this: you just need to pay attention to what is happening every day. We have Hugo Chavez in the White House. Here is a man that could have changed history in more ways than one for the good of our country and he is destroying our country economically for a POWER GRAB! He has plenty of help from, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, etc.
I love America and my grandchildren and I stand behind you, Rick!
A peasant!
February 20th, 2009 at 9:32 am
TjL said:
Ill see you in July!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=5505841&ref=profile#/group.php?gid=56760555635&ref=mf
February 20th, 2009 at 9:42 am
RonPaulWasRIGHT said:
Apparently the politicians haven’t been listening to the sound of America screaming while they bankrupt us. Time to walk softly and bring a baseball bat.
February 20th, 2009 at 9:56 am
Frank said:
Everyone is bleating on how Rick didn’t address the bank bailout. He doesn’t support bailing out Wall Street either, read the top of his screed.
Rick is right on the money, it is a shame so few are willing to state the obvious.
February 20th, 2009 at 10:02 am
Jim said:
Rick,
Here is my RSVP for the TEA PARTY!!! IM there!!! we need to fight back NOW!!!
Jim / Aurora
February 20th, 2009 at 10:02 am
Richard Stewart said:
Thank you Rick. I am 72 years old and tired of being quiet. How about adding some cities to the list and make this thing big. I live in Tampa and will help where I can.
February 20th, 2009 at 10:11 am
mark z said:
Greed, ignorance & pride is what’s ruined this society.
This should be a perfect opportunity to cleanse our life style for the future.
Bailing out failed financial schemes is like allowing open drug use for junkies. It will corrupt and drag down everyone related to the addicts.
No, No and NO for “helping” the foreclosure “victims” !
February 20th, 2009 at 10:17 am
Bonnie Tsurudome said:
It is about time the silent majority was silent no more - Enough is enough!!
February 20th, 2009 at 10:20 am
william butcher said:
Rick is absoluly right. The United States should suspend all foreign aid and use the money for our benefit
February 20th, 2009 at 10:25 am
Marie Nelson said:
I have been telling my husband that we need a Revolution in this country to tell the Congress and President that its time you represent us and not yourselves. I understand that the election was about change but lets fact it the people that voted in masses don’t read History or have little understanding. I might not be a genius but I understand that most people do not want to pay for their neighbors mistakes. We already do that when people default on lots of other payments. Enough. I watch CNBC all the time when I work at home. I am a Real Estate Agent. I saw people buy homes with no money down and try to tell them that the rates could go up with adjustables and borrowing first and second mortgages was a bad idea. They would just say I will be making more money or can refinance. WE could see this coming. What about members of Congress trying to push homeownership on individuals that could not afford it. I grew up in an apartment and that just makes you strive harder. I also real a lot of American History and am presently reading The Glory and the Dream, great book, but it shows that The Roosevelt administrations answers did not work, the war did. Anyway I hope this government wakes up soon.
February 20th, 2009 at 10:28 am
Daniel Arnswald said:
Rick has verbalized what all of us are feeling. The hardworking individuals in this country have irreconcilable philosophical values about freedom, personal responsibility and government intrusions. It’s time to wrestle the control of our nation away from moronic self-serving politicians and put people in place that will serve one term to represent their community constituents.
Dan
February 20th, 2009 at 10:37 am
Joel Ross said:
the right answer is for the government in the form of a new RTC, to do short sale purchases of all the underwater houses that are near foreclosure. Then rent the house back to the former owner for 12 months maximum with the rule that at 12 months if they have not moved they will be evicted. This makes fact of the reality that the current owner has no equity and is just renting the house from the bank. The short lease forces them to move to a house they can afford. The taxpayers get to collect rent instead of paying a subsidy to an irresponsible owner. The one year lease allows a smooth transition and still punishes the old owner for being irresponsible by forcing them to move out of a house they cannot afford.
February 20th, 2009 at 10:40 am
judy said:
Hi just wanted to say that all American taxpayers or just plain old American citizens should keep writing letters and see what we can do to turn the tide. My electric bill is up 28% since last month. They got a raise. I asked them ” did you get any money from the stimulus pkgs.?” I for one am worried sick over everything.I am disabled on oxygen and there seems no hope for anyone unless of course you are with the few that got us into this mess in the first place..
February 20th, 2009 at 10:47 am
Deborah said:
Count me In!
I have mailed a Tea bag to the White House!
I don’t think I’m the only one….the state controlled Left media is not reporting it!
I can make the drive to Houston! Let’s pick a spot!
February 20th, 2009 at 10:53 am
Business Lawyer said:
What a bunch of nonsense. Overvaluing the opinion of the holders and controllers of capital and justifying a grandiose expectation on returns without concomitant work has brought us to this point.
This isn’t so much about saving those that are in foreclosure - it is about placing a floor on the values of those who aren’t in foreclosure.
The scenario that we face is the Japanese Lost Decade.
Want to be able to take a job in another city and sell your house? Or now that investments have tanked, would you like to be able to tap into 10-15 years’ worth of paid down home equity? Or how about keeping a business afloat by taking on a loan against paid down equity? Perhaps a relative has died and their home has to be sold.
Ironically, I note that many of the most rabid mouthbreathers of the right wing punditocracy tend to be unmarried and childless, so they’re not nearly as personally responsible for other people as the “losers” they decry.
February 20th, 2009 at 11:13 am
Corey Trench said:
Bravo. Well said, Rick!!!
February 20th, 2009 at 11:25 am
Hollman said:
Thank you, Rick, there are so many of us that appreciate your honesty. The best part is that it reached millions of people through the elite media. Our children and the future children are at stake here. It is time we rise up for this great country!!
February 20th, 2009 at 11:27 am
Sven t.- CFA said:
Hey lawyer, what about the working poor? You know, the immigrants, minorities and others from disadvantaged backgrounds who dream of working for and owning a home someday? Put a floor on home prices and lock them out, huh?
How caring of you. Your hatred for those who actually build and create has blinded you. The market cycle purges poor performers and lowers prices. It opens the door to prosperity for newcomers. It is absolutely required if we are to have economic democracy and open opportunity for everyone.
February 20th, 2009 at 11:27 am
AW said:
This has reached WV. I will pass it out to all my friends here. I LIKE this idea. Bail out the ones who can make their house payments. Give us money but not at the expense of everyone else.
February 20th, 2009 at 11:30 am
Cindy said:
Rick, I hope they do not fire you for saying what all of us informed people have been thinking for the last month. These bailouts will ruin our Country. Obama will take away all incentive for people to work and improve their lives. They will wait for the government to ” Help” them.
It’s all about the biggest power grab of our life time.
I LOVE tea and I’m ready for the party.
February 20th, 2009 at 11:31 am
DJShay said:
Rich white guy rants about the losers in middle class. Wages haven’t gone up for 20 years but costs have doubled. Except for those on wall street of course. There will be a revolution, just not the kind Mr. Santelli was ranting about. The class war is about to begin.
February 20th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Mia said:
You go… I am all in.
February 20th, 2009 at 11:44 am
Linda said:
The tea party should start now, when you send in your income tax, how about April 15, 2009?….Yes some Americans have short memories and 911 is proof.
February 20th, 2009 at 11:48 am
George said:
Lets do this. Although many Americans are losing their home simply because they lost their job or work is slow, many are getting kicked out because the home they bought was simply too much home. We can’t simply continue to bail out the ones who made bad choices, can we? Let me answer that, we can not.
February 20th, 2009 at 11:51 am
Business Lawyer said:
sven - “Your hatred for those who actually build and create has blinded you. The market cycle purges poor performers and lowers prices. It opens the door to prosperity for newcomers.”
My ass. Neither Santelli nor those mouthy thugs on the mercantile trading floors are builders or creators - they’re simply skimming a heaping helping off of the pipeline between the producers and the end users, and have perverted the purpose of any free market.
As things stand now, the “market cycle” favors and magnifies the status quo of imbalances on the way in, enabling the powerful to gain even more wealth; this translates into greater degrees of undemocratic control and power.
But do stick with the self-abusive notion that the “loser” victims of layoffs and other economic disruptions will simply continue to meekly accept the solutions offered by suit-wearing sycophants.
February 20th, 2009 at 11:56 am
William W said:
Right on Mr Santelli. I have suggested on local talk radio that we get one million people together that can donate 1.00 to the chicago tea party. I am ready and have gave notice to whitehouse.gov that I plan on being there. Your courage is very powerful, like joe the plumber, who was an accidental capture, you are intentional and I defend your right to speak against the great White-Wash. corruption. You know what the real cause of all this is? Voter apathy over that great number of years! it has emboldened politicians to be deceptive and abuse their elected power. their power is only as abusive as the electorate allows them to be. Now is the time to embrace change in electorate and speak up more against the great White-Wash on both sides of the aisle. I blame them both. thanks for standing up and we are with you, if He is for us, who can be against us? regards William
February 20th, 2009 at 11:57 am
bill c said:
Way to go Rick. Tell that sanctimonious Lauer and Williams to stick it up their you know what. Looks like the truth squads are in action since your speech on the air the other day. It takes men of integrity to say what you did and bravery to stand for it after you say it. Believe me when I say there is probably 95% of American behind what you said.
February 20th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Lee said:
This is a GREAT idea. We need to get Rush, Hannity , Savage ect to expose this idea to MILLIONS.This needs to be a NATIONAL movement involving MILLIONS. Any ideashow to promote the TEA PARTY?
February 20th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
John & Marian said:
We’re with you all the way, Rick, and will be at the nearest “tea party”. We retired with what we thought was 40 years of money, now it’s probably down to 20! So, it’s back to work, and we’ll make it through without any help from the government. They’ve helped (decimate our savings) enough!
Others have said and we agree that the problem is not Democrats or Republicans… It is a bias for big-government solutions to everything, regardless of party.
We vote for “Club for Growth” to aid in the revolution. Go to http://www.clubforgrowth.org/about-why-join.php to learn more.
Please read: Atlas Shrugged, Free to Choose, and Leviathon on the Right for more ammunition.
Go get’em Rick!!
February 20th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
it's time said:
We have to have one in every major city across this country, not just Chicago. More people will protest if it’s closer to their home city and, there’s not enough room to hold all of us in Chicago anyways. We need DC, Boston, Chicago, Houston, LA, Miami, Seattle, Des Moines, Sacramento, Vegas, Atlanta, Portland, San Antonio, even places like Fargo and Birmingham are needed! (I leave out SF b/c I don’t think San Fran citizens are against these bailouts hence Sacramento as the place for NorCal people)
February 20th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Billy said:
Everyone should make up a sign and put in their car window. Use something thick like cardboard and write http://www.reTEAPARTY.com with some bright color marker. Put it in a safe place like in the bottom corner of you back window. Or make bumper stickers.
Get word out to Rush, Hanity, Savage, etc. Spread the word on Facebook and MySpace. Email to everyone you know. How could others not pass this along? Tell all your friends to put http://www.reTEAPARTY.com in their car windows and spread the word.
February 20th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Becky said:
My new hero! Rick, we’ll be there in L.A.!!!
February 20th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
T-Bone said:
It is worth noting that the “Taste of Chicago” festival will be going on at the same time, so there is even more incentive to make the trip.
February 20th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Peter G. Voisin said:
Tea Party Instructions.
1. Read the Constitution. (http://www.constitution.org/constit_.htm)
2. Use it when you are attacked for limited government and “playing by the rules”.
3. Change your voter registration to “Independent”. Let that be the majority party in America. No lobby money. No party money.
4. Sit back in you chair and watch the “leeches” go crazy.
Definition of “Leeches”:
Any institution that “feeds” off the taxpayer and creates NOTHING.
The Congress
The Media
The Banks
Wall Street
Only the taxpayer creates something through their labor or their savings.
Because Congress, Banks, Wall Street, and The Media are not “creators” they have no understanding of real value in our society.
The national budget must be balanced. The public debt must be reduced; the arrogance of the authorities must be moderated and controlled. Payments to foreign governments must be reduced, if the nation doesn’t want to go bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance.
Cicero (106 BC - 43 BC), 55 BC
(When does the wisdom start in our public education system? Do we need to spend MORE money on it?)
February 20th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
T-Bone said:
Also, don’t forget to dress like Indians.
February 20th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Fat Man said:
Why are waiting until July. At the rate things are going going, it may be too late. Let’s do it much sooner. Say, March 1. And more locations.
February 20th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Andy said:
545 PEOPLE
By Charlie Reese
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them..
Have you ever wondered why, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?
Have you ever wondered why, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?
You and I don’t propose a federal budget. The president does.
You and I don’t have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.
You and I don’t write the tax code, Congress does.
You and I don’t set fiscal policy, Congress does.
You and I don’t control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.
One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices, 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.
I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.
I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don’t care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator’s responsibility to determine how he votes.
Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.
What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits. The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.
The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? Nancy Pelosi.
She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.
It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted — by present facts — of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can’t think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.
If the tax code is unfair, it’s because they want it unfair.
If the budget is in the red, it’s because they want it in the red.
If the Army & Marines are in IRAQ , it’s because they want them in IRAQ
If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it’s because they want it that way.
There are no insoluble government problems.
Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like “the economy,” “inflation,” or
“politics” that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.
Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.
They, and they alone, have the power.
They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses.
Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees.
We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!
Charlie Reese is a former columnist of theOrlando Sentinel Newspaper.
What you do with this article now that you have read it is up to you.
February 20th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Lynn said:
Finally someone has beautifully expressed what most of us think and steadfastly believe. I work my butt off as a nurse in an urban hosptial and I do not want a dime of my hard earned money going to some moron who did not read their mortgage papers or simply did not care. The government needs to let the homeowners fail. Pick yourself up by your own bootstraps people. My little bit of wealth (little the key word) is for MY KIDS not for irresponsible adults! I’m sick of it and my senator Bob Corker needs to stop the cable chatter and do something!!!!!!! My 401k was raped, I want my money back and the 13 bucks I will get in my check will not begin to make up for the loss I incurred. I will continue to incur at the mercy of the US government. My son, a medical school student will graduate with $200,000 in debt it will be years before he will contribute to the GDP. I say help out he kids as the middle aged morons who through greed and stupidity don’t deserve a stinking dime.
February 20th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Pointer Obvious said:
Rick Santelli = This week’s “Joe the Plumber.” Enjoy your very brief ride.
February 20th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Greg said:
Rick, Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am a seasoned entrepreneur who is trying to raise capital and launch in this insane environment. Want a real bailout? Give private and institutional investors a reason to take a risk and allow for capital formation in early stage businesses again. Reduce cap gains, provide tax credits for early stage investments, etc. Keep it up. Ill be there for the tea party!
February 20th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Michael Stanton said:
http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/
February 20th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
William Santille said:
I am totally on board with what Rick has stated and will participate with my friends from the finacial markets. It just does not make sense to reward bad behavior ……what is wrong with telling these people that cannot pay their mortgages on their homes to RENT!!!!….Its not like they had money to begin with and had home ownership prior to them getting no money down and no paycheck required loans.
Yes, capitalism is not friendly sometimes and thats LIFE!. What if the remaining 90% of us decided that we did not want to pay our monthly mortgages? Certainly then we would see a full collapse in the financial marketplace if that were to transpire. The markets need time to play out and force feeding polical agenda’s down our throats with our Taxpayer money is not what I call a democracy.
On a personal note, I wrote a few weeks ago about Thomas Jefferson sayiing that the Constitution was only good for about 200 years and that it is ironic that I also mentioned the Boston Tea party and the Tax revolt issues raised were similar then as it is today with little representation in goverment for and by the people. There is a huge disconnect between what the politians do (they put themselves first and remember they sometimes feel they are entitled to NOT pay taxes!)for their own agenda versus what is good for the people and the country. A good example of this is the idea of income redistribution….I think the $700 billion financial Package is just that…take the money from 90% of the RESPONSIBLE Citizens and redistribute that to people who I doubt even have a job let alone proper credit history…..Where is the incentive to do better? Do we reward lazyness and those that made bad life decisions???
Life is not fair folks and neither are credit/financial markets…
I for the life of me cannot understand HOW we let in a Treasury Secretary that is a tax cheat himslef, to lead this Financial Crises. I for the past few weeks have not seen ANY LEADERSHIP from him in stabilizing Wall Street or MainStreet.
Finally, being a Chicago native and in the financial industry for over 25 years, I have never seen anything like this. Rick you have my support and Im glad you spoke up. Over 90% of the people of this country feel exactly what you siad…ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. We need to take back control and place it back to the WORKING people of this country.
February 20th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Business Lawyer said:
William - “Yes, capitalism is not friendly sometimes and thats LIFE!. What if the remaining 90% of us decided that we did not want to pay our monthly mortgages?”
Idiot. Some of us who have been diligently paying down our mortgages for 10-15 years, and because of the way that declining mortgage balances are calculated, are facing situations where our equity is at a big, fat ZERO.
Your “capitalism is not friendly” system has also managed to destroy our formerly substantial savings.
Now, if a certain loudmouthed, Oxycontin-addled, filthy hog of a pundit remains childless (thank God) and doesn’t need to reach his assets for responsibilities in education and training, then I suppose “that’s life” doesn’t have far reaching ramifications. Unfortunately, it does have ramifications for a helluvalot of parents of teens.
I’m sick of the ignorance of trailer trash right wing populism. You’re so manipulable at the hands of slick hustlers in suits and fat guys at microphones that they can get you to vote against your own best interests over and over and over again.
Even if it destroys you, you’re stupid enough to follow them.
February 20th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Mrs. Pilgrim said:
Here’s an idea. Set up one of these in Houston and invite Ron Paul to speak!
February 20th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Philip R. Tripp said:
If you, like me can’t afford to go to Chicago for the tea party, how about if we all mail a tea bag to President Obama at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue!
“The greatest danger to American freedom is a government that ignores the Constitution.”
- Thomas Jefferson
February 20th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Huh? said:
Err Rick? I hate to break it to you but revolutions are rarely successfully led by the people who created the problems in the first place. I mean it’s nice to blame the victims for the resulting problems because they’re poorer than you and don’t have equal access to the news media, but revolutions have an inconvenient way of eliminating the rich. Ask the French.
February 20th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
CHAR. said:
Way to go!! Love it, love it love it!! I am emailing this link to everybody I know. You can count me in to be at the ‘Tea Party’! Thank the lord for speaking out! Houston, Tx.
February 20th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
John & Marian said:
To: Business Lawyer
I know you won’t, but you REALLY need to read “Free to Choose”. Yes, it’s by Milton & Rose Friedman. He won the Nobel Prize when it still meant something.
Still available at Amazon.
February 20th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Rush Weston said:
This is a great concept. Tea Party II or is it Tea Party 2009. Why wait until July 4th. Lets all mail Obama, Nancy Pelosi and our congressional reps a tea bag, or a box of tea and let them know what we believe in NOW. I think I’ll even mail tea with my tax return.
February 20th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Smarter than the Avg Bear said:
Mr BusinessLaywer,
You thou almighty stuck up attitutude does not belong on this forum…go back to your cave on the left wing and hang around those idiots! Your exactly the type we are talking about here on this forum!!
February 20th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Houston Dad said:
It doesn’t need to be just in those 3 cities. A lot of people won’t be able to travel. Lets put them in more major cities across the nation that want to participate! We definitely need one in the South. I say Houston since it too is a port city.
February 20th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
I_Blame_Hamilton said:
Invite Ron Paul please.
February 20th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Vera Flynn said:
This tea parties need to be organized in all 50 states. In addition, each state should to send their own pick representatives armed with thousands of constituent’s signatures march on the D.C. Capitol,April 15. Symbolically burn our tax returns and have signs that say, “Enough is Enough!” and “No Taxation without Representation”….since apparently they are not listening!
February 20th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Benson said:
Pillar Five: Nationalize the Banks.
The evidence is all around us that the current Administration seems more predisposed to accomplish a Socialist Revolution, than to defend the constitution.
It is a concept that is too threatening and destructive to our very sanity, so we tend to ignore the obvious facts, and “hope for the best”.
We may be in deeper trouble than simply a President who does not know what he is doing. He may know exactly what he is doing, only it is different than what he should be doing.
Threre truley is a threat to basic American freedom to succeed or fail.
American citizens can overcome the threat, but only if people face the facts in large numbers, and find the courage to stand in opposition.
Like any contest, the winner will be the team that wants it more.
February 20th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Benson said:
Name the date and time and I will be there…
February 20th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Peter G. Voisin said:
Each one of us must do somthing ourselves. so…………..
Tea Party Instructions.
1. Read the Constitution. (http://www.constitution.org/constit_.htm)
2. Use it when you are attacked for limited government and “playing by the rules”.
3. Change your voter registration to “Independent”. Let that be the majority party in America. No lobby money. No party money.
4. Sit back in you chair and watch the “leeches” go crazy.
Definition of “Leeches”:
Any institution that “feeds” off the taxpayer and creates NOTHING.
The Congress
The Media
The Banks
Wall Street
Only the taxpayer creates something through their labor or their savings.
Because Congress, Banks, Wall Street, and The Media are not “creators” they have no understanding of real value in our society.
The national budget must be balanced. The public debt must be reduced; the arrogance of the authorities must be moderated and controlled. Payments to foreign governments must be reduced, if the nation doesn’t want to go bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance.
Cicero (106 BC - 43 BC), 55 BC
(When does the wisdom start in our public education system? Do we need to spend MORE money on it?)
February 20th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Benson said:
Business Lawyer…
If you had the diligence to leave the Doberman’s troll shack, and do some research, you would find that the trail starts at the CBO website, and ends in Congress, specifically at Barney Frank and Chris Dodd’s doorstep.
Your unmitigated troll like devotion to “slick hustlers in suits and fat guys at microphones” accurately describes these Congressional morons who engineered this mess with the CRA, CRA rating system, and numerous assurances that Fannie and Freddie were sound.
Your liberal rant is typically vacuous, and notoriously empty of facts that reach beyond MSLSD.
February 20th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Benson said:
Peter Voison….
Nice comment…
You would find a speech given on the Senate floor, 2-13-09, during the spedulous debate very likeminded…
Check it out……..
http://www.votesmart.org/speech_detail.php?sc_id=442731&keyword=&phrase=&contain=
Notice that all of congress was indicted as having failed to uphold their oath of office should they vote for the bill.
Strong words in a forum known for indirectness and niceties.
February 20th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
Patrick W said:
Lets dump some 1040’s in the water. Ever heard of taxation without representation. They aint representing my views! This is what happens when you vote for a leader who has never run a real business, city, state, or even a PTA meeting.
Lordy Lordy lets drown some 1040’s!
February 20th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
GHirsch said:
It doesn’t matter what Rick does for a living or what he has or has not supported in the past. The very fact that he stood up on national television and said what we are thinking has opened up a huge opportunity to get something going. Now, its up to everyone who heard the message to carry it forward. Forward the information to everyone you know. If you’re really serious about supporting a movement against the insanity in Washington, then it is up to each and every one of us that doesn’t like what we see to take matters into our own hands. This is a start. Don’t let it die! Forward, talk, organize locally, publicize, meet and keep it going!
February 20th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
K said:
It was pretty brutal at the coffee shop today. I went through person by person who qualified and who didn’t. Those of us who qualified were ribbing those who elected the current team in washington that they now get to carry our dead weight as we have gone from contibutors to dead weight. Some were soon to get social security soon and we informed them we weren’t chipping in for that anymore as we could see working till we are 70 so they could have the good life is over too! I was using sarcasm but I think the reality of us small businesss types not chipping in for the social security ponzi scheme struck almost as raw a nerve as the free housing.
Also can Senator Dodd get in tune with the White house or vice versa. I dont care wich way they go but try and lead not talk in circles to please everyone.
Santelli for Senate
February 20th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
Brad said:
Thank you Rick for speaking out for us Americans who work hard and live below our means. We cannot survive as a country if the tax paying minority is forced to support leaches who live off our tax dollars through welfare and bailouts. Obama’s policies are impoverishing the workers and investors and enslaving handout recipients by addicting them to government aid. The tea party is a great way to make our voices heard.
No taxation without representation. How about no vote unless you pay taxes!
February 20th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
K said:
What the heck Santelli for President
February 20th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
» boston tea party 2009 said:
[...] Just think about it, then plan to attend: [...]
February 20th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
kevin said:
you go rick!
I’m a young person who saved and stayed away from the housing madness in 2004 onward while all my friends bought in… now I have to kick in to bail them out and prop up housing at un-economic prices so I have to pay more to get one? WTF!
this will be japan all over again, instead of not writing down bank assets, were just not properly marking the housing that underlies those bank assets… by the way, if you think those assets look like junk now, wait until moral hazard kicks in and everyone decides to default to qualify for fed aid.
February 20th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Jeff H said:
Rick is right! Slowly but surely people are starting to realize just what a misguided direction Obama and the rest of the Socialists are trying to take us in. People have to pay for their own mistakes or they will not learn. It is wrong on every possible level to bail out anyone at any point in this housing mortgage fiasco … individuals or institutions. If someone did something criminal, they should be prosecuted and restitution made. If someone did something stupid, they need to lick their wounds, learn from it and move on.
If this keeps up Rick Santelli’s spontaneous but dead on diatribe about a revolution of sort, will look harmless in comparison to what the reality may be. People are growing mad as hell and they are not going to take it much longer.
February 20th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Seabee John said:
Rick, I wouldn’t miss it for the world… Just told the wife and she’s ecstatic! We’re bringing as many people as we can and making the trip from Minneapolis. Looking forward to being a part of the solution!
-john
February 20th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Jon said:
Give them hell Rick. Im a average everyday American. I pay my bills, pay my mortage, pay my car payments etc all on time. I don’t get squat and don’t expect it. Finally someone said something that needed to be said! I will see you at the Tea party.
February 20th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Lynette said:
Way to go! I now feel some actual hope! Hope to have a voice. Hope to tell Gov that we are not all brain washed and that this is OUR money. We’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take it any more!
See you at the party!
February 20th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Tracy said:
We vote for a party in Florida or NC.
February 20th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Tom Jeffers said:
Rick and Ron (Paul) 2012. Stop Socialism in America before it’s too late.
February 20th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Maureen said:
Rick, I agree with all you said. I was just speaking with my son about the Boston Tea Party two days before your TV appearance. I was feeling it was time for another tea party. I was so glad to hear that you were planning something. I am behind this effort all the way!! I am a small business owner who feels over-taxed and over-regulated. We need to stop this somehow.
February 20th, 2009 at 7:44 pm
Dave said:
May I suggest a wonderful couple weeks for a real tea party and these days would bring european support also…..July 4 THROUGH July 14 Bastille Day. Start in Chicago and finish in Washington.
February 20th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Nat said:
I’m in… will host the Washington, DC tea party
As Margaret Thatcher said, “Socialism is great until you run out of other people’s money to spend.”
February 20th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Mel said:
Because our small fledgling business was still on shaky legs, my husband and I put off purchasing a home as we felt it would be irresponsible while we were taking a bit of a risk. Why should we bailout others who judged their risks poorly? They were free to take the risk, now let them be free to fail and let others have their shot at home ownership. Who are these 10% or so that they deserve special treatment?
And while I am at it - why are my taxpayer dollars bailing out Chase when they just sent me (and others I know) a letter raising my interest rate by 9%?!?!?!? I called in alarm thinking there must be a reason - but no, no late payment for two years, just an agreement that allows them to increase my rate to whatever they like. So they are reaming me from both sides.
I am going to be buying a lot of teabags.
February 20th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Marty said:
Silent no more!!
I love the “mailing tea bags” idea.
See you in Chicago July 4th.
We will save this country!
February 20th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
Mike said:
Great speech, this is what many of us are thinking!
February 20th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
Tom said:
Rick, I am tired of “personally sacrificing” for other people’s mistakes. I am no longer silent to the free loading liberal drones….the time has come.
Freedom will prevail.
February 20th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
Karen B-Houston said:
The “LOSERS” have already paid their dues, and are continuing to do so, losing their jobs, pensions, health care, and homes. When are you and your fat cat buddies at the banks and on Wall Street going to pay your share?
You caused this. From the mortgage scams to the derivatives markets, you did it, not the “LOSERS”. You can’t possibly tell me that you didn’t know what kind of scams were going on. You sold this kind of crap to pension funds and into people’s 401Ks and now-you want to blame the people that you defrauded?
You work hard? Well, so do we. We work full time jobs. We work overtime (and don’t get paid for it, thanks to George Bush). The “losers” work as least as hard as you do, and without the big paychecks, bonuses, benefits and golden parachutes. We do all the work that you guys take the credit for but when there is blame to be apportioned for asinine management decisions, we get tarred with the blame. And when we get sick or disabled, have a spouse die, or get laid off and can’t find another job before our savings run out YOU call us “LOSERS.”
Well, in this zero sum game how could you be “WINNERS” if we weren’t “LOSERS”?
I’ve got an idea-you try living on disability of a few hundred a month when your long term disability insurance refuses to pay off, or maybe you could get by on $300 a week for a few months-until it runs out and you still can’t find a job? Or maybe you could do like the Madoff investor who lost his life savings and now, in his 70s works for $10 an hour. I guess he’s a “LOSER” too cause he sure won’t be able to pay his expenses on that. But Bernie, like you, will continue to live in the lap of luxury, and never have to compensate others for ruining their lives. The only difference between you and Bernie is you haven’t been caught yet.
You’ll say-well you should have saved more money. How could that happen when the our wages, adjusted for inflation, have actually GONE DOWN since 1973? And don’t forget that we pay a higher tax rate than you do, as Warren Buffet pointed out.
You and your co-conspiritors better find another country to live in because when the country is filled with homeless and unemployed people who know who’s responsible for their plight it won’t be pleasant. Oh, I forgot, you guys sold your fake paper around the globe so the financial meltdown is worldwide…………
February 20th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Joe said:
Great job Rick! You da man! I got a great idea for those who can’t pay their mortgages? How bout be forced out, and have the homes auctioned off to those who can afford them? Let these people be forced into rentals. Know what happens when you don’t pay the rent? Well my neighbor was evicted by the local Sheriff after he fell behind. Same should apply to those who have not made a mortgage payment, yet think they have the right to live in the bank’s home. Notice I did not say “their” home. They don’t own it and never did. I’M MAD AS HELL TOO AND I’M NOT GONNA TAKE IT ANYMORE!!!!
February 20th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
Randy Lunn said:
Good work Rick!
See you in Chicago!
February 20th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
marie moore said:
well, it is about time we stood together as free and peaceful people AND SAY NO, WE ARE DONE !
i am in the process of watching ‘JOHN ADAMS’….
perfect movie for this.
i am disabeled and if i make a ‘mistake’ w/my food stamps, medicare or ssi on not reporing any ‘extra’ $$….I GO TO JAIL.
so should ALL the ‘creeps’ that STOLE other people’s money.
LET US ALL STAND UP FOR THE PRICIPLES OUR COUNTY WAS BUILT ON.
FREEDOM, LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL !!
YOU….GO RICK !!
February 20th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
Rufus said:
Rick Santelli of CNBC is right when he says it is time for a new tea party.
Obama and the congressional gangsters are just getting started spending our money.
Let’s add it up per taxpayer in 2009:
$1 Trillion - Bailout #1
$1 Trillion - Stimulus #1
$4 Trillion - 2009 federal budget ($1 Trillion Deficit)
$3 Trillion - Bailout #2
$1 Trillion - Universal Healthcare
$1 Trillion - Additional interest on borrowing
————–
$11 Trillion (or more) - Will be passed by Congress in 2009
About 140 Million Taxpayers
$78,571 in spending per taxpayer in 2009 alone!
Last year the Federal Government collected a little over $3 Trillion in taxes. That will be less this year because of the recession.
Where is this extra $8 Trillion coming from? How and when will we pay for it? The politicians never discuss this, or explain the consequences to the American people.
How big is this spending spree?
The Federal Debt, which has been building slowly for about 40 years, was about $10 Trillion last year. The Obama Government will add $8 Trillion to it THIS YEAR!
The entire US Economic output last year was about $14 Trillion. For the first time, we will have a debt larger than the entire GDP.
But the bad part is, the Obama Federal Government will be spending 78% of our entire economic output!
This is insanity. Start the tea party!
February 20th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
Patrick Henry said:
We should have a protest on July 4th, but we can also do some things that will be far more effective.
Are we starting to see a pattern here? The corrupt politicians have done exactly the wrong thing with the latest several $Trillion they stole. They are subsidizing and encouraging the very bad behavior that got us here in the first place. More credit, easy credit, no accountability. They are using your future and your children’s future to dig this hole even deeper, but they are only delaying the inevitable meltdown of the entire world economy.
Why do these corrupt scam artists in Washington and Wall Street think they can get away with this? Because they have been doing it for decades. They spend as much as they want, and put it on the tab of the future. They print money. They borrow money from foreigners. They continuously raise the debt ceiling. They have no financial controls or discipline. Unlike the rest of us, they don’t have to stay within a budget, because they have the power to steal more money from you and your children anytime they like. They usually do it in a more subtle way, but this week their system was on display in front of the whole world, and Americans of all stripes are disgusted with what they see.
They called you unsophisticated, ignorant, uninformed, and stupid. They said you were throwing a tantrum because “you just don’t understand”. They tried to scare you to death with lies and dire predictions. Then they stuffed their corrupt $700 Billion bailout bill with 400 pages and another $150 Billion in payoffs and bribes, and passed it in spite of your protests. And worst of all, they used this entire process to cover their own corruption while blaming it on each other and you! And now they will do it all over again with another $Trillion Stimulus Plan.
It is not too late to change this, but it will take the effort of the American people, and it will be very difficult. Most of our elected representatives from both parties are neck deep in this corrupt system, so they will be of no help in solving the problem. In fact, they and their big money friends will fight against the real solutions. So we have to go around Washington and Wall Street, and do this ourselves.
The weak point in their scam is that even though they have already voted to spend our money, they don’t have it yet. So we need to prevent them from getting the money, cut off the sources of their power, and change the system.
Here’s how:
First, we need to send a message that we are really serious about this. It is time for new American Tax Holidays. The first one was in the 1770s, when Americans revolted against the unfair, unrepresented, and onerous taxes of the British ruling class. In Boston, Americans threw the highly taxed tea overboard. All across America, people started refusing to pay outrageous taxes to an arrogant monarchy that thought they could get away with anything by stealing from the taxpayers to reward themselves and their ruling class cronies in business and government. We are in the same situation today. It is time for another Boston Tea Party, the new American Tax Holidays.
On July 1st 2009, do not pay any taxes for the period of July 1st to the 4th. We hereby declare our own tax holiday!
If you are a business, provide a four day American Tax Holiday Discount to your customers on your products and services equal to a day’s worth of your sales tax and income tax burden, and deduct the same amount from your government tax payment.
Don’t shop or buy anything that day, unless they are offering the American Tax Holiday Discount. Reward those companies that do by shopping with them.
If you are an employer, add four day’s worth of tax withholdings, the American Tax Holiday Bonus, to your employee paychecks for the week, and deduct the same amount from your government tax payment.
If your employer is not offering the American Tax Holiday Bonus, take the day off.
Everyone needs to participate. Let’s remind the new President and the Congress that they work for us.
This is a good start, but it is only the beginning. The corruption problem is bigger than we thought, and we may need more. We will start with a four day holiday, but that can easily be revised and extended.
Signed, your bosses, the American people.
Second, the constitution allows states to propose amendments, which can be approved by the states and then will be added to the constitution with no action required from Washington. We need to immediately start the process to add several new amendments to the constitution via the state proposal process:
The federal budget is hereby frozen at the 2008 spending level of $3 Trillion. It cannot be increased until the federal debt has been eliminated. After that it can be increased at the rate of inflation. Changes in spending priorities can only be accommodated by the reduction or elimination of other government programs or entitlements.
The federal debt is hereby capped at $10 Trillion, and cannot be raised except by constitutional amendment. At the end of each fiscal year, the federal dept cap is hereby reduced by the amount that the debt has been paid down.
The entire current federal income tax code is hereby immediately null and void. The new federal income tax code shall be a flat 15% tax rate on income on all Americans. No deductions, no special interest tax breaks, no loopholes.
The entire federal payroll tax code is hereby immediately null and void. The new federal payroll tax system shall be a flat 5% tax rate on income on all Americans, divided equally between social security and Medicare. All Americans age 25 or over as of 2008 will continue to participate in these programs and will pay this tax. Those under age 25 and future Americans will not be required to participate in these programs or pay these payroll taxes.
Americans, if we don’t do this, we will lose everything we have worked for. Benjamin Franklin said it the best in 1776 as they worked on the Declaration of Independence. When they were about to sign it, Hancock, one of his colleagues, is reported to have said, ‘We must be unanimous; there must be no pulling different ways; we must all hang together.’ ‘Yes,’ replied Franklin, ‘we must hang together, or assuredly we will all hang separately.’
It’s time to stop the madness. Let’s join together for the American Tax Holiday and for revisions to our constitution to change the system. We can do this, and we must, because it is our last great hope.
Sincerely, and with hope for the future, and faith in the American people,
Patrick Henry
February 20th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
Karen B-Houston said:
Glad to see another sentient being here *Business Lawyer*.
Why aren’t you people mad at the ones who did this to you?
Maybe you don’t understand how this hapened. Joe, above, seems to be overjoyed that his neighbor was evicted and Marie, who apparently doesn’t live next door to Donald Trump still identifies with him more than she does with the people who are actually in her community.
Great Republican marketing!
Let’s talk about Joe’s neighbor and the poor bank who financed him. First of all, shortly after closing the bank would have sold their loan, either bundling it themselves or selling it to some company like Goldman Sachs that would have bundled it up with other mortgages, divided that bundle into tranches and sold the tranches into someone’s pension fund, or to a foreign government like Iceland, which we singlehandedly bankrupted. The bank would have gotten their money immediately and some pensioner somewhere would have been left holding the bag. The bank would have known how good or bad that mortgage was all along. After all they are the ones who should have checked the application. But then, they, or the mortgage broker they do business with, and pay, might have filled a lot of it in fraudulently themselves because their main concern is getting the fees and selling the loan as quickly as possible-they already knew they would be paying for a AAA credit rating from one of the big rating agencies(sounds like a conflict of interest to me)and selling the loan off to some unsuspecting investor.
So, you understand now, it’s not the bank’s house, as you thought. The bank sold it, in little tiny pieces to lots of different investors, after they disguised it with the AAA rating they bought.
But if the banks sold the loans and got their money then why are they in trouble? Because they have made a lot of other bad decisions, like getting involved in the derivatives market, which is simply Las Vegas on steriods. Nothing is produced, they just take ridiculous risks that are incredibly overleveraged. When they paid off they made fortunes, but they’ve spent all that now. When they are losing they want us to bail them out.
They say that one form of derivatives, Credit Default Swaps, is like insurance-except:
*The company, say AIG, isn’t required to keep reserves on hand to pay off the holders in case the designated risk goes bad, as is any other real insurance company. That’s why we had to bail out AIG because they were holding $80 billion in Credit Default Swaps payable to Goldman because of Lehman’s bankruptcy and Paulson (Bush’s Secretary of the Treasury) was an ex-CEO of Goldman.
*You could say it’s sort of like homeowners insurance except-you don’t have to own any of whatever you insure. It’s as if you could insure your neighbor’s house and then burn it down and collect on the insurance. Some would say that’s what happened to Lehman Bros. You can buy swaps on a company betting that it will go down, spread rumors about it, force it into an untenable financial situation, watch it fail and collect your insurance, all without the need to own a single share of stock.
(The above rules are thanks to Sen. Phil Gramm R-TX,Dec. 1999)
So you see, you think that Santelli is a genius but he’s not telling you the truth about how these problems arise.
It’s not your neighbor you need to be mad at, it’s the fraudsters on Wall Street.
February 20th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
Fed up American said:
Karen shut ur face… and all you liberal ass, stealing my money thugs. Shut your money grabbing faces up. WE all know how we got here buts its what we are doing to solve it, that is driving us insane!!!!!!! Stop punishing the producers of this nation, do not drown all of us. Let the money run free, if not there will be hell to pay
February 21st, 2009 at 12:43 am
andy said:
Tea party in SF -ocean beach?
Government is stealing from the productive and redistributing to the speculators and the unproductive. This is unsustainable and will ruin the the vary people it is designed to help. I believe in a hand-up not a hand-out.
The government continues reacting with knee-jerk responses. They should be required to have approval from the taxpayers not the representatives. the negative consequences of their action are too severe.
Santelli has it right in my opinion. Set up a web site and let people vote on these critical issues. Social security numbers and a pin # could be used with appropriate security like online banking uses.
The government could solicite ideas from the taxpayers and post them. Votes could be made on the vareous ideas so the government would have a far better chance of getting it right.
The markets and taxpayer psychology would be turned around because we would believe in the solutions we voted for.
February 21st, 2009 at 2:15 am
Merc Floor guy said:
having spent 28 years in the futures business and knowing how corrupt it is I just can’t help but wondering what’s in it for Rick, no one that worked in futures would give you the time of day without first trying to lift you wallet, so I have to be guite leary about what was said, is Rick’s contract up?
February 21st, 2009 at 5:18 am
Alan B said:
Bravo Rick. You are a huge hit in Birmingham, Alabama. This whole city is talking about your tea party. I have not met one person that is not 100% behind you. Trust me, we here in Birmingham have had our fill of corrupt backroom politics which has our county alone $1 billion in the red.
And while you are at it Rick, please see if we can stop calling the Nancy Pelosi/Harry Reid Porkfest giveaway a stimulus. That is an assault on anyone with average intelligence. This country’s slide to the generation of “expected entitlements” is ruining this country.
And for Howard “yeaaaawooooooooooooo” Dean to insinuate that those workers on the floor the day of your interview are the reason for our countries problems is just what you would expect from a simple minded has been like him.
February 21st, 2009 at 6:58 am
Steve said:
I would be interested in Rick divulging how many short positions he was holding when he went on his “philosophical” rant that helped tank the days trading he may have benefited from. Every in a position of consumer trust had been saying that the economy would not turn around until we stop the foreclosure crisis dragging down their property values.
The President acted boldly to address the issue no one else had an answer that would work but giving up and Rick jumped on it like a trader with an agenda.
Where was Ricks outrage on the other bailout issues? Did he not get coverage or was he acting / reporting more vapidly on the other bailout issues?
He sure seemed to have an agenda for the market to tank than react with optimism on an issue that everyone said would keep dragging the economy around until it was addressed.
Maybe Rick was smart enough to not have any personal short positions but I wonder about his friends and family?
February 21st, 2009 at 8:11 am
Dave said:
Well non-productive money shuffling brokers ARE part of the problem. They may be sitting at their computer screens but what is their productivity? A gambling house for the wealthy?
We need to get back to producing real goods, not money shuffling with every broker taking a little slice. Wall Street the CME etc etc remind me of Vegas poker tables with the gamblers sitting around shuffling money but the house is taking a piece of the pie. Pretty soon one player’s pot is gone then another and so on. Game over until you raid the credit card or loan shark so you can feed the habit. See, everthing that is not producing is a giant PONZI scheme. The housing bubble, internet bubble, GOOGLE bubble, BUFFETT BUBBLE, treasury bubble…..all ponzi schemes. Now, the government tries to keep the GIANT PONZI BUBBLE inflated through currency manipulation. Well guess what, the mathematics of a PONZI scheme are simply overwhelming. So until we produce something real(sorry, GOOGLE is not real, flipping houses is not real, futures are not real) we are going to be in a downward spiral.
February 21st, 2009 at 8:19 am
Andy said:
Again, here’s Rick back in September speaking on the $700 billion (+ $150 billion in bribes and pork). The story hasn’t changed, he was against rewarding the failures then, he is against rewarding failures now:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-1g0OZJIdk&feature=related
February 21st, 2009 at 8:33 am
Steve said:
Andy, watch the whole clip….Rick clearly was saying that there was equally split positions on both sides. His historic the sky is falling recent rant appeared to specifically have a trading agenda.
February 21st, 2009 at 8:52 am
Andy said:
Steve, watch the clip again.
The people claiming that the ’sky is falling’ (”It is URGENT, it is URGENT!”) are on the ends. Rick is stuck in the middle, claiming that this is ‘an awful lot of money’ to just be throwing around.
February 21st, 2009 at 9:10 am
Andy said:
(referring to the September bailout rant)
February 21st, 2009 at 9:11 am
katablog.com said:
People need to keep up the “tea party” protests until the news media and our “representatives” can no longer ignore us.
February 21st, 2009 at 10:14 am
Dave said:
We need guys like Ron Paul. And a return to sanity instead the mania that has pervaded society.
Who in their right mind could really think this bubble could go on and on?
Red Bull, Steroids, House prices, Sports, all symptoms of manic behaviour.
February 21st, 2009 at 10:23 am
Dave said:
We the people have brought this house down. Nobody’s fault but our own.
February 21st, 2009 at 10:24 am
Pete and Dot Carone said:
Thank you Rick. You did what we all want to do! Don’t let the administration beat you down. We are behind you. good luck!
February 21st, 2009 at 10:36 am
Karen B-Houston said:
“Fed Up American” seems to express the opinion of a lot of people here-you don’t care who caused the problem as long as you can punish someone-even if it isn’t the guilty party.
February 21st, 2009 at 11:02 am
BJ Green said:
Taxation without representation? How about supporting the FairTax bill as introduced by Rep. John Linder? This bill would totally replace federal taxes on income, (eliminating the IRS!), personal, estate, gift, capital gains, alternative minimum, Social Security, Medicare, self-employment, and corporate taxes.
The revenue source would become a tax on CONSUMPTION - what we spend, not on what we earn. Everyone who buys new goods and services would support the government.
February 21st, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Jon said:
Maybe this will awake America up! Way to go, Rick!!
You’re Awesome!!
February 21st, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Dave said:
BJ Green…..AMEN…..CONSUMPTION TAX would be totally fair.
You buy the big toys…..you pay the big tax.
National tax with NO loopholes. Then we could eliminate a HUGE source of stress in our lives and a mound of paperwork and bureacracy would be gone.
February 21st, 2009 at 6:56 pm
yoodman said:
EVERYONE. MAIL TEA BAGS TO:
1. Your Senator
2. Your Governor
3. The IRS
4. The Federal Reserve
5. Treasury Secretary Geithner
6. President Obama
Spread the word. Email this idea to everyone you know. Do it today! TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION? Enough is ENOUGH!
February 21st, 2009 at 10:26 pm
Nick Garzilli said:
Thank you Rick!
No all I can ask is for you to bring that same passion to our broken tax code.
FairTax! FairTax! FairTax!
Let’s educate this country.
February 22nd, 2009 at 1:58 am
redshelby said:
BJ Green - good for you. The FairTax is the WAY TO GO and I’m fully in support of John Linder’s bill. Let’s get government funding from the “underground economy” and the no-income-tax people (there are lots of them around.) Let’s make the U.S. of A. attractive once more to employers and investors who have looked to other shores for their competitive advantage. That’s the best way to CREATE 4 MILLION JOBS here in the USA.
February 22nd, 2009 at 3:12 am
Billy Harrington said:
There is presently a bill in congress that will free people to save for a home purchase and it is called the FairTax
Yes the FairTax frees people. We don’t have personal freedom unless we have economic freedom. Our founding fathers knew this. That’s why they protested a few pennies tax on tea. Have we forgotten that? During the past 75 years we have tolerated ever more federal control over our finances and therefore our lives. It is time that we took the control back by adopting the FairTax. For more information go to http://www.fairtax.org and join a FairTax grassroots organization.
Rick is right on what he is saying but we need much more than a problem to discuss; we need a solution for the mess that our elected officials have created.
February 22nd, 2009 at 4:19 am
Norm said:
How many millionaires have previous failures under their belts that they learned important lessons from? How many others read those stories and avoided some of the same pitfalls, thus learning from other people’s mistakes? Now ask yourself, how many people will learn from their mistakes if the Government will bail them out of each mistake?
We, as a free society, need the freedom to win, and the freedom to lose. “Let freedom ring!” is more important today than ever.
The Government is not the answer to our problems, but it should provide us a legal framework to operate in. Otherwise it should stay out of our lives.
I agree with the previous posters: the FairTax is the best, most researched, fairest method of funding our Government currently available. It is orders of magnitude better than our current system. Check it out!
February 22nd, 2009 at 4:41 am
Lady M said:
I have recruited my family and friends to mail tea bags to the White House. At least it feels like we are doing something rather than standing by and watching our country slide into socialism. I don’t know if it will matter to anyone what a few thousand of us do but we WILL be heard!!!
February 22nd, 2009 at 7:10 am
S. Bradley said:
The researched FairTax is the best resolution for our economy.
February 22nd, 2009 at 7:47 am
Huh? said:
What exactly is it that people like Rick produce that justifies their insanely huge salaries? I can tell what a Detroit car worker produces. Please tell me what the difference is between the average Vegas gambler and the Rick Santellis of this world? And this is the person going to lecture a homeowner who *qualified* for a mortgage and is now paying a $300,000 mortgage on a house now valued at $90,000? The mortgage bailout is for people who definitely could afford the homes they bought (clearly you didn’t bother to read it since you were more interested in starting a class war against those less wealthy than you). They are still paying their mortgages but cannot refinance (Rick do you know of any bank that’s going to refinance a mortgage that’s now worth 10 times the value of a house?). If they walk away from this lopsided state of affairs, the value if their neighbors’ homes go down even further due to foreclosure. Rather than see the mortgage bailout as an attempt to end a vicious downward spiral, you’re whipping up people against it. I have a home in the US, but thank God I also have a home in another country because when idiots like you bring the US crashing down, I have someplace else to go.
February 22nd, 2009 at 9:52 am
Brandon said:
Will this escalate into a REVOLUTION?!?!?!?
February 22nd, 2009 at 10:07 am
yoodman said:
EVERYONE … MAIL TEA BAGS TO:
1. Your Senator
2. Your Governor
3. The IRS
4. The Federal Reserve
5. Treasury Secretary Geithner
6. President Obama
Spread the word. Email this idea to everyone you know. Do it today! Taxation without representation? ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
February 22nd, 2009 at 10:40 am
Dave said:
We need another Tea Party. Time to take back control and let all fund our Government not just a few chosen individuals! Fairtax, HR25 Consider the following scenario of the Fair Tax (a consumption tax):
1) On every payday you get your entire paycheck. There are no deductions except the ones you authorize; you are in charge of your income. If you earn $800.00 per week, you get paid $800.00. 2) You never have to save receipts or create any records or fill out any complicated forms pertaining to federal taxes. 3) You can invest money any way you wish without being taxed on the returns of that investment. 4) When you die you can leave your estate to whomever you wish, your death is not a taxable event. 5) When you buy new products or services the receipt will clearly show the federal tax paid on that product or service. This will clearly indicate the amount of federal tax you pay to support the government.
In addition to the above scenarios there is an added benefit (a prebate) that helps low income workers. The prebate is a method to ensure that no legal resident (regardless of income) pays tax on the necessities of life up to the federal poverty level.
February 22nd, 2009 at 12:18 pm
David said:
I thought we already bailout homeowners. It is called the Mortgage interest tax deduction and the deduction of profits on the sale of a home. This too has helped to create this mess
February 22nd, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Griselda Ferreira said:
About time someone tells this administration what we the people feel and want. I get up every morning and go to work to pay my bills. I refuse to work hard to pay for my neighbor’s mortgage. Count me in for the Tea Party of 2009.
February 22nd, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Dave said:
While we’re at it…..It high time the US shuts down the fraudulent offshore banking industry.
We worried about Saddam, but let our ultra-rich citizens evade taxes in offshore banks.
It’s clawback time. Raid Switzerland, Cayman Islands, Etc. Etc.
February 22nd, 2009 at 3:37 pm