Weekend tea party protests spending

POLSON — Concerned Lake County residents borrowed a note from history on Saturday, gathering at Riverside Park in Polson for a “tea party” to protest government spending policies.

Organizer Joe Schneider said it was in the spirit of the 1773 Boston Tea Party that he put together the gathering, which included speakers who talked about uncontrolled government spending and how today’s politicians are misusing taxpayer dollars.

Will and June Elliott of Polson attended the rally because they say they’re worried about the burden their great-grandchildren are going to have to shoulder if government officials don’t stop their spending ways.

“What happened to doing for yourself?” June said.

Charlo resident and former state representative Rick Jore was one of the day’s speakers. Jore said the policies are enslaving future generations. Before his speech, Jore led the crowd of nearly 30 people in a prayer holding a sign that read “We the people want our Constitution back.”

At Schneider’s rally, it was Flathead Lake that accepted the flecks of tea, which was dumped into the lake by Tony Billington of Proctor after the rally concluded.

Tax Day Tea Party websites have popped up all over the Internet, urging citizens to look the nation’s deficit and the recent stimulus package spending and tell politicians to change stop.

Annette Schiele is organizing a rally for Tax Day on Wednesday, April 15, which will be just one of thousands taking place across the country. She is not a registered member of any political party or organization, but says that she reached her breaking point when none of her concerns were adequately addressed by representatives.

She, like Schneider, believes that the rallies are a way for people to be heard.

“It’s the idea of freedom of speech and being represented and not being ignored,” Schiele said.

The rally on Wednesday will be held from 4-6 p.m. on Riverside Park in Polson. Below are the details provided by Schiele:

NATIONAL Tax Day Tea Party

Citizens in the Polson/Ronan area are organizing a TEA Party rally this coming tax day, April 15th from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Riverside Park (next to the Armed Forces Memorial Bridge) in Polson to let our government representatives know we are Taxed Enough Already.  The nonpartisan event will feature various speakers including John Merlette, author of the Time and Space Trilogy, from Bigfork. This TEA Party is part of a national movement to protest the spending of trillions of dollars which will leave our great-grandchildren a debt they must pay.  Over 1,800 cities are hosting TEA parties on this day and we invite the Mission  Valley Community to bring a chair, bring a sign and join their voices with others who wish to be heard. There are free souvenirs for the first 50 attendees!

 There will also be a showing of “Harry’s War” – (a 1981 film about a common taxpayer and his issues with the IRS) – after the rally on April 15th at 7:00 p.m. at the Miracle of America Museum where food and beverages will be available beforehand starting at 6:00 p.m.