Participants were protesting increased state and federal
taxes and what most in the crowd see as unnecessary increases in government
spending.
Several hundred energized citizens took part in the
event, which started on the courthouse lawn in Santa Barbara.
Signs with bold slogans were scattered throughout the
crowd, while others let tea bags, hanging from their hats, umbrellas, signs and
clothing, do their talking.
“This Country Began as a Tax Revolt,” “Bail Out the People Not the Banks,” “Taxation Without
Deliberation,” “Tea’d Off in Santa Barbara,” and
“Give Me Liberty … Not Debt,” were among messages on signs, both homemade and
printed.
Sign-carriers were doing their best to make clear their
displeasure with current government attempts to solve major budget shortfalls.
Not everyone in the crowd was angry about current trends
in national government. Other demonstrators carried signs that said, “Public
Investment is Key to Recovery,” “Social Justice” and “Green Jobs.”
The songs “Livin’ in America”
and “Born in the USA” blasted from speakers before the group was led in singing
“God Bless America” and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance prior to the leaving
the courthouse.
Publicized as the city’s “Big, Cool
Tea Party,” the protest drew people from other parts of the state as well as
locals, all concerned with the management of the U. S. economy, increased taxes
and spending at state and federal levels, and bailouts of private companies.
Propositions on the state’s May ballot and the expanding
federal deficit appeared to be the main targets of derision by participants.
Proposition 1A, a constitutional
amendment that would restructure California’s budget process, facilitate tax
increases now and in the future, and give the governor more control over budget
allocations, was a major issue among protesters.
The event was sponsored by the Santa Barbara County Tea
Party, which is not part of the national Tea Party movement, according to its
Web site, but the organization does post its events on the “Freedom Works”
site, sponsored by the national group.
The parade of protestors made its way from the courthouse
lawn, chanting “revolt, repeal, recall,” as they marched up State Street to the
U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the 1400 block.
Conservative radio host Tammy Bruce was at the microphone
when the group reached its destination.
“Look around and see that you are not alone,” said the
controversial personality. “And we will not stop ’til we take this nation
back!”
She said the current president and Congress was trying to
return to Big Government, which she said had not been present in the country
for years.
Lompoc’s mayor Dick DeWees
warned the crowd that a new form of socialism would result from the government
bailing out mortgage holders and private businesses, and getting into the
business of the housing, medical and banking industries.
Screenwriter and author Andrew Klavan
also spoke, saying that the era of Big Government was like a zombie — once dead
but now coming to life again.
Republican state Sens. Tony Strickland and George Runner
were on hand to support opposition to Proposition 1-A, and Joe Armendariz of the Santa Barbara County Taxpayers
Association also attended.