A D V E R T I S E M E N T
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Chase Allgood / News-Times
Robert Reece (holding flag) organized the tax day protest in Forest Grove when he couldn't find one in the area. He said he was amazed by the turnout. "All I did was light the fuse," said Reece, a retired school teacher.
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More than 60 boisterous and upbeat residents of western Washington County converged on Forest Grove Wednesday to voice their displeasure over the nation's tax policy.
The afternoon "Tax Day Tea Party" was part of a national effort to draw attention to the spike in federal spending.The event in Forest Grove, which was held at the intersection of Cedar Street and Pacific Avenue, was one of 22 held in Oregon. Organizers chose the deadline for filing taxes to make a protest, which they likened to the famous actions of American colonists who tossed tea into Boston harbor to protest high tariffs by the British government.
Robert Reece, a retired Forest Grove public school teacher, said he organized the local protest after looking for a protest site and finding none on this end of the county (there was a protest in Beaverton).
After posting the time and location on a website (oregonteaparties.com) he received a few encouraging emails. He expected maybe a dozen people to show up and was floored by the turnout.
"Look at this," he said pointing to the sign-waving throng, which was getting lots of encouragement from passing motorists. "The response is amazing. All I did was light the fuse."
Reece said that as a former public employee he sees a role for government -- but a limited one. He said the stimulus spending in Washington will do little to help small businesses, which he said are the key to economic recovery.
It is about time! we need to stop The bleeding, the spending trend that has been going on now for the last several Presidents. We need less of "big brother"! The money we make should be ours, to decide who we want to give it to and help. Not "big brother"! We are rapidly encrouching on becoming a socialist state. This goes against why me and many others have served this Great Country. I am glad that people are starting to stand up for our rights!
(email verified)
Thu, Apr 16, 2009 at 02:15 AM
You idiots would be the first to complain about a lack of services whether it be police, fire, unemployment, teachers, or whatever. And do you cash your social security checks ? How about your retired parents or friends ? How about your precious army invading foreign countries ? H-m-m-m ? How does all of this get paid for ?
Didn't Obama just announce a $800 tax cut for couples making less than $250,000 ? Oh I'm sorry - do you make more than that ? The overwhelming majority of people don't and I wonder how many in your crowd are going to benefit from this.Or are going to keep cashing their extended unemployment benefits checks.
You people are idiots. Obama may not be doing EVERYTHING right (like the build up in Afghanistan) but he's doing SOME things right and doing a far, far better job than Bush.
(email verified)
Thu, Apr 16, 2009 at 08:26 AM
Larry
you are a typical whinning liberal!! using threats of cutting police,fireman,teachers. you all use it every time. And of course people cash their social security checks, THEY EARNED IT!!!! of course they cash their unemployment checks, THEY EARNED IT!!! $800 dollar tax cut? 3.5 trillion given to special interest groups like acorn? $800 is a drop in the ocean compared to what we will pay later, IF we see it!!! WE are the idiots? look in the mirror!!! In YOUR opinion what is huesein doing right? Besides what he is doing in afghanistan, if he is doing anything right!!! And who caused the financial problems? Barney Frank and his committee of dems that lowered the standards so low income people could buy homes when they couldn't afford it!!! Get a grip MORON!!!
(email verified)
Thu, Apr 16, 2009 at 09:58 AM
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Re: Tax protesters stage 'tea party' in Forest Grove
I was at the event but not a participant. It was obvious that not everyone participating was there for the same reason as Mr. Reece. Some of the signs didn't have anything at all to do with taxes, even indirectly. Like the one that read: "ACORN = Brown Shirts" a Nazi reference.
Anyway, I was just there to document it for my Preemptive Karma blog, what with me being Forest Grove's most famous blogger and all I figured the least I could do was cover a political event in my own home town. I even got a shot of you and Chase covering the event. :-)
You can read my color commentary and see some of the photos I took @ http://www.preemptivekarma.com/archives/2009/04/teabagging_in_f.html
"Kevin Kamberg"
(email verified)
Wed, Apr 15, 2009 at 08:19 PM
Editorial response:
Kevin
I think you did a great job capturing the images and feel of the event. I encourage readers of this site to follow the link to the his blog. There are some very cool photos. I saw the Brown Shirt sign and Chase told me about the swastika. Since they didn't seem typical of the sentiments expressed by the people I spoke to, I didn't include them in the story, but I think it was totally appropriate that you took note of them in your blog.
John Schrag