Cap and Trade Rally Report from Waxman’s Office and San Diego

Dear Readers: I wanted to update you on the results of the May 29th No-On-Cap-and-Trade protests held this weekend in various locations throughout the country. If you recall, Democrat Henry Waxman is poised to try and pass through his oppresive “American Clean Energy Security Act of 2009″ (ACES). The name was changed from “Cap and Trade”, because most Americans understand “cap-and-trade” is a TAX. A detailed look at the real consequences to American families if this legislation is passed can be found by clicking HERE.

The “Tea Party” Movement has been evolving into an American Tax Revolt with a dash of free-enterprise support, as people are beginning to focus on the extreme spending and toxic deficits associated with bloated governments at the local, state, and national levels. The citizens attending these revolts are an amalgam of people who are truly diverse, not the professional agitators who normally stage regular protests on the anti-American value topic du jour. As a co-founder of the Southern California Tax Revolt Coalition, LLC, I can tell you we are rapidly learning how to effectively demonstrate so that we can perhaps stem some of the onerous tax proposals and liberty-crushing government intrusions (including the aforementioned Cap-and-Trade) being laid before us by the Obama Administration.

The rallies in front of Waxman’s LA Office and along Mira Mesa Blvd. in San Diego were attended by 30-50 people each. However, the power of these demonstrations was in the getting the message about Cap-and-Trade to fellow Americans. The following video, taken in front of Waxman’s Office, shows that cars are continuously honking in support of the Anti-Cap-and-Trade demonstrators:

Dawn Wildman, President of SoCal-TRC, LLC, had these thoughts from the rally (full blog post HERE):

One battle does not measure success but each battle and the outcome of it will. Whether we win this fight or not, we keep fighting. And each battle brings in new reserves, new faces and new enthusiasm. Each new day seems to bring a new challenge created by a government bent on the destruction of a free market economy and a freedom loving people. I awake every morning to news of yet another insane bill hitting committees and going to our floors of Congress. We have no sooner reconciled ourselves to fight on one front when a new campaign opens somewhere else. If it’s not the economy it‘s health care or energy. When will it stop and how will we have measured success when it is all said and done?

As I stood on a busy street corner with my NO ON CAP AND TRADE sign tonight, I wondered if anyone else really cared that this energy bill would cost each American family $3100.00 annually to support. I wondered if anyone except the 20 or so people who showed up to protest with me really concerned themselves enough to read about this Bill or any other or am I just fooling myself into believing I am helping.

And then it happened, the unexpected and totally new…a woman came up to me and said that she was driving home from work when she saw my sign and decided to pull her car into the mall parking lot and come ask what it was all about. She said she knew nothing about Cap and Trade and wanting it explained to her. So I did, and others joined to educate her as well. She took out a mini notebook and started writing these things down and asked where she could find more information on the Bill. I gave her the government websites and additional information that would help her find the links she needed to educate her and her family about the issue.

When I walked away leaving her asking more questions and discussing the issues with the others I realized that this was how I measured success. If one person stops and asks WHY then I have done my job and the Tea Parties have been successful. I know it really isn’t about the events but about the people who are now engaged in a process that they have ignored for so long. It’s about a country that still believes we can do anything if we work together. It‘s about people who still believe being free in all sense of the word is more important than any one vent. It’s about being American and that is how I measure success, by still being an American!

One of the co-founders of SoCal-TRC (Lipstick Underground) said that she was delighted that “hundreds and hundreds” of cars honked in support during the San Diego rally (which was held in a light rain). “Drivers flashed thumbs-up, and stopped to ask insightful questions or provide good comments, ” she said. Lipstick Underground mentioned the two take-home lessors for the next rally — and there will be a next one — are:

1) Have handouts to give people who stop their cars and want further information.

2) Have banners for each of the four corners of the main intersection (only two were available for Friday’s rally).

With both the state and federal government playing budget games instead of trimming expenses, I am happy to be part of a group calling for fiscal responsibility and reliance on American values of ingenuity and enterprise.

MUT’s Money Links: Now that Obama has taken over the banking and automotive industries (MUT note – picture below is from Chuck Devore), Michelle Makin notes that Obama wants to take over the Tobacco Industry. The money quote: The Senate took a step Tuesday toward giving the government some controls over the tobacco industry, bolstering the chances that a long-sought goal of anti-smoking advocates will finally be realized. The 84-11 Senate vote to consider the bill came a month after the House overwhelmingly passed a similar measure giving the Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate cigarettes and other tobacco products.

This brings me to a proposal I recently made at my group site: American Freedom Network:

Barak Obama’s birthday is Aug. 4th: I say that we send him a pack of his favorite cigarettes as a gift. It has the beauty of being a two-fer: We can support an overly-maligned industry that is not politically correct AND we send a message of tender regard for our dear leader. I think we are showing Obama about the same level of respect he is showing our Constitution.

Perhaps Obama can share some of these cigarettes with his new friends, who he is inviting to a July 4th celebration!