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Help get Ed and other Libertarians on the ballot in Illinois.About Ed
Who is Ed Rutledge and why should you vote for him?What is a Libertarian?
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Take the world's smallest political quiz and see where you fit!The Tea Party Movement
Join the Movement by Ed Rutledge
4/15/2010
"Here in America we are descended in blood and in spirit from revolutionists and rebels – men and women who dared to dissent from accepted doctrine. As their heirs, may we never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion." – Dwight D. Eisenhower
Tax season is here, which means that the Tea Party rallies are in full swing. Whether you love them or hate them, you certainly can't ignore them. So, with all of the conflicting information about who is running the Tea Party movement, who is behind it, and what it stands for, what is a libertarian to think?
Peaceful public dissent and protest is a hallmark of American society, and the Tea Party movement is but a link in this longstanding and honorable American tradition. We Americans have Liberty embedded in our DNA. It is simply not in our national character to silently tolerate what we believe to be an attack on our rights. And by exercising our right to peaceably assemble, we reassert our standing as sovereign citizens, we vent our frustration without resorting to violence, and we offer a vivid reminder to our politicians of who works for whom.
So, what is a libertarian to think about the Tea Parties? Well, this Libertarian says, "Join the movement!" Peacefully demonstrate with your local Tea Party. Show your politicians that you do not appreciate their attempts to replace your rights with privileges, your society with politics, and your community with bureaucracy. Just don't let it begin and end on April 15th. If we are going to retain our freedoms, if we want our kids to enjoy the liberties we hold dear, then we must be "ever vigilant," not only on Tax Day but all year long.
