The Tea Party movement arose in an environment in which a growing number of Americans believed that neither the Democrat nor Republican Parties were reflecting their ideals and concerns. And this movement has continued growing every single day. As for Wilson County, the Wilson NC Tea Party had its kickoff rally on the front lawn of our Public Library on April 27, 2010, nearly a year ago, in order to let our local, state, and federal leaders know that “We the People” are watching and will hold them accountable to the following ideals:

• Smaller/Limited Government - Our government must be reduced to its original intent as defined by our founding documents. As our Declaration of Independence states, “Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed” in order to secure the God-given “unalienable Rights,” such as “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” as well as property rights, of “all men.” Also, Article 1, Section 8 of our U.S. Constitution details the enumerated powers of our Federal Government and it must fulfill these duties – no more, no less. Thus, bail-outs, “Stimulus” programs, company buyouts, universal health-care, cap-and-trade, endless government programs, the Fairness Doctrine, Net Neutrality, etc. are excluded.
• Fiscal Responsibility – Our government must be as financially careful as “We the People” have to be every single day. Federal spending is outpacing inflation and is growing eight times faster than the average American’s paycheck. Also, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid take up 41% of all non-interest federal program spending and will grow to 62% over the next decade if unchecked (Heritage.org). Plus, as the Congressional Budget Office reported in February, America cannot afford Obamacare. Hence, our government should not be spending more than it is taking in! Of course, cutting back will not be easy; it never is. But it’s time for Uncle Sam to submit to zero-based budgeting principles; nothing should be off the table. Our future security is at stake.
• Lower/Fewer Taxes - Government must only tax “We the People” for what it needs in order to fulfill its Constitutional mandate. Unfortunately, tax revenues have more than tripled since 1965. “U.S. personal and corporate marginal income tax rates are higher than the world averages of 29% (personal) and 25% (corporate). The overall U.S. tax burden (28.3% of GDP in 2008) is also considerably higher than the world average of 23.2%” (Heritage.org).
• Free Markets - Government must lessen its presence in the private sector so “We the People” can do what we do best: create jobs (broadening our taxable base), innovate, invest, grow wealth, etc. Companies should be allowed to fail, and laws and regulations should create no expectation of a future bailout. As Milton Friedman once said, “The greatest advances of civilization, whether in architecture or painting, in science and literature, in industry or agriculture, have never come from centralized government.”

On a separate note, the national, grassroots Tea Party movement is quite representative of the public at large in respects to our age, educational background, employment status, and race. In fact, the Wilson NC Tea Party is only 40% Republican and yet we share the same ideals, as well as the values and principles of our Christian devotion. Therefore, we believe that it’s time to return to the virtues of honesty, thrift, moderation, hard work, personal responsibility, and faith. America is headed for dark days because we have to reap the irresponsible seeds we’ve sown, but if we stand for Truth and endure to the end, America will be saved.

If you or someone you know is interested in being a part of this historic movement, go to www.WilsonNCTeaParty.com for more information. Also, join us monthly, every first Saturday, for breakfast from 9am to 11am at The Kountry Kitchen.