“Not Just A Party”

Speech by Anne Grosvenor

The Memphis TEA Party

July 2, 2009

Opening:

July 4^th 2005 my life changed forever.  Every since that day, my outlook and my priorities  have changed.  That is the day I became a mom for the first time. 

As we prepare for my son’s fourth birthday I am fearful of what the future will look like for my kids.  As a mom, I feel like it is my obligation to get involved and work to help reverse the course of this country.  I am doing it for my family.

I think it is imperative that women participate in this fight. 

Women are affected by the decisions of our government.  Taxes and the burden of debt affect our family budgets.  We are concerned about educations for our kids and for ourselves, because we understand that a good education is vital to success.  Punitive taxes on small business affect us because we may patronize one, we may work for one or we may own one.  When government takes a dollar from us to give to someone else, it affects our choices too.

A government that is powerful enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have (Gerald Ford, 1974).  My mother told me this, and I intend to share this wisdom with my kids.

I have had some experience with debt in my household.  I don’t like it.  Most of what we pay goes to interest anyway, not even paying down the principal.  My family would live in a bigger house without debt.  We would probably drive better cars, and we might even be able to send our kids to private schools.  Debt takes away your choices.  It is a burden that affects every facet of a family budget.

While my husband and I are working to bring our family out of debt, the government is putting us deeper into debt.  They are spending your money, our kids’ money, their kids’ money all in the name of saving the economy, but is that really what they are doing.   Their using our money to invest in companies we wouldn’t choose to invest in.  They are spending our money to exert power over state governments, weakening their authority.  They are spending our money to force new regulations in private sector. 

All of this spending of money will have consequences.   The money will have to be paid back in the form of higher taxes.  The interest payments alone will be crippling for the economy.  It will affect the lifestyles of our kids, and their kids.   I don’t know about you, but I want something better for the next generation.  I want something better for my kids.

As a parent I spend a lot of time thinking about education.  I was saddened when I learned that earlier this year our government decided to deny the parents of students in Washington DC the option of using vouchers to provide private education for their children.  These parents cannot afford to send their kids to private schools without the vouchers and are now forced to send them to failing government schools.  Some might see this as a small issue, but I believe it is symptomatic of a larger problem.

Imagine struggling parents wanting to build a better future for their kids, having this program taken away from them?  We hear so much about problems in schools because of poor home environments, but not all kids come from these environments.  We should applaud parents that care enough about their kids education to push for something better.  What kind of message does this send to all parents about the value of education?  At no point in our history has education been regarded so lightly.  I think you could also argue that at no point in our history has our education system been so broken.

So why take away this program from parents and their kids!   Why not promote choice?  What purpose does this serve?   Why do our leaders want less for the citizens of DC, than they choose for themselves?   What does this tell us about the mindset in Washington?  What does this tell us about the people making our laws?  The people that now want to overhaul our healthcare system?

Where is the hope for a better tomorrow?   They took hope away from those parents in DC.  Instead we hear about taxing our health plans, taxing our business related cell phones, increasing government regulation of industry through FDA, government mandating the type of cars that are produced, and even the government telling private companies how much they can pay their employees. 

This is not about governing, this is controlling.  This is a bureaucracy that is analyzing our lives and deciding what we should and should not have. 

It is all about choice.  Whether we choose for ourselves, or the government commands.  I am tired of this intrusion in my family and am distressed over the theft of my kids. 

Yes as a mother, I believe in protecting the environment, energy independence, affordable healthcare, a sound financial system, and a strong job market.  I want all these things.  I support policies to achieve these goals that preserve our liberty, prosperity and the free market tradition that made this country great.  The entrepreneurial spirit of individual Americans should not be put down by the heavy hand of government. 

The fight for liberty did not end July 4, 1776, it began on that date.  Did you know that it has been less than 90 years since the passage of the 19^th amendment allowing women the right to vote?   How did it happen you may ask?  It started with grassroots organization and determination.  The fight was taken to individual state legislatures to make changes in their state constitutions, and finally was brought to the national level. 

The phrase “all politics is local” has some truth to it.  Working together in our own community and our own state we can bring awareness to our concerns.   Women can play a key role in this fight.  We did it before and we can do it again.

I have for too long taken the freedoms of this country for granted.   I have been busy pursuing my career, raising my family and enjoying my life.   I am unwilling to sit back and wait and hope that someone will save us from Washington’s interference in our lives.  I hope you join me.

One of the criticisms I hear about the tea party movement, is that the original tea party wasn’t just a protest, but it was followed up with real action – not paying taxes on tea.  Interesting now when you hear them talking about taxing soda.

We do need to abide by laws and pay our taxes, but we can and must follow up with real action.  We have to be more active.  We have to contact our representatives on a local, state and federal level.  We have to make our voices heard throughout the year and not just on election day.

The challenges we face in reversing governments creep into our lives is great.  This is a marathon not a sprint, but the tide can be turned with the awareness, and participation of many.  This does not have to be a cause that consumes our lives, but if we all give a little something of our time to reach out and participate in the decisions affecting our country, it will make a difference.   If we all shoulder some of the burden, we can make so much more progress than if we just rely on the heroic efforts of a few brave souls.  There is power in numbers. 

I urge you to look for ways to participate.  There are several organizations that share our concerns.  The Memphis Tea Party organization will be bringing you a different perspective on local, state and federal policy than what you will see in the media.  You can register here for that group or check out the website.  If you support fiscal responsibility and smaller government, you now have a place to go. 

Regardless of whether you join the Memphis Tea Party or another organization, get involve and make your voices heard.  We don’t have a voice in Washington.  We don’t have a voice in the media.  We have to rely on ourselves much like our forefathers.

Have a great time, but remember if we don’t follow up with real action, than this is just a part