Party on, Wayne!

*** Warning: This post contains material of a political nature. Don't say I didn't warn you...***

So, there I was last night, minding my own business and driving to the Church for our regular Wednesday evening fun. As I turned off the freeway onto North Main, I noted an unusual amount of police vehicles... No big deal. Those of you who know me know that I don't speed or anything, so I wasn't worried. But I noted it.

After turning on to Baker, there, between the High School and the Post Office I saw a gaggle of folks with banners and signs "protesting" the tax policy. There were American flags, cleverly worded posters, and all kinds of highly motivated individuals milling about smartly... And there was a large number of police, including (for some random reason) a (I am not making this up!) fraudulent license plate detection unit. Amazing.

This brings to mind a number of things:

1. I have seen real protests. In Korea, protesting is a national pastime. Nothing to do? Let's go protest... Let's put on our Nikes and Levi's and go down to the protest against American imperialism... And afterwards, let's go eat at McDonald's! Yay!!! That'll show 'em! OK, so that last bit was my snarkiness coming out. But the point is that they were organized and had a clear vision of what they wanted to accomplish. They had permits. They had incredible numbers. There were a few signs, but mainly it was a show of support by PEOPLE, not snarky posters. The police presence was amazing. The riot police and their buses lined the streets for miles. And the stream of people attending the protest was a veritable river of people marching up the hill and to the University (where such things always happen, for some reason...) It was really cool - the air was electric. The riot police told us to go back inside the Church - seeing a couple of white guys at a protest against American foreign policy was probably not the best idea... Even though my companion was from New Zealand and probably would have happily joined in, and I just wanted to watch...

2. The "protest" last night was too ambiguous. Goaded on by the national talk show scene, these "tea parties" - the "tea" part cleverly being derived from the "T" in taxes and having an overt and all to boring allusion to the Boston Tea Party of the late 18th century - involved people who were upset about things they only barely understand. The economy's bad? Let's cut taxes! Sure! That will help!! With people out of work, homes, and benefits, NOW is the perfect time to cut government services... Or do the George Bush route and just reduce taxes while increasing spending! Sure! That's got "good economic policy and responsible government" written all over it! Genius! Of course President Obama will see the error of his ways and immediately follow the bumper-sticker intelligentsia!

Um... No.

3. The evocation of "tea party" and the aforementioned reference is disingenuous. It leads people to recall the days when the Colonies were governed by a dictatorial monarch who was beholden to his merchants for his support. Thus the tax and tariff increases, and thus the choke hold on the Colonies from which our nation was born. But this is not applicable to our current status because we HAVE representation - in the Congress. In fact, it's the Congress who makes the laws, including the budget. They are ALL guilty of the "sin" of earmarking, including the reform revolutionary Ron Paul (who has earmarked $3M for our fair city for a sorely needed upgrade to our emergency services facility). The evocation of this term brings about a sense of dignity and historicity to something that is a relatively new and discouraging trend - that away from fiscal responsibility and toward a balanced budget. There's only two ways to balance the budget - raise taxes or reduce spending. Actually, we probably need to do both. But where do you start? With the military? Border control? Funding for education, the arts, or medical care? Food stamps? It's not that easy...

Living as a part of society involves give and take. We all drive on roads funded from tax dollars. When you call 911, the operator is paid through taxes. When you go to a National Park, the grounds are kept and trails are maintained by tax dollars. When a pirate attacks a ship in the Indian Ocean, the Navy is dispatched through use of tax dollars. When you turn on your TV, you are using electricity that is largely subsidized by tax dollars. Food, clothing, housing, cars - even to the air we breathe - virtually every aspect of our lives is in some way benefited through use of tax dollars. Thus, our quality of life is safeguarded through the responsible expenditure of taxes for the "common defense" and the "general welfare." It is in this way that we "secure the blessings of liberty" for ourselves and our posterity. Taxes are not the evil. Responsible government is not the evil. Ignorance is the evil. Apathy is the evil. Entitlement is the evil. Laziness is the evil. But especially, greed is the evil.

Yes, greed, the bane of capitalism. It shows itself in many forms. People who are greedy want control over "their hard-earned money," failing to acknowledge in how many ways their lives are subsidized and benefited through wise governmental regulation. It shows itself in the form of people not giving of themselves to help a trouble brother or sister, saying - "He has brought upon himself his problems... He should pull himself up by his bootstraps and become a self-made man! That's the American way..." King Benjamin spoke about these very things. In Mosiah chapter 4 he says:

16 And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish.

17 Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just—

18 But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God.

19 For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?

20 And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy.

21 And now, if God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent for your lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive, O then, how ye ought to impart of the substance that ye have one to another.

22 And if ye judge the man who putteth up his petition to you for your substance that he perish not, and condemn him, how much more just will be your condemnation for withholding your substance, which doth not belong to you but to God, to whom also your life belongeth; and yet ye put up no petition, nor repent of the thing which thou hast done.

23 I say unto you, wo be unto that man, for his substance shall perish with him;...