Frustrated with state and national leaders, I attended my first Tea Party protest April 15, 2009, then wrote, "How's that change working out for you?" Protesters then, just as today, lined the streets, American flags and signs held high. They didn't feel their views were heard and had turned to the streets and the Tea Parties nationwide, to raise their voices in peaceful protest. The consensus of opinion in 2009 was unanimous—VOTE ANY INCUMBENT OUT OF OFFICE who chooses self-interest over the interests of the people they pledge to serve.

Yesterday, March 20, 2010, in the small town of Burlington, Washington, over 200 Tea Party protesters came and went in the two-hour time limit imposed on the event in front of K-Mart. Laura Thorpe, Camano Island organizer of last year's Tea Party, had stepped down and Joni Dear, former Democrat turned Independent, from Burlington, assumed her responsibilities.

In addition, Dear handles over 1,000 emails each week, and she developed and runs the Mount Vernon Twitter and Tea Party websites, www.MVTeaParty.com/ and http://twitter.com/MVTeaParty and creates all written materials for the movement.

I talked to many protesters, while I heard car and truck horns blare their support. I overheard cars slow and occupants shout encouragement. I knew the rallies had made a difference last year and felt our combined voices had been heard, though many in media said otherwise. I also knew we couldn't stop. As a nation we "Need to kill the bill," like so many hand-held signs read. There were many stories that could be written about those who attended the protest, but I chose four.

But first, one sign in particular caught my eye, held by 14-year-old, Naomi Blankenship, "Debt care is not healthy."

I learned Naomi was home-schooled, had read the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution, the amendments and the Bill of Rights, which put her ahead of many high school graduates. She attended her first tea party rally one year ago with her parents, Kirk and Christine Blankenship from Sedro-Woolley, with her younger siblings, Karissa, and Eli. She understood more than many older Americans what current "tax and spend" policies mean to our nation and her generation. Naomi said, "... [Obama's] health care takes away my freedoms and will enslave my generation with debt we're unable to pay." She had learned the concepts, but the words were her own.

I congratulated Naomi on her involvement, and told her our collective voices and rallies had influenced three 2009 elections that culminated with the election of Scott Philip Brown as Junior United States Senator from Massachusetts. That made her smile.

Linda Braunies, Skagit Valley College student in Mount Vernon, told me she spent her 60th birthday at the 912 March in Washington D.C. Then she attended Glen Beck's speech at Macintyre Hall in Mount Vernon last year. Afterwards she purchased the pamphlet, The Declaration of Independence and The constitution of the United States, published by The Heritage Foundation. She also bought Beck's book, Common Sense, from Wal-Mart after hearing his speech. She paid $8 for a copy with her own money, and hands both pamphlets and books out free to Skagit Valley College students. Today she's dressed as "Lady Liberty." Her poem, Lady Liberty Speaks, is included at the end.

Jeanne and her 90 year-old husband, Monte Lennox, from Concrete, WA, a small town west of Burlington, is another example of administrative environmentalism at work that puts fish over people. The couple received an egregious "failure to comply" notice on their 40 acre land parcel adjacent to the national forest. The Department of Natural Resources demanded they convert a 6.5' culvert into a 20 foot bridge, because it MIGHT be a fish barrier. The Lennox's can't afford attorneys to fight the notice, yet face $500K in fines if they don't. Jeanne said this final notice was their first notification. She contacted Washington State Representative, Dan Christiansen who promised to talk to the Washington State attorney general on their behalf. But after already battling the system for over a month, Jeanne fears losing her distraught 90 year-old husband before this can be resolved.

There were many more stories than there is time and space to relate, except for this one written by Tara Brautigam (CP)—Feb 22 2010. "In an interview with The Canadian Press, Premier Williams said he went to Miami [in February] to have a "minimally invasive" surgery..." Then said, "It's my heart, my choice...I did not sign away my right to get the best possible health care for myself when I entered politics." What does that mean for Americans if Obama care is passed? Article Link: http://tinyurl.com/ygrfu7b

If Democrats pass the health care bill with a partisan, reconciliation vote, United States citizens will incur unpayable debt and feel economic pain with never-before-heard-of tax increases imposed on every level of national and state life. This isn't even talking about changes to our medical system or rights as American citizens. We need to continue with protests, and insist our voices be heard on the streets or later in the ballot boxes if that's politicians choices across our nation. Will you join us?

Lady Liberty Speaks
By
Linda Braunies

I guided the tired, and the poor from around the world, to my safe harbors.
They worked, and earned their fortunes, whether small, or great.
My People raised their families in freedom, because of our Constitution.
They challenged the odds, and achieved their fate.

Ungrateful recipients, however, pillaged this land of plenty.
They rejected the very One who provided these blessings—The Lord of Heaven, and earth.
They worshiped the creation more than the Creator.

They murdered their offspring by abortion, because of rebellious hearts.
They cast away that which is holy and right from classrooms and the marriage bed.
They determined to destroy America's flag, freedoms, and future.
They forced Lady Liberty to guard against political rapists.

They sought to extinguish the light of truth, any way they can.
They hid behind closed doors, cloaked under the blanket of corruption.
In their pride, and arrogance, they boasted, "No one can see us."
The light and truth exposed the nakedness of their WHO, WHAT WHEN, WHERE, WHY, AND HOW.

They have to place to hide.
True Americans have said, "We will no longer tolerate your cowardly bullying, in our communities, or in Washington D.C. We WILL remember in November."