Tax protests draw crowds

Bill Grimes

In 1773, the mantra was “taxation without representation.”

Two hundred twenty-six years later, more than 300 people gathered on the shore of Lake Sara in rural Effingham Wednesday to protest “taxation without rationalization.”

That was the theme of the Effingham Tax Day Tea Party, one of many such events nationwide that allowed people to vent on what they believe to be excessive taxation and government intervention on both the state and federal levels.

Styled after the Boston Tea Party of 1773, participants dumped tea into Lake Sara after listening to a series of speakers bemoan the direction in which they feel government is headed.

Local organizer Brian Milleville, a former Effingham County Board candidate, told participants they were following in some heady footsteps.

“You are the new Sons and Daughters of Liberty,” said Milleville. The Sons of Liberty were the group of colonists who organized the 1773 Boston Tea Party.

Milleville — dressed in colonial period attire — painted a picture of gloom if current governmental tax policies continue.

“The foundations of the republic are shaking,” he said. “We’re in trouble, and we need to change things before it’s too late. Socialism is fine until you run out of other people’s money.”

Shirley McEvers of rural Effingham, however, said this morning as painful as they may be, taxes are necessary for educating our children and other everyday living needs.

“My feeling is the average person benefits from the cuts that has come down under Obama,” she said.

McEvers used to be involved in municipal government, and said experience helped her understand the need for taxation.

“I realized how much is involved in running schools and building roads. It takes taxes to finance those things,” she said. “If we didn’t have taxes, we’d go back to horse and buggy days, and do they really want to do that?”

State Rep. David Reis, R-Willow Hill, said policies that involve raising corporate taxes are futile.

“Businesses and companies don’t pay taxes — economies pay taxes,” Reis said. “Those extra costs incurred by companies will be passed along to consumers.”

Reis said government spending should focus on transportation and national defense.

“But it has gone beyond its limits,” he said.

The event was billed as a nonpartisan affair. Nevertheless, every speaker was a Republican. Reis even invoked the memory of the late President Ronald Reagan during his remarks — quoting from both Reagan’s first inaugural address in 1981 and his farewell speech to the nation in early 1989.

“Where’s Ronald Reagan when you need him?” Reis asked.

Dave McEvers countered this morning in a recent conversation with a local farmer who said he had to pay taxes this year the farmer was happy to pay them because it meant he made money.

“If you make money, you pay taxes,” Dave McEvers said. “If you don’t make money, you don’t pay taxes.”

Effingham County Republican Chairman Steve Donaldson praised participants for their interest in current events.

“It’s awesome to see people concerned about what’s going on in our country today,” Donaldson said. “You are here because you care what happens to our country.”

Donaldson noted, however, members of his own party shouldn’t be exempt from criticism.

“Both sides share in the blame for spending our money,” he said. “We’re talking about numbers we can’t even comprehend.”

Donaldson encouraged participants to lobby their elected officials regularly.

“We need to keep our representatives on speed dial,” he said. “Use both letters and phone calls to keep them on the right track.”

Many participants carried signs decrying recent government bailouts, as well as what they feel is excessive taxation.

Others were just there to listen and drop tea into the lake.

Steve Thoele of Teutopolis said he attended out of a mix of curiosity and concern.

“I was curious, but I am also concerned that what they (government officials) are doing is wrong,” Thoele said. “You can’t spend your way out of this mess.”

Some participants traveled many miles to be involved Wednesday.

“I am here because I always voice my objection and disappointment about the way things are going,” said Cindy Kite of Mount Vernon. “This is an opportunity for me to be a part of something that is going to be noticed.”

Larry Manning of Willow Hill said he’s concerned about the future of American finance.

“I think we’re looking at the destruction of the American dollar,” Manning said. “I hope it’s not too late to salvage it.”

Manning was pessimistic “tea parties” would make any difference in political opinion.

“I don’t think what we’re trying to do will make any difference,” he said.

Bill Grimes can be reached at 217-347-7151 ext. 132 or bill.grimes@effinghamdailynews.com.

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