The Boston Tea Party was a proud moment in American history, as everybody learned in high school. Unless, of course, you are under thirty—in which case you probably never learned the significance of the phrase, "No taxation without representation." In fact, odds are you didn't learn about King George. (You may not have heard of Boston.) Why? Because none of your sensitive multicultural-oriented teachers would dare instruct young skulls full of mush about the Tea Party . . . all those white males dressed up as Injuns, you know
Besides, as the joke goes, if taxation without representation was so bad, how do you like taxation with representation?
But, my friends, what we have now is NOT taxation with representation. "Representation" implies some sort of accountability on the part of the representatives. Those in Congress—which I have often called the most corrupt institution in America—now consider themselves accountable to no one, but the Democratic Leadership. That's what 40 years of Democratic rule will do, folks.
In Taxpayers' Tea Party, author Sharon Cooper, with Chuck Asay's visual assistance, makes clear that nothing about this situation is chiseled in granite. You, the voter, the American citizen, can do something about the ever-growing burden of taxation, government intrusion, and that paragon of fairness and compassion known as the federal bureaucracy. This book illustrates, in words and cartoons, that it is possible to begin to bring about a rebirth of accountability on the part of our legislators—a novel concept to them, I assure you. If you choose, you can even add a new job title to their resumes: ex-legislator. And you may want to start with those who voted for President Clinton's record-setting tax increase—the one he enacted after campaigning on the promise of a middle-class tax cut. Well, you already know about Bill Clinton's promises.
But President Clinton is not unique in that respect. Many politicians campaign conservative and then, once safely ensconced in Washington, proceed to vote liberal. In fact, let me point to my Undeniable Truth of Life Number 23: "The only way liberals win national elections is by pretending they're not liberals." Why is that? Because: "Evidence refutes liberalism." Undeniable Truth of Life Number 4.
Taxpayers' Tea Party tells the story of the American people finally starting to take a close look at the way Congress really works—and thereupon deciding in sovereign electoral majesty to THROW THE RASCALS OUT. Why? Because without this permanent ruling class—one of the most harmful components of our political system—the will of the people would no longer be thwarted. And without the confiscatory taxes required by the modern welfare state, a huge chunk of the national economy would be unshackled. But what does Tom Foley do when the voters of Washington state vote for term limits? He sues them!
But the tide cannot be held back forever. You see, despite all the incumbency protection scams, when congressional Push comes to electoral Shove, our representatives are still answerable to the tax-paying voters—that's you and me—even if they fantasize otherwise. Sharon Cooper shows you how to get through to your Senators and Congressman by mail, phone, fax, radio interview, and street talk, and also how to make sure that when they are up for re-election, they can be held accountable.
Say, for example, that the Hon. Tax N. Spend ran on a no-new-taxes platform and you voted for him (or her)—and were outraged when he (or she) became one of the Democrat majority-of-one who in 1993 voted for the largest tax increase in American history. Taxpayers' Tea Party shows you how to find him (or her) and how to give him (or her) a good soaking in Boston Bay. Metaphorically, of course. (A little literary lingo there.) You will also find out just who voted against the budget, but then voted down Penny-Kasich, the bill that would have forced the Clinton Administration to honor its "New Democrat" promises. (My Undeniable Truth of Life Number 5: "There is no such thing as a New Democrat.")
If, on the other hand, you are fortunate enough to have a representative in Congress possessed of a keen mind and solid ethics, one who was not taken in by the President's "contributions" bill—no doubt because he or she listens to me—this book will tell you how to support that clear-sighted intelligent individual. You can make an effort to ensure that he or she goes back to Washington to keep the tax-and-spend crowd from reaching their hands into your back pockets.
But there's a lighter side to this book. I always advise my listeners to be of good cheer as I shine the light of truth on liberals. Taxpayers' Tea Party will not only inform you—it will also give you some laughs, as cartoonist Chuck Asay deftly skewers the billion-dollar absurdities of the Capitol Hill Crowd.
Taxpayers' Tea Party is for everyone worried about the ominous growth of government spending. Learn it, love it, live it. It deserves a spot on the bestseller list—right under my own best-selling tomes, of course.
But wait. Lest you conclude that this analysis is too uncritical, let me end with an objection: like my daily television and radio programs, this book is too short.
—RUSH LIMBAUGH
February 18, 1994