Coffee, Tea, or Constitution?

In principle, the Tea Party movement in the United States has a lofty goal: limited government, fiscal responsibility, and adherence to the Constitution. It shouldn't be about partisan bickering against a president or party - but of all individual liberties and rights. So, tell me - where were these "tea parties" eight years ago? It wasn't surprising that as soon as President Obama took office that the Tea Party movement took off like a rocket.

Here in Northern California, Erin Ryan of the Redding Tea Party spoke to a splinter group of the RTP, the Tehama County Patriots on October 14th at the Red Bluff Senior and Community Center. With 70 members in attendance, many were concerned over the erosion of civil liberties and rights that they're noticing. Freedom means a lot to those who have supported what the Constitution stands for and even Ryan herself agrees.

The Tehama County Patriots have no problem making their thoughts and political views known. Resistance to health care reform, allegations of biased news reporting, and basic human rights being eroded by government interference and regulations are themes the Redding Tea Party and the TCP have in common. Especially the subject of freedom.

"If it's about freedom, it has to be about all of it, not just the stuff we like," she explains. But among the mostly seniors with military backgrounds she spoke to, audience member Bob Harvey exercised his First Amendment right to hold up bumper stickers with "Got Birth Certificate?" and "Obama bin Lyin', Impeach Now" which he offers for sale. Capitalism and democracy aren't mutually exclusive creatures but he had a right to speak his mind and earn a little from the exposure.

As for the Redding Tea Party itself, which now sports 700 members, Ryan denied that it and even the Tehama County Patriots were a political movement. Gerald Flowers, a Redding resident acompanying Ryan, suggested to the TCP the group could expand by sponsoring or hosting political debates at Redding's Shasta College and allowing opposing views to foster political discussion among youth to take a more active interest in local and national government.

It is because of our Constitution that we can gather in one place to meet and discuss important issues, without fear of reprisal, that revolve around our lives. But over the past three decades it seems that people took this freedom for granted, not realizing the single unifying factor that keeps us safe.

Over the past decade we looked to our elected leaders to support and exercise the freedoms that the Constitution provides but often these leaders fail to support that document. We're the ones who have to pick up the slack. Are we safer, though, from people in this country that continue to violate our most basic human rights and liberties?

That is a question only you can answer.