Anti-tax 'Tea Party' protest reaches Tracy
by Justin Lafferty
Apr 15, 2009 | 1970 views | 39 39 comments | 12 12 recommendations | email to a friend | print
Ron Kovac tried to get support today for his Tea Party protest at 11th Street and Tracy Boulevard. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press
view slideshow (3 images)
Nothing was thrown into the Delta, but a group of Tracy residents have joined a nationwide “tea party,” in response to tax day.

Ron Kovac, 40, heard about the tea parties happening across the country and stumbled upon the “Official Tax Day TEA (Taxed Enough Already) Party Day” Web site last night. By noon today, he was picketing out at the corner of 11th Street and Tracy Boulevard as the organizer.

“It’s just the idea that we have too much government trying to control too much of our lives,” Kovac said about his motivation to throw the tea party. “These are just people who are tired of the government taxing so much.”

Kovac, with about 10 relatives and friends from Journey Christian Church, were out at the intersection for about two and a half hours this afternoon, holding signs that read, “Taxed Enough Already,” and “Don’t Tread on Me.”

Some signs had American flags attached to them. People stood on each corner of the intersection, waving as passersby honked.

Kovac said he was happy that he was able to just spend the day with his kids and show them what it means to be an American.

According to www.teapartyday.com, parties have been organized in 2,049 cities.

•Contact Tracy Press reporter Justin Lafferty at 830-4269 or jlafferty@tracypress.com.

comments (39)
« FrancisHineman wrote on Tuesday, Apr 21 at 11:24 AM »
FYI:

The Telecommunications Act of 1996[1] was the first major overhaul of United States telecommunications law in nearly 62 years, amending the Communications Act of 1934. It was approved by the 104th Congress on January 3, 1996 and signed into law on February 8, 1996 by President Bill Clinton. The Telecommunications Act was the first bill signed into cyberspace and the first bill signed at the Library of Congress.[2]

When the smaller CLECs faced financial problems, the trend toward competition slowed, turning into a decade of reconsolidation. [Marcus] The two largest CLECs, Teleport Communications Group (TCG) and Metropolitan Fiber Systems (MFS) were acquired by AT&T and MCI/WorldCom.

Robert Crandall of the Brookings Institutehas argued that the forced-access provisions of the 1996 Act have had little economic value, and the primary, sustainable competitive forces in phone and related, non-'radio', telecommunications are the wireline telephone companies, the cable companies, and the wireless companies.

The Act was claimed to foster competition. Instead, it continued the historic industry consolidation begun by Reagan, whose actions reduced the number of major media companies from around 50 in 1983 to 10 in 1996[6] and 6 in 2005.[7]

Consumer activist Ralph Nader argued the act was an example of corporate welfare spawned by political corruption, because it granted broadcasters valuable licenses for broadcasting digital signals on the public airwaves at relatively little cost.[8]

An FCC study found that the Act had led to a drastic decline in the number of radio station owners, even as the actual number of commercial stations in the United States had increased.[9]

---------------

Oh, and by the way - Title V was eventually ruled unconstitutional?

FH

« FrancisHineman wrote on Monday, Apr 20 at 10:34 AM »
Nitegama,

I wouldn't use McCain's voting record to represent the entire GOP.

During the 08 elections some registered republicans told me they thought he was more liberal than Hillary Clinton.

Of course neither of them are in charge of the current administration.

Cheers!

TV

« drj2000 wrote on Sunday, Apr 19 at 10:12 PM »
anonymous below is DRJ2000, I don't know why it came up anonymous?
« anonymous wrote on Sunday, Apr 19 at 10:05 PM »
As Swimmom pointed out, I believe the silent majority is waking up. I know I am. The bottom line; our economy has taken a hit, we’ve had hits before and the fact that over 90 percent of our work force is still working, over 90 percent of our homes are not in foreclosure, and our dollar is still stable, weaken, but stable, surely points out that our Country isn’t going to fold. That our Country is going to rebound and things are not as bleak as some would like us to think. 70 to 90 percent of our current real estate market is foreclosed properties. Some see that as terrible news, I see it as a correction. It tells me that the 90 percent of homes that are not in trouble are not selling. What do you suppose will happen once the foreclosures are picked up? Building has been off for over two years and contractors are not going to build unless they can make a profit. People who are not in trouble, are not going to sell unless they get their price. Consequently, once the foreclosures are picked up, we will have a shortage of homes on the market and we all know what that means. Folks, remember, EVERY recession is followed by a bull market. I know when it’s a 105 degrees outside, it’s hard to think of freezing weather, but believe me, it will come.

I believe our representatives (both parties) have been strong armed with the negatives of our current situation into passing a ridiculously high and self-serving stimulus bill and then on top of it, the most liberal and pork filled budget in our history. Now I wasn’t happy with all the money we were spending on Iraq either. So please, Nitegama, let’s not keep going back to what President Bush did or didn’t do, trust me, he has been bashed enough. That goes for the Republicans too. I think both parties are trying to buy votes, which will work until the majority wakes up and hopefully that is happening now. I personally don’t have a fondness for either side. Excluding Governor Palin, I thought she was a breath of fresh air and I detest what the media did to her, but I’m getting off the point.

Our economy is going to turn for the better, President Obama will take credit for it and we all will be saddled with the biggest debt in our nation’s history. We will take this correction in the real estate market and blame everyone (Dems blaming the Repubs and vice versus), we’ll hear our representatives blame wall street and deregulations, but you want hear them blame the media (they don’t want to get on the media’s bad side) and you won’t hear them blame the ones who signed those loan papers either, they need their votes. There was a time in our Country where pride and responsibility was the rule of the day. I don’t believe anyone twisted anyone’s arm behind their back to buy a house and there are a lot of folks still paying their mortgage, ignoring the foreclosed house down the street selling for less than what they owe, knowing that a distressed sale doesn’t set the value and taking responsibility for their own actions. Those folks, the 90 percent that are not in trouble, are the majority I’m talking about.

If any elected official is reading this, all I can say is to listen, there is a new wave coming and you need to hear it. NBC, CBS and CNN can ignore the tea parties, they can act like they didn’t happen, but you can’t.

« Nitegama wrote on Sunday, Apr 19 at 08:26 PM »
Swim Mom did not mean to insult anyone..i do not watch snl, msm, or faux news. I try to research what bills were passsed, when they were passed, and what bills were stopped. Yes it takes alot of time to be informed. And the bill Clinton signed was written by Phil Gramm (McCains Buddy) who advised McCain 2 days before the financial tsunami hit that economy was in stable condition. Also if you remember it was the republicans who suggested deregulating the health industry because it had been so positive with the banks. Now lets take our medicine and pull together and get this country together.. Just because we don't like the message (or the DR) doesn't mean the cure won't work I am praying it will for grandchildren and great grandchildren
« SwimMom wrote on Sunday, Apr 19 at 04:49 PM »
drj2000- I am so very much with you on the "silent majority" comment. I think the majority of Americans just go about their business day to day, working hard to raise their families, pay their taxes, and contribute as much as they can to their local community. It is time for us to come out (like we did on April 15), and tell the government we are sick and tired of all the hypocrisy on both sides of the isle.

More than anything, I think government should be peeled back to its absolute minimum, back to the Constitution. Back to where the only thing they are really responsible for is allowing the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. With emphasis on the PURSUIT part... somewhere along the way, it seems the pursuit became some kind of PROMISE that people would be coddled and taken care of. I have enough faith in local government and the heart of the American people that our LOCAL communities would come together to help each other during difficult times. I think we have really seen a glimpse of that in Tracy recently with the horrific crime against the Cantu/Chavez family.

It completely perplexes me when people who only pay attention to the biased MSM, or even worse, get their news from SNL~!!! Have you ever seen the interviews on howobamagotelected.com? They are so telling! People are completely spoon fed by the MSM and literally don't think for themselves!

So now we are stuck with trillions of dollars in PORK stimulus and fear mongering among the MSM and liberal left.... While we pay for peoples' mortgages and general laziness because they cannot get out and volunteer at the local level. And let us not forget about the ones who want "God" removed from every part of our general society. I don't think that's really the way our Forefathers envisioned things....

May God have mercy on all of us~!!
« SwimMom wrote on Sunday, Apr 19 at 04:31 PM »
Nitegama,

I'd really like to understand where you get the idea that being insulting to people is the best why to have a respectful & intellectual conversation?
« FrancisHineman wrote on Sunday, Apr 19 at 01:26 PM »
Nitegama,

Since you can't provide additional sources... Let's bring this back into scope, instead of debating a document (PDF) that may, or may not be "non-partisan".

Isn't it true that "pushing the problem to the next administration" is exactly what our current administration is complaining about? And if so, isn't it true that it started with the deregulation - during the Clinton administration - and continues until the present administration paying out millions of dollars in bonuses to *foreign* bankers? If so, would you agree the problem will simply be passed to the next administration? I don't know, but I suppose that's what you mean by plenty of blame to go around?

Thanks!

FH

« Nitegama wrote on Sunday, Apr 19 at 01:13 PM »
By the way did not bother with the u tube..anyone with a brain knows u tube can be photoshopped very easily i am against most deregulation as i stated before...
« Nitegama wrote on Sunday, Apr 19 at 01:11 PM »
Well everyone is entitled to their own mis interpretation of that pdf lmao at downplaying of Clinton's signing the bill. Unfortunately as anyone that has researched that issue..there was filibustering threatened, and as i understand (which makes him signing it, or pushing NAFTA) any more viruous. the problem is the next administration used it to the hilt as well as fighting the states when they tried to step in. As I previously stated, plenty of blame to go around (from a recovering republican to a born again decline to state voter)
« FrancisHineman wrote on Saturday, Apr 18 at 10:06 PM »
Nitegama,

You seem to put a lot more stock in that PDF than others, here. What concerns me, is that it only mentions Clinton one time and seems to gloss over the de-regulation, or downplay the importance of the Clinton administration's deregulation as a root cause of the economic downfall, which was my original question, which so far has been dismissed as easily as the PDF that you provided.

It leaves me still wondering if you are partial to that youTube video that I posted earlier? And, is there any non-biased documents that you can provide, here, for discussion? Otherwise, I'm not really sure why or how you feel the document you came across, on the Internet, is "non partisan", but you're welcome to your opinion, here.

Good luck!

FH

« Nitegama wrote on Saturday, Apr 18 at 06:53 PM »
sorry just checking in Swim Mom get a life..there are no jobs if folks do not have money to spend lmao...now i realize 13 a month isn't much..but it will be spent..not saved to pay past bills etc..that is the thinking..we know the money bush was so proud of giving us didn;t help in the little lump sums economy worse than it was.. please read this http://www.wallstreetwatch.org/reports/introduction.pdf swim mom and djr so you at least have some knowledge to discuss this issue
« Nitegama wrote on Saturday, Apr 18 at 06:49 PM »
to F Hineman..here is the intro..as far as being non partisan you will see where both the Clinton and Bush administration are shown to take part in the deregulation activities which it calls "Wall Street"s License to steal from every American" http://www.wallstreetwatch.org/reports/introduction.pdf
« Nitegama wrote on Saturday, Apr 18 at 06:31 PM »
and Jim we allknow the Bush justice department was so corrupt like the bush administration. The only thing they wanted to regulate was womens right to health issues
« Nitegama wrote on Saturday, Apr 18 at 06:30 PM »
and djr it is interesting that even the most republican of corporate heads are insisting their interns study obamas methods. Now the situation is rough..i do not like what they are having to do..it is like chemotherapy to cure cancer. Or if you have a child with termninal illness with a possible cure..you know you will go into debt as far as possible so that child can live. the bush administration has put this country in such an unsafe situation both economically and militarily that is the situation Obama finds himself in.
« Nitegama wrote on Saturday, Apr 18 at 06:28 PM »
Sorry you were unable to understand it. Take your time, it really isn't that difficult. I do believe deregulation had allot to do with present crisis , and the fact that the regulation we had was "snickered" at during the bush administration. there used to be a very good overview of the pdf..might make it easier for you to understand since sifting didn't get you anywhere sifting usually only gets us sound bites..and that is the problem
« FrancisHineman wrote on Saturday, Apr 18 at 09:04 AM »
Nitegama,

I read the PDF that you provided it says it is "non partisan" but really doesn't appear that way after sifting through over 200 of it's pages to find out what it really says?...

By the way. There is a guy at this YouTube site who says that deregulation is not to blame: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0giQ_dc-b8

I don't agree with him. I think they never should have taken deregulation away without replacing it with something effective.

Bad idea, imho. And we all know that the banking market almost completely collapsed.

But, do you seem to believe into this type of thinking?

Thanks!

FH

« drj2000 wrote on Friday, Apr 17 at 09:48 PM »
Thank you,SwimMom

I haven’t posted before, in fact I haven’t said anything before. But now, I feel I need to start.

Have you noticed that all media reports on the economy state the worst in 26 or so years? This is because it was worst in the early 80’s. Bur then our President was positive; President Reagan came out with the 81 Tax Reform Act which let you depreciate a purchase over 5 years plus it gave you a 10 percent tax credit (right off the taxes you owed - up to 12k), this was a bird’s nest on the ground. Everyone paying high taxes immediately started investing. December buying was fantastic, every business would buy, equipment or property - the choice being paying Uncle Sam or getting something they needed or felt they could make money on. And all the people making cars, trucks, tractors, and computers were employed at record rates. Then, in 1986, when everything was ‘fully’ depreciated, he came out with the 86 Reform Act which eliminated long term capital gain, giving a way out to move what had been purchased, again, moving the economy.

You can tax luxury items to give the money to the poor, but you run the risk of stopping or extremely slowing down the purchase of said items, which will cause layoffs and put people out of work. Or you can cut the tax, make the purchase a deal, and spark the purchases; then companies will hire more employees and the economy will grow. But more than anything, you need to be POSITIVE about the economy. Who wants a Captain, in the middle of a storm or a battle, to ‘only’ talk about how bad things are?

« SwimMom wrote on Friday, Apr 17 at 09:26 PM »
drj2000- Amen!
« drj2000 wrote on Friday, Apr 17 at 09:12 PM »
I believe the silent majority is fed up, I know I am. Folks, the basis principals of debt are being ignored and everyone can see it. Just that some want to shirk the responsibility of the consequences while others 'fear' the results.

I didn't vote for Obama but I was so fed up with the Bush blashing that I was totally prepared to get behind my President and I was in hopes that he would do so well that I would want to vote for him in four years.

So far I'm extremely disappointed. Even the most inexperience CEO knows that when times get tough, it's his/her job to 'reassure' those looking to him for leadership. Instead of pointing out that for the first time our young people can afford a house, that prime is at it's lowest borrowing point in history, that fixed rates for mortgages are under 4 percent, that gas nationally is hovering $2.00, that the stock market has all kinds of room to grow, that 92 percent of our work force is working and 92 percent of our homes are not in trouble; our President is highlighting the negative sides of our ecomony and in my opinion his negative stance is calulated. I am beginning to feel he has done this on purpose to pass the largest and quickest spending bills in our Nation's history.

President Bush had no credibility, he couldn't reassure us, but President Obaman has that credibility and holding back to me is criminal. He is hurting our recovery more than anyone else. No ecomony can survive without people spending and it's not because we are out of work. We had a higher unemployment rate and a higher foreclosure rate in the early 80's and then we had prime hovering 14 percent. But we had a President who was confident and reassuring and we recovered. This time, we have a press and a President who is anything but reassuring. If you don't think the press has anything to with it, ask yourself why, every state, every county, every city stopped buying houses at the same time? Was it all because of the ecomony or did the media have something to do with it. If so, why hasn't anyone pointed that out?


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