Tina Ann Neukirch composed and read the following theme poem to the crowd at the MV Tax Day Tea Party:
In the home of the brave and the land of the free
Across our great nation from sea to shining sea
There’s something that’s stirring, a movement’s at hand
As the rustling of tea bags are heard ‘cross the land
The people are talking of hope and of change
And all that we have to give up in exchange
Are all of the things to which we hold dear
So these teabags are symbols for what must be made clear
“The Great Experiment” that’s America is not failing or wrong
Though many today are sure singing that song
Its not that its broken, it has worked just great
And my friends this is just what we are here to debate
A limited government is what our forefathers planned
With citizen legislators who’d travel the land
And meet to insure a few simple principles were kept
But sadly it seems, things have changed while we slept
So now instead of protecting our liberties and rights
Securing our borders and resolving our fights
Our government’s decided in this New World Order Day
To redistribute our wealth and decide who should pay
They’re bailing out businesses too big to fail
And spending so much and on such a huge scale
Creating a debt that our children must bear
With a “tax the rich” cry that all know is unfair
The deficits rising so fast we can’t count
As the bills and the budgets and the promises mount
In less than 3 months, the debt to be paid
Has grown to the point that we now feel betrayed
The 545 folks we’ve entrusted
Are playing a game that leaves us disgusted
Between favors they’re granting and elite goodies they’re thrown
Make it look like the whole gangs run by Michael Corleone
With congress’ approval rate lower than low
We continue to watch wondering how low it will go
And yet its we who continue to give them our consent
With an incumbency rate of over 90%
Now they’re punishing progress and rewarding the few
Who didn’t keep up and who failed to construe
A commitment to living the life that you choose
Does not mean a hand out or any sort of excuse
Its time to stand up and declare, no more
As much as they’d like to, we’re going to be hard to ignore!
For the powers in the people, well its supposed to be
As a great roar’s heard across this nation: Don’t Tread on Me!
Our founders wouldn’t have it, as they took to the street
And dumped the tea in the harbor and feared not for defeat
If ever there was a time to look to history and be stirred
In the tradition of our fathers, its time to stand up and be heard
That this land that we love and of which we’re so proud
The reason we’re standing here today in this crowd
Must return to the principles and correct the mistake
That we can never no matter spend more than we make!
That the fruits of our labors are ours to keep
That like any harvest, you sow what you reap
You get what you give, a little or a lot
That our laws are for everyone, elected or not
That the strength of our land is the strength of our choice
We expect to be heard as we speak with one voice
That our government be returned, from where it was once before
And be a government of the people, by the people and for the people, once more!
Click here to view other works by Tina.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Tina has an exceptional gift — thank you for publishing her poem. This mom of five works full time, and she’s given so much to our community — completely selfless service. She’s served as president of her HOA, and she’s a dynamic leader who is intelligent, articulate and thoughtful. On those infrequent occasions when she speaks at a public meeting, the audience breaks into applause at her contribution. It’s difficult to learn the extent of her volunteerism because she never talks about herself.
This poem tells us that it is time to vote out all these 545 representatives of themselves. It is obvious that they do not represent the people that voted them in to look out for us. It is time to start the campaign to replace them. We have to start now to communicate that we, and not somebody else, is going to get this accomplished. Pass this poem to everyone that you can. This will start the ball rolling.
Thanks to the Dispatch for publishing this! The response, both from the Santa Ana Tea Party where I also read this and from the MV home crowd, has been fantastic.
I am already working on the next one!