The Silent Majority Is No Longer Silent
Rep. McClintock gave the following speech to the Sacramento Tax Day Tea Party on April 15, 2009.
Let the word go forth today from gatherings like this across the nation that the silent majority is no longer silent. We are stirring. We are awakening. We are many. And we are Americans – the latest generation of Americans who have been called upon to defend our liberties and the constitutional principles of limited government that protect our freedom.
Think about how far we have strayed from what Jefferson called the “sum of good government.” He described it as (quote) “a wise and frugal Government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned.”
Somewhere along the line we lost that government. Isn’t it time that we got it back?
Our opponents seek to portray us as angry taxpayers. No, we are not angry taxpayers. We are resolute Americans. And today, we here highly resolve that the liberties defended on far-off battlefields by ten generations of American patriots and heroes will not be casually thrown away here at home – not on our generation’s watch.
We are here because we, as a people, are awakening to the danger of a government that spends too much and borrows too much and taxes too much, because we know what that means.
We know that you can’t spend your way rich.
We know that you can’t borrow your way out of debt.
And we know that you can’t tax your way to prosperity.
No nation in the history of the world has ever spent, borrowed and taxed its way to economic health. Not one. But history gives us many examples of nations that have spent, borrowed and taxed their way to economic ruin and bankruptcy.
We Californians already know where these policies lead, because under a tragic succession of governors, we have watched them turn our once Golden State into an economic basket case.
We watched as they increased spending at unsustainable rates; as they ran up unprecedented debts; and as they imposed crushing new taxes.
Today in California, run-away government spending has impoverished our economy; interest costs are eating our budget alive; and our tax burden is producing one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation.
We have the highest income tax in the nation. Next door, Nevada has NO INCOME TAX, and yet California just increased our income tax yet again. We pay the highest sales tax in the nation. Next door, Oregon has NO SALES TAX. And yet, California once again has increased the sales tax by 13 percent. And they have just doubled our car tax.
And yet, despite record levels of taxes and record levels of borrowing, this government still can’t manage to provide a decent road system or educate our kids or protect our families from predators.
The $13 billion tax increase that they just forced on our families is the biggest tax increase by any state government in our nation’s history.
And we remember what happened the last time they did this. We remember what happened when Pete Wilson imposed a $7 billion tax increase. While the national economy expanded, Wilson’s tax increases broke the back of California’s economy; they produced the biggest plunge in retail sales in 30 years and then produced two consecutive years of billion-dollar-a-year declines in state revenues while the rest of the nation prospered.
That was a $7 billion tax increase. Can you imagine what a $13 billion tax increase will do in the most difficult recession in a generation? Well, we’re about to find out.
The Census Bureau tells us that an unprecedented number of Californians are now fleeing to the 49 other states. But if we allow these same policies to destroy our country, where will we go?
President Obama’s budget relies on the biggest tax increase by the federal government in our nation’s history: back-breaking new taxes on small businesses, on investment, on energy production and on charitable giving.
This is not complicated stuff. If you increase taxes on productivity you get less productivity. If you increase taxes on energy production you get less energy. If you increase taxes on charitable giving, you get less charity. If you increase taxes on investment you get fewer jobs.
Obama’s budget would double the national debt in five years and triple it in ten.
Let me repeat that. All of the debt that our nation has accumulated from the first day of the George Washington Administration to the last day of the George Bush administration – will literally be doubled in the next five years and tripled in the next ten if Obama and Pelosi and Reid prevail.
We’ve watched how too much spending, too much borrowing and too much taxing has wrecked our state of California. We are now watching it threaten to ruin our country. And we have had enough.
Our opponents expect that we will vent our frustrations today and then go home. They expect that we’re going to grudgingly cut our family budgets by another $1,300 a year to pay for Schwarzenegger’s new taxes. They expect later this year, we’ll cut our family budgets by another $1,500 to pay for Obama’s new taxes. And that’ll be the end of it.
I’ve got news for them. This is just the beginning.
When we go home today, we’re going home to organize…
We need to write letters to the editor, post blogs on the Internet, make entries on facebook and myspace. We need to twitter and call in to radio shows and stand up at public meetings and be sure that every voter understands that … “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.”
We’re going to agitate and agitate and agitate everywhere we can in every forum we can find – every single one of us. This is a fight that every one of us is in and where every one of us can make a difference…
And whenever we get tired or discouraged, we’re going to remember what the American Founders first pledged in defense of our freedoms when they signed the Declaration of Independence. You remember their words: they pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor. And they meant it.
Every one of them faced the gallows, but they signed anyway. Every one of them faced losing everything they owned – but they signed anyway.
Think about how little history demands of our generation in defense of those very same freedoms. We are not asked to give our lives – only a portion of our time until we have set things right. We are not asked to give our fortunes – just a portion of our resources to support the … causes that will restore our freedoms.
But our sacred honor – history does expect that of us in full – that we will focus our time and our resources and not slacken or tire until we have retrieved our liberty, restored it and passed it on inviolate to our children. Because ladies and gentlemen, if we fail that test, what history will demand of our children and grandchildren is unthinkable.
When Abraham Lincoln made his way to Washington, his train stopped in a little town in Ohio and he spoke these words to the folks who gathered there that day.
If he were here today, I think he would have said exactly the same.
He said, “I appeal to you, my fellow citizens, constantly to bear in mind that not with the president, not with the office-holders, but with YOU is the question, ‘Shall the liberties of our nation be preserved to the latest generation?”
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Bravo, Mr. McClintock. You
Bravo, Mr. McClintock. You were really good in Sacramento. You're becoming great in Washington. I somehow think Nancy Pelosi is not your greatest fan.
I work for (ugh!) local government. I'm sometimes ashamed to admit that, although I think my work is valuable and that I do it well. When I retire in 2 years, I'm getting the heck out of California, because I won't be able to afford to live here, and I'm tired of being furiously angry most of the time at the craziness in the state government.
If it's not the Air Resources Board it's the Water Resources Board or some other non-elected "commission" of professional politicians sticking its nose into my business and my house. As Poppeye said "It's all I can stands. I can't stands no more!" So I'm leaving.
You can forward this (name and all) to our governor if you like.
Thank you for serving.
Martha in Marysville
Way to go TOM! You have my
Way to go TOM! You have my vote!
I have always been a fan of
I have always been a fan of yours and will obviously continue.
I think the 2010 elections are going to be telling as far as the incumbents in the local, state, and federal levels. I don't think there will many who now are in office that will make the cut at the next election. Well I say that, but you sir will make it because you are the ONLY ONE IN OFFICE IN THIS STATE THAT KNOWS WHAT IS BEST FOR US AND HAS THE COMMON SENSE TO TRY AND DO IT.
When are we having another
When are we having another tea party?
Rep. McClintock Thank God
Rep. McClintock Thank God your voice is sounding the truth. It's been to long for the state. Let them know Tom!
Both political partys have
Both political partys have betrayed us all to the "progressives"who belive we are all too stupid to govern ourselfs.It's time to clean house and clear out both the Republicans & Democrats in the State & Federal Goverment and do it quickly before all is lost & America joins the Greeks & Romans in the History Books 100yrs from now.I will continue to fight this Gluttinous Pig called goverment who has fattend herself on our tax dollars & demanded more.NO MORE!YOU'VE HAD ENOUGH!!AND SO HAVE WE!!
Great speech Tom! I wish I
Great speech Tom! I wish I could have been there.
Why don't we take action
Why don't we take action rather than talk constantly about what we know is wrong about the direction this country is heading. The latest bill coming out about not allowing parents to know of their childs medical information when visiting a doctor. I say when your kid turn 5 yrs old you kick them out into the work force and on their own. We can't correct them, we can't get information on their medical, or personal information from schools. Just what the hell are we doing here. ARE WE NOT THE PARENTS UNTIL THEY ARE 18? THIS DAMN GOVERNMENT BETTER GET THE HELL OUT OF OUR LIVES. YOUR DAYS ARE NUMBERED. 2010 SENATE AND CONGRESS YOUR ASSES ARE OUT !!!!!!!!!!
Representative McClintock,
Representative McClintock, California missed two golden opportunities when you ran for governor, and later Lt. Governor. I believe you will soon be the real conservative voice for the Nation. If we do not return to our conservative principles, our country will be lost.
Way to say it Tom. We support
Way to say it Tom. We support you here in Thousand Oaks!
Your leadership is critical. Thanks
Steve
'Silent no More'
I just spent 8 hours
I just spent 8 hours listening to Attorney Tom Cryer of Truth Attack. I urge you all to access www.truthattack.org where you can read the laws governing taxes and who is liable - believe me, it is most likely not you. We are opposing illegal taxation because it does nothing for our social welfare; in fact there is a recent study out showing that the income tax is the base cause of the great majority of our social problems, like crime, divorce, etc. What we need to do is follow the law of the Constitution; that, of course, means we all must know what it states and what it means - something very few of our so called public servants seem to understand. I urge you to join Truth Attack as it is leading the movement against unlawful taxation. There's allot going on regarding this issue and how the people of government have been acting. Get on board and save America! We've got to do it now!
Terrific message, Tom! You
Terrific message, Tom!
You appear to be the ONLY one with the spirit, the fervor and the drive it will take to replace Mr. O when his term is up. Of course you have been considering doing just that, haven't you! We would all back you in as many ways as possible.
You are saying all the right things, Tom. Keep doing what you are doing and keep your eyes on one other thing -- the White House.
Sincerely,
Darryl Widman
Santa Barbara
The "silent majority" - are
The "silent majority" - are you seriously bringing back that old Nixon thing? It wasn't true then, and it isn't true now. As you know, your "conservative" philosophy has destroyed the economy- the "free markets" destroyed themselves, but have you noticed- the people who rant the loudest are the people who pay very little tax at all - either because they are rich fat cats who get all the loop holes, or in rare cases, people like you who have never really paid any taxes. Since you have always worked for the government the government is just taking back a little of what they give you anyway- along with the medical and other benefits you get up the ying yang, that affords you the opportunity to rant about people who want a small amount of help from the government - especially with medical, to deal with these massive conservative failures.
I would like to see Governor
I would like to see Governor Tom McClintock. At least our state has one representative we can be proud of.
Great speech! Now where's
Great speech!
Now where's the video? I want to watch it being delivered. :-)
Keep at it Tom! You are truly
Keep at it Tom! You are truly one of the only politicians that get it, and though you do not represent our district, we are behind you all the way.
This is why we elected Tom
This is why we elected Tom McClintock!!! I can't wait to watch these kind of speeches from the floor of the House... GO TOM!
Well spoken Rep. McClintock.
Well spoken Rep. McClintock. We have the same assessment.
Thank you,
Erik Osbun
Thank you, Mr. McClintock,
Thank you, Mr. McClintock, for your knowledge of history, for your wisdom and for your courage to speak the truth. May God uplift and sustain you in the fight.
I was at the tea party when
I was at the tea party when he gave the speech. Unfortunately, the audio system was crap, and those of us who were far back from the crowd, couldn't hear most of what he said. It was a shame, because upon reading it now, the entire crowd would probably have gone on RED ALERT!!! and stormed the Bastille....a.k.a Sacramento's Capitol building.
Great !!!!!!! Please let us
Great !!!!!!! Please let us know who else we can elect who will support you in this endeavor. We need to get out the ones in government who are destroying our nation, our state, our Constitution!!! We have to stop the illegal immigration that is breaking the back of this state! We need people who love this country and what it has stood for ..... I know some have done things that we can't be proud of, but so much more has been done for the right reasons. Please help us get our country back before it is too late.... if it isn't too late already. China owns more here than we do :(
I am writing from New Mexico
I am writing from New Mexico where small towns must offer incentives to bring business to their communities to diversify the job and tax base. This is no difference from States competing for businesses with other States. I would like to ask what will it take for our Country to learn that our Country has to compete to bring in business in the global marketplace, just as small towns in New Mexico?
the people voted for obama
the people voted for obama know they see the mess he is getting us into
it took forever for ca to get a budget forcing state workers to take days off with no pay while the people we voted for got paid cut there pay. not the workers of ca
sorry tom...you are speaking
sorry tom...you are speaking to a minority, 500,000 (generous estimate) tea baggers out of 170,000,000 registered voters constitutes less than a half of one percent. But 500,000 is about a third to a half of the people that watch fox news everyday. So good job for that.
i am very proud that conservatives decided to go grassroots and organize. (Which means you are playing from the liberal hippy playbook now, and not rove's anymore) Unfortunately, the teabaggers movement ended up being a rural white protest, and to be honest, rural whites are disappearing faster than the glaciers.
But thanks for the history lesson Tom, i bet Jefferson would be proud of your support for a president that took America's liberties and flushed them down the toilet the past 8 years.