Residents rally at Tax Day Tea Party: About 175 gather to voice concern about the future of nation
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| The Tax Day Tea Party rally draws a crowd Thursday evening in downtown Sterling. (Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@svnmail.com) |
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STERLING – Sauk Valley Tea Party enthusiasts were blessed with picture-perfect weather Thursday evening as they gathered in downtown Sterling to voice their unhappiness with the current state of government.
About 175 tea partiers rallied at Dale Park near the Depot in the 200 block of Locust Street. Some carried signs, others waved flags. A handful wore red, white and blue, with patriotic garlands draped around their necks.
Tea Party members rallied here and nationwide on April 15, Tax Day, primarily because of their discontent with the pace of local, state and federal government spending.
Unlike the Tea Party rally in Rockford last week, many present for the Sauk Valley gathering expressed a common message and voiced similar concerns. There seemed to be a united message of support for returning to the principles of the Constitution – what many in attendance said the Founding Fathers intended.
Amanda Norris, a Sauk Valley Tea Party coordinator, said she is not happy with the view of either the current and or former administration. She fears the path the nation is on is leading the country away from what was intended, she said.
“The Constitution is what the country was founded on. It is an incredible document, and our Founding Fathers were absolutely brilliant,” Norris said. “It’s time to go back to those core principles, and put us back on the right track.”
Bobby Schilling is a Colona Republican seeking to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Phil Hare in the 17th District come November. Local Tea Party organizers invited him to attend.
The sentiments expressed by the Tea Party are part of a grass-roots movement that is stirring the nation, Schilling said.
He said he hopes to see the creation of long-term, private-sector jobs to improve the economy and establish lasting economic change.
“We need to create jobs which create taxes, and put people back to work and get the economy thriving,” Schilling said.
Rallygoer Craig Dusing, of Sterling, said he favors cutting spending and reducing the federal deficit, a message that was displayed on the sign he carried.
“Deficits are unsustainable, debt is unsustainable,” Dusing said. “Everybody knows. You can’t spend five dollars when you only bring in three.”
He said he supports political candidates who respect the Constitution and believe in limiting government.
Norris said the group’s e-mail lists reaches 300 registered users. She expects that number to grow, as the group attracted new supporters at Thursday’s event, she said.
On the Web
Go to www.saukvalleyteaparty.com for information about the Tea Party in the Sauk Valley.
