Last Wednesday, participants organized by Taxed Enough Already Concerned Citizens of the UP gathered at the Houghton County Court House for a demonstration coinciding with others around the country rallying against financial policies of the state and federal government. A number of picket signs conveyed disagreement with the recently-passed stimulus bill and policies of the Obama administration.
“I’m fed up with the government and its excessive spending and taxation,” said Matt Kiilunen of Chassel. The rally consisted of a walk from the courthouse to Veteran’s Park at 12:15 p.m. for speeches by Jim Hafeman and Pete Mackin, who ran for state senate in 2006 for District 38 and a contributing writer for Michigan think tank Mackinac Center for Public Policy, and president of MTU College Republicans Chris Koteles.
Tech students living near the courthouse and Veteran’s Park came outside to see what was going on. “I can’t believe that some people believe this garbage,” said Josef Schwarzer.
“I got [money back on] my taxes this year, so I’m not complaining,” said junior Kate Pote.
“I’m surprised that there aren’t too many students out here with us today,” said Dollar Bay resident Marge Nyman., “The youth are the ones [that] will be affected the most.” One student in attendance, graduate student Nick Krom, was present at noon. “I came out here to show that there is opposition to the excessive spending in government,” said Krom.
”I’m out here to let our government know how we feel,” said Jeff Stroud, instructor at Tech.
Alternative policies were suggested via handouts and flyers by participants. The alternatives include a flat 20 percent tax and a financial policy plan, where expenditures are pegged to revenues of specific taxes.
Officers of the Tech chapter of College Republicans were present. “We are out here to help because we oppose higher taxes and excessive spending, like most people here,” said Vice President Travis Waineo.
“Out here right now are people from everyday America who want the government to stop excessive taxation,” said primary organizer for TEACCUP, Mary Sears.
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Houghton Arpt, MI
My father went to one of these. I’ll have to get a copy of the video that he made, I know hes already sent a copy to Lansing and 1600 Penn av in dc for whatever that will do. Its bound to have a left winged spin to it but from what I’ve heard from him all it was was a bunch of republicans complaining about dems actually spending money for once instead of making up for the latest republican deficits and not really giving any way to fix it. I’ll see if he will send me up a master copy for me to make copies for you guys if you want to see the goings on of one of these things.