Populists are Networking

There were Populists of all stripes, coming together to stop the Georgia T-SPLOST on July 31, 2012.  The opposition to the T-SPLOST was initiated by the Tea Parties.  Quick to join the campaign against the T-SPLOST were taxpayer associations, Georgia watchdog, Campaign for Liberty, 9/12 groups, Georgia Libertarians, civic associations and others. The common ground was the realization that the project list lacked real solutions to traffic congestion and it was overpriced based on what it proposed to do.  The Sierra Club and DeKalb NAACP and angry DeKalb voters joined the opposition. The examples of Populists crossing party lines to fight against wrong solutions to local issues continues  

Usually, on the other side of these issues are the proponents for the new tax or Bond that include the Democrat and Republican establishment elected officials, cronies and politicos at the State, County and City level, the Community Development Districts (CIDs), the Chamber of Communists, land developers, land use lawyers, bond lawyers, statists, government employees, government engineering and construction vendors, regional commissions, UN Agenda 21 implementers and big corporations.  They usually propose SPLOSTs and Bonds or just do it without voter input, like the Brave’s stadium deal in Cobb. 

The perpetual campaigns in the Atlanta suburbs have included failed MARTA and Bus Rapid Transit expansions to suburban CIDs. The problem is low ridership, high tax subsidies and billions in unnecessary costs. Other recurring themes include mal-investments prompted by federal grants with strings attached to add on-street bike lanes, green space, “traffic calming” devices like roundabouts and speed humps, art work, urban parks, multiuse trails, “streetscapes”, stream buffers and subsidies for more retail development. 

All of these are considered unnecessary by those who drive around and hit potholes all day and those whose residential streets and sidewalks have turned back into gravel. These are the folks who join us.

A clear example of party crossing is Rosa Koire, founder of Democrats Against Agenda 21 from the San Francisco Bay area of California.  Tea Party leaders who also battle against Agenda 21 do network with Rosa.  She is considered a national leader by us Tea Partiers, even though she continues to be a life-long Democrat.  Her book “Behind the Green Mask” is a best seller. 

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader