Join the Tea Party!

As you might be aware, today is Tax Day. But beyond stressful last minute filing, it is also a day of nuanced political protest.

In honor of today's filing deadline, the conservative movement organized Tax Day Tea Parties - to protest higher taxes and government spending. The name of course, is a reference to the Boston Tea Party, when Americans rebelled against British rule by throwing taxed tea from Britain into Boston Harbor. While the impetus for the 1773 protest was for unfair taxation, today, the protesters are rallying against wasteful federal spending, such as the bailout money offered to companies such as A.I.G. and G.M.

The GOP started the effort last week and the Left has decided to push back against the conservative "teabagging" efforts by infiltrating the protests and trying to reverse the idea that taxation is a bad thing.

See this great video made by Sarah Burris about why you should be proud to pay your taxes:

By paying taxes you are not only paving your roads, supporting public transit, functional sewage systems, libraries, schools and public playgrounds, but you are also giving much needed funding to the less fortunate such as women in poverty who need subsidized housing, health care and food stamps.

I'm happy to pay my taxes because it creates a better society to live in.

I think that feminists should be able to point out how taxes do help them in particular.

If you can, join the #teaparty movement today on Twitter, Facebook and the streets of your city or town. But instead of protesting taxes, celebrate why you pay them.

Photo: Kansas Poetry (Patrick)