Modern-day 'TEA' party Wednesday

Fort Scott residents are invited to come together for a special TEA Party on Wednesday.

At noon April 15, tax day across America, local residents will assemble together in front of Fort Scott Memorial Hall, 3rd and National streets, to participate in a nationwide endeavor to speak out against the amount of taxes the federal government is imposing on American citizens.

According to a press release from local event organizer Gayle Sackett, people from nearly 2,000 cities nationwide will be participating in local TEA Parties on Wednesday in order to speak out against wasteful government spending and high taxes.

"Citizens in Fort Scott are organizing a TEA Party rally in front of Memorial Hall on April 15 at noon to let our government representatives know we are 'Taxed Enough Already'," the press release said. "TEA Party is part of a national movement to protest the spending of trillions of dollars which will leave our great-grandchildren a debt they must pay."

Sackett said she and her husband Jim are organizing the local rally in order to help area residents have a voice in a national event.

"It's a great concern to us as taxpayers with the government bailout, pork spending and stimulus packages," Sackett said. "We don't agree with the government's approach to solving our economic crisis. We don't feel like this particular action by the government will do any good ... If two or 20 or 200 people show up, we will have a moment to voice our opinion and be a part of a national event."

According to Sackett, some of the TEA Parties which will be conducted throughout the nation on Wednesday will be huge rallies that have various activities all day. At many of the TEA Parties, sign-carrying citizens will join together to peacefully voice their opinions about taxes and government spending. Although the local event will not last all day, and there are no scheduled speakers who will attend the local rally, Sackett said anyone who would like to speak to the crowd may do so during the event.

"People will have the opportunity to speak," Sackett said. "My main goal is just to give people an opportunity to let their voices be heard."

Government involvement in privately owned businesses is also something Sackett said she does not agree with.

"We don't want the government involved in business decisions," Sackett said. "Private businesses should succeed or fail by their own initiative"

Sackett said the event is not a reflection on the local government, but rather the spending of the federal government.