Reflections on February 19, 2009

by Deborah Giffin, Treasurer, Virginia Tea Party

 

Where were you in February 2009? We you worried about the national debt? Were you worried about The Great Recession, keeping your home and job? Obama was sworn in as President January 20, and he signed the Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, $787 Billion, on February 17. On February 19, Rick Santelli of CNBC gave an epic rant regarding the Fed, markets, and money from the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in response to Obama’s mortgage bailout plans. He said “We’re thinking of having a Chicago Tea Party in July. All you capitalists that want to show up to Lake Michigan, I’m gonna start organizing.” Also included was the great quote “you can’t buy your way into prosperity”.

 

Well, so many of us took him up on this! The Richmond Tea Party organized and brought out around 4,500 people to a Tax Day Rally, with homemade signs and yellow Gadsden flags in addition to Old Glory. Other Virginia localities had their own gatherings, showing the strength of the grassroots and their dissatisfaction with the status quo. We got mad, and we got involved.

 

So what was life like way back in 2009 compared to today?
  • There were only 2 sexes, now there are about 63 genders..
  • Nazis were very bad Germans; now they are Republicans/Conservatives.
  • Red Hats were worn with purple ribbons by women of a certain age; now there are MAGA red hats and pink “kitty” hats.
  • Justice was dispensed through the legal system; now we have social justice warriors demanding action.
  • About 17% of the population of the US said they had no religious affiliation; it is up to 22.8% now.
  • Public 4 year college tuition averaged $7,560 per year for 08-09, up to $10,230 for 18-19.
  • Facebook had 200 million users, currently 2.27 billion.
  • The unemployment rate was 7.6% then, 4% now.
  • Obama was beginning his first term, now we are in the age of Trump.

 

But don’t forget the biggie that got us all riled up in the first place:

 

TOTAL OUTSTANDING PUBLIC DEBT 2/1/09  10,632,005,246,736.97

 

TOTAL OUTSTANDING PUBLIC DEBT 2/1/19  21,921,630,334,906.20

 

We’re older, we’re more tired, but we should still be ANGRY!