By Michael Lesczinski

On April 15, nearly 236 years after a hundred or so American Revolutionaries descended upon Boston Harbor in defiance of an oppressive monarchy, tens of thousands of American taxpayers assembled in cities across the nation to demand a return to the founding principles of economic liberty and individual freedom.

There was no way I was going to miss out on the festivities. On Wednesday morning, I hopped into my car and drove the hundred miles from Albany, New York to Lower Manhattan. During the day, I visited Ground Zero, Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Each signifies a different aspect of our history: sacrifice, freedom and the American dream. Together they acted as a perfect precursor to the evening’s events.

What I experienced that night was nothing short of amazing. An estimated 12,500 taxpayers, some traveling there from as far away as Ohio, amassed outside City Hall just as the sun began to set. Many protestors flashed humorous posters; the majority of others armed themselves with nothing but their voices.

Americans of every race, age and occupation stood side by side that chilly night and demanded an end to the taxing and spending philosophy that has brought our country to the brink of economic crisis. A middle-class father, using one arm to hold his young daughter and another to hold up a poster featuring a “piggy bank,” pleaded for government to rethink fiscal policies that will force future generations to shoulder the burden for their mistakes. An elderly woman chanted, “We are America,” in unison with a group of men clad in leather jackets.

The dozen or so speakers were as eclectic as the crowd they addressed. Local leaders drew attention to the corruptive practices of specific state leaders, calling on all New Yorkers to demand accountability at the ballot box. KT McFarland, former appointee under Ronald Reagan, outlined the parallels between Britain’s post-war economic policy favoring nationalization and our own. Sirius Radio Host Andrew Wilkow energized the crowd with his “perfectly executed political analysis.” Newt was Newt.

One thing was clear: this was a policy, not political, issue. Today’s problems are a direct result of the actions and inaction of both parties. Americans are fed up with politicians wasting our hard-earned money on ineffective government programs, social engineering projects and pressure groups. Not one of our current or previous leaders, Republican or Democrat, can escape their share of the blame.

In the past few days, mainstream media outlets have tried to subvert the tea party movement and undermine its success by casting it as a conservative political theatre. MSNBC commentators gleefully slandered the protestors as “Tea baggers.” A CNN reporter marginalized the motives of a father and child in attendance by referring to them as mere cogs in a vast-right wing conspiracy.

I can assure you, nothing is further from the truth.

The success of the tea parties wouldn’t have been possible without the hard-work of grassroots organizers like New York City organizer Kellen Guida, a 25-year old with little political experience. On Monday night, a sponsor for the New York City Tea Party unexpectedly dropped out, forcing Kellen and organizers to raise $4,000 in less than 12 hours. Kellen shot out an email and almost immediately small donations began to pour in, not from Fox News or right-wing pressure groups, but from hard-working taxpayers like myself. By 11 a.m., the fundraising drive had hit its target. So much for the conspiracy talk.

It remains to be seen whether the tea parties signify a permanent economic movement or a fleeting fad remains. Yet, for one day, American taxpayers had their chance to remind government of the first three words of our country’s preamble: “We the people.”

Michael Lesczinski serves as Senior Press Coordinator for the New York State Assembly Republican Conference.