http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-832072.mp3
Kansas City , Mo. – Around the country Tuesday, April 15, citizens took to the streets in opposition mainly to perceived overspending by the Obama administrations. Protests were called "Tea Parties," after the 1773 Boston Tea Party and the largest in Kansas City was at the Liberty Memorial. KCUR's Laura Ziegler was there. An estimated four or five thousand came to the largest anti-tax "Tea Party" in Kansas City to hear speakers, headlined by KCMO morning talk jock Chris Stigall. They raged about the billions being spent on economic bailouts. Like Tom Stevens: "I'm here because I'm fed up with them spending my money, they work for me, I don't work for them."
A lot of people expressed generalized grievances. "Honk if I'm paying your mortgage," read one sign. Many referred to administration policies as socialism.
Congressman Dennis Moore said in an interview from his office that people need to understand the stimulus package most Democrats voted for was a bitter pill to swallow but he hopes the protesters will see it in the best long-term interest of the economy. According to Moore, "Whether I agree with them or not, they have a right to express their opinion, I don't think they have all the information they need to make a decision, though, and again, this should not be about Republicans or Democrats, we're all in this together."
Thousands more protested across the country in more than a dozen states. There were similar tax protests across Kansas and Missouri and in a dozen other states.
