Hundreds gathered Tuesday on the Marshall County Courthouse lawn to hear speakers vent about government spending and policy.
The Marshalltown TEA Party, which stands for Taxed Enough Already, showed area residents are heated at what they feel are tax and spend politics and felt the need to take back their country.
The night included several speakers who talked about wanting less government control and also bashed the current healthcare and energy proposals.
"I want the government control turned back to 'We the People,'" said speaker Shelly Tilton.
Several other speakers compared this TEA party with the one that occurred in Boston at the dawn of the country.
They related to the people of the time then who felt they had "taxation without representation."
Recent healthcare reform meetings throughout the country have led to rowdy crowds but Tuesday night the anger seemed to be focused on voting out those elected officials not listening the public.
"I came hear expecting to see a lot of rowdy people," Dan Hassman told the crowd. "I guess I see a lot of neighbors and friends."
Dave Stineman said politicians "have been intoxicated with their power, their positions and influence and have forgotten who put them there."
Peter Rogers echoed Stineman's comments saying "our representatives are not representing us."
Though billed as a non-partisan event, it seemed the Democrats took the most heat on the night including President Barack Obama and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
Event organizer Jane Jech was happy with the turnout that nearly filled the lawn.
"They came out to get their voices heard," she said.
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Contact Andrew Potter at 641-753-6611 or apotter@timesrepublican.com
