People attending a Tea Party ‘Tax Day’ Rally at Hood Park in Perrysburg listen to a speaker. (Photos: J.D. Pooley/Sentinel-Tribune)

PERRYSBURG – Benjamin Franklin once said that nothing was sure in life, except death
and taxes.
The latter of the two was on the minds of an estimated 100 people as area
conservative groups hosted their annual Tax Day rally in Perrysburg’s Hood Park
Saturday.
"My husband and I got our taxes done last night, so I’m feeling very
motivated," said the event’s master of ceremonies, Linda Bowyer of the
Northwest Ohio Conservative Coalition.
"This is a very important election year."
Speaker Gary Rathbun, host of the "Eye on Your Money" radio show on WSPD,
said that self-reliance is inherent in human genetics. He spoke out against
current tax policy and views on the wealthy throughout his remarks.
Noting that this year he had to pay more than $250,000 in income taxes, he said with
"the money I sent to Washington I can employ 10 people. Just me."
America is founded on personal property rights, he explained, and "I refuse to
feel guilty for what I earn."
"When you tax something you get less of it," Rathbun said later. "When
you tax something less, you get more of it."
"I want an equalization of opportunity," he said later, "but I do not
want it to be fair. I want to fight the fight."
"We’re over $15 trillion in debt, and where are we headed, even higher,"
said Genevieve Wood, with the Heritage Foundation, whose large and colorful
"Values Bus" was parked at the Way Public Library as part of its
nationwide

Randall Moore attends the Tea Party ‘Tax Day’ Rally.

"Your Money, Your Values, Your Vote" tour. Each American, she stated, owes
$200,000 in unfunded government promises. This is an unfair burden for young
Americans.
"We do want to save the American Dream for the next generation," she said,
and noted that both Republicans and Democrats have been guilty in increasing
government regulations.
Ohio 5th District Congressman Bob Latta, in his remarks, recalled the stand of a
small group of colonists against the British army in the Revolutionary War,
beginning in 1775 at Lexington and Concord, noting the ability of just a few to
make a missive difference. Change, however, comes with time – it took 12 years,
he said, from the beginning of the war to the final ratification of the U.S.
Constitution in 1787, for this country to truly be formed.
The country, he said, has a lot to do, not the least of which is passing a national
budget – he said that President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address in
January marked 1,000 days since the U.S. Senate had passed a budget bill.
"We’ve got a lot to get done," he said.
"It’s really up to everybody here," he urged. "You’ve got to talk to
your friends and neighbors."
Ninth District congressional candidate Samuel "Joe the Plumber"
Wurzelbacher also spoke, emphasizing the importance of individual responsibility
and accountability.

People listen to a speaker while attending a Tea Party ‘Tax Day’ Rally.

"Those are very simple words but, man, very hard to do," he said.
"Tax reform is only going to take place if the American people get excited about
true tax reform."
Among those also offering brief remarks were Republican candidates Tim Brown, running
for a seat in the Ohio House of Representatives, commissioner candidates Jim
Carter and Doris Herringshaw, and Wood County Recorder candidate Brian Boos.
Libertarian candidates Eric Eberly, running for the Fifth District Congressional
seat against Latta, and Nathan Eberly, running for the Third District Ohio House
seat, also spoke.
Libertarian Perrysburg Councilman Todd Grayson noted that the difference between the
successes of Wood County and the issues faced by Lucas County amounted to
"sound local governance." He urged the audience to be more involved
in, and pay close attention to, their local councils and township officials.
"We need your eyes on it," he said, noting that "it can be smaller. It
can be more efficient."
"Keep us local governing officials under a watchful eye."