Changes

[[File:TeaPartyByFreedomFan.JPG|thumb|Tea Party protest in Washington D.C. on September 12, 2009.]]

[[File:TeaPartyByFreedomFan.JPG|thumb|Tea Party protest in Washington D.C. on September 12, 2009.]]

The '''TEA Party Movement''' (TEA is a backronym for Taxed Enough Already) is an ongoing, nationwide mainstream movement of [[grassroots]] protesters, encompassing millions of individuals and thousands of self-organizing groups, all united in accomplishing a single goal: returning [[Conservative|fiscal responsibility]] and limited government to the [[United States]] through the exercise of political [[activist|activism]].<ref>[http://blog.heritage.org/2009/04/15/morning-bell-the-tea-party-movement/ Morning Bell: The Tea Party Movement], [[Heritage Foundation]], April 15th, 2009.</ref>  The main focus of the TEA Party Movement is a rebuke of outrageous mandates, overspending and a [[radical]] agenda by an out of touch federal government with values similar to [[King George III]] (see [[Boston Tea Party]]).<ref>[http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/24073/ What the Tea Parties Are About], April 16, 2009, [[Glenn Beck]]</ref> <br />   

The '''TEA Party Movement''' (TEA is a backronym for '''Taxed Enough Already''', but also means '''Tyrannized Enough Already''' for many<ref>[http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a38867/open-carry-texas/ http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a38867/open-carry-texas/]</ref><ref>[http://northcentralflorida912project.org/our-blog/2012/04/12/the-taxation-that-our-founders-hated/ The Taxation That Our Founders Hated]</ref><ref>[http://www.meetup.com/Orlando-Tea-Party-Movement/about/?name=About_this_Meetup&chapter_analytics_code=UA-16358365-1 Orlando Tea Party Network]</ref>) is an ongoing, nationwide mainstream movement of [[grassroots]] protesters, encompassing millions of individuals and thousands of self-organizing groups, all united in accomplishing a single goal: returning [[Conservative|fiscal responsibility]] and limited government to the [[United States]] through the exercise of political [[activist|activism]].<ref>[http://blog.heritage.org/2009/04/15/morning-bell-the-tea-party-movement/ Morning Bell: The Tea Party Movement], [[Heritage Foundation]], April 15th, 2009.</ref>  The main focus of the TEA Party Movement is a rebuke of outrageous mandates, overspending and a [[radical]] agenda by an out of touch federal government with values similar to [[King George III]] (see [[Boston Tea Party]]).<ref>[http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/24073/ What the Tea Parties Are About], April 16, 2009, [[Glenn Beck]]</ref> <br />   

As of 2016, the movement is largely non-existent. Organizations are not holding protests. It's not a political movement or a political party. No single leader emerged. Yet the principles behind the grassroots movement live on due to the fact that the changes sought have never taken root. You will still hear opponents cite the movement and you'll hear media pundits describe a candidate as Tea Party aligned.

As of 2016, the movement is largely non-existent. Organizations are not holding protests. It's not a political movement or a political party. No single leader emerged. Yet the principles behind the grassroots movement live on due to the fact that the changes sought have never taken root. You will still hear opponents cite the movement and you'll hear media pundits describe a candidate as Tea Party aligned.