In the 1980 presidential debate between Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter, Reagan challenged his opponent’s misuse of “facts” by saying, “There you go again.” Of course, in true Reagan style, he said it with a smile on his face. It was a most memorable and requited line.

I’m applying it now to the sinister approach used by progressive activists who recently staged another of their well-organized protests they called, “No Kings.” This second round on October 18th of these national protests and rallies were held in more than 2,500 locations nationwide.

Organizers claimed they were in response to “the increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption of the Trump administration.” Like I said, “There you go again.”

One of them was held in Minnesota—proudly supported by the Democratic leadership in that state. Ironically, House Majority Whip Representative Tom Emmer is from Minnesota. On October 10th, speaking at a press conference, Emmer told the group,

“This is about one thing and one thing alone—to score political points with the terrorist wing of their party, which is set to hold … a hate America rally in DC next week.”  

It was believed that the largest gathering of protestors would be outside the Capitol in Washington, DC.  Other cities with pickets included Boston, New York, Atlanta, Kansas City, San Francisco, Chicago, New Orleans, and Bozeman, Montana. Bozeman is a college town. Love those college libs.

Who’s behind all this? Big money from somewhere, of course. (Can you say Soros?) According to the USA Today, known groups behind these No Kings protests include:

“the ACLU, American Federation of Teachers, Common Defense, 50501, Human Rights Campaign, Indivisible, League of Conservation Voters, MoveOn, National Nurses United, Public Citizen, SEIU and United We Dream.” 

In other words, all the usual suspects.

Illinois is among the states that had plenty of protestations for No Kings day. Over twenty locations were lined up. It was said a number of laid-off federal workers not receiving paychecks showed up. Some may lose their jobs entirely. Well, yeah, that will fire you up.

And what exactly are these angry souls protesting? Let me guess. Immigration enforcement by masked agents. Mistreatment of migrant (illegals) families, congressional map gerrymandering, health care, and higher costs of living. More of the same.

And so they gathered. Lisa Gilbert is co-president of Public Citizen who helped organize the rallies. Ahead of October 18th she claimed it would be,

“without question…the single biggest day of protest in American history!”

As this was the second one, her thought was that

“people have become far more aware of what is going wrong with this administration.”

Harrumph!

Trouble is, the polls don’t reflect that! And especially after the peace negotiated in the Middle East. The Emerson College Polling survey released on October 17th claims the President has a 45% job approval rating. And get this. There’s been a big shift in Trump’s overall approval among independents.

His approval vs. disapproval went polar opposite from April, when 43% were negative on Trump.

Now here’s the crazy thing. You don’t see these well organized protests throughout Illinois gathering over property tax increases! In our state, the kings already in power have no problem grabbing the highest property taxes in the nation! Plus sales taxes. Income taxes. Fuel taxes. Charity gaming taxes. Excise and utility taxes.

And who keeps the people in power who support grabbing these taxpayer dollars? Need I tell you? Look back over that No Kings protest organizing groups list.

Some believe taxes are a form of thievery. Libertarian Ron Paul has repeatedly said, “taxation is theft.” Back in 1850, economist and former Deputy of the French National Assembly, Frédéric Bastiat described “redistributive or progressive taxation” as “legalized plunder” and argued “it erodes property rights.”

So where are the protests for “No Thieves?”

The progressive voice for compassion ends where the suffering from over- taxation begins. That’s because they benefit too much from it.

The Apostle Paul instructs us to

“Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.” (Romans 13:7, ESV)

Respect and honor. I think the apostle would be swallowing hard these days in Illinois.