Speaking at the Tea Parties

Across America, citizens are getting ready for the Tax Day Tea Parties.  Large scale, nationwide demonstrations to show both state and the federal government their displeasure with higher taxes, out of control spending, bailouts and the unbridled growth of government as a whole.

I do a lot with the tea parties in Los Angeles.  I am the host of TCOT Radio, and blog about my weekly show here.  I am also one of the organizers and the host of the original LA Tea Party in February at the Santa Monica Pier.

This tax day, I will be pulling double duty.  First, I will be speaking at the Tea Party in Santa Monica (At the pier, 3pm).  From there, I will be heading to Van Nuys for the big show at 7pm.  I am the emcee, as well as speaking at the event.  You can use this link to find out more information on it.  You can also get information about Tea Parties in your town or city by going to Tax Day Tea Party.com.

Also, there has been a lot of mis-information in the main stream press.  These tea parties are not about political party.  Everyone, anyone, all are welcome (unless your plan is to cause a violent commotion - then just stay home!).  This is about how to best see the country forward, how to best provide for our children and their children by not leaving them a mountain of debt so large that they will spend multiple generations paying it back, how to return to the basics of the constitution, the mandated, limited role of government, and the rights of the people. 

I hope you'll join us.  If you're in Santa Monica or Van Nuys, say hello.

 - Tony

Been Busy...Being Happy

Wow, it's amazing how much time flies when you are busy being happy.  For me, it's been both.  I've been incredibly busy with new projects and renewed energy.  Those projects include:

Neon Chicken - our new iPhone app design studio.  It started as a lark, as something fun to do when you just need to clear your head and get some other creative juices moving.  Then it got really fun, and we started sketching out some really fascinating ideas.  Then, word got out and we have been consulting with others about their iPhone concepts and providing proposals for individuals and companies.  Now, it's just amazing.  I think we may be on to something.

AdGrinder - our online video ad creation toolset.  Once we made the decision to offer the tool not only as a way to build ads for small- and mid-sized companies who want to reach their customers online, but also as a complete turnkey white-label solution, things got interesting quickly.  We have stuck a nerve with content creators - both online and offline.  Even in this awful economy, we are seeing the great opportunities.

TCOT Radio - the official radio show of Top Conservatives On Twitter.  I have enjoyed this a lot.  Every Tuesday at 1pm PST, I have been on the air talking about important issues with great people.  You can catch the show by going to our site here.  Don't forget to subscribe, and get all the past episodes.

Tony Katz.com - my official site.  It used to be that TonyKatz.com was only for my political blogging, as well as having links to my former radio show in Tampa and my first video blog, Talk Show On The Go.  Now, with all the things I post on Twitter, I don't blog as often as I used to.  However, I'll be changing that soon.

Oh, and there is Twitter.  My Twitter feed is now available on this site, and feel free to follow me.  I'll follow back, and help you in anyway I can.  If you don't know about Twitter, or want to learn, email me and I'll be happy to teach you all about it.  I've been doing a lot of that lately.

That's a lot of what I've been up to, and I can't tell you how enjoyable it is.  I look forward to posting more, conversing more, learning more and quite possibly doing more.  What have you been up to?

 - Tony

Join Me at Social Media Club LA on Wednesday, November 5th

Where is the intersection of politics and social media, how has it affected this election and how will it affect future contests? Come join us on Wednesday, November 5th at Mahalo HQ in Santa Monica, CA. I will be speaking on a panel with a lot of smart people to discuss these (and I’m sure other) topics.

For more information, click here. If you don’t yet belong to SMC LA and you are in the LA area, you should. If not in the LA area, go to Social Media Club and find the group in your neighborhood. Thanks to Jackie Peters and Brooks Bayne for inviting me to participate.

And for those who are wondering - this is not a political debate. Far from it (I truly hope!) This is about the technology, the candidates, the process and the people. Social media, the ability for everyone to get near instant information, the ability for everyone to get near instant feedback, will play a massive role in future elections. This panel will discuss how, and how not, to best engage. What the potential results can be, what the potential drawbacks can be, and how we minimize the drawbacks.

At least, those are some of my topics. Come by on Wednesday night and join the group. I look forward to seeing you there.

Tony

Vote in the AMEX Members Project

American Express is currently running the Members Project, which has people nominating and voting for programs that are for the betterment of all of us.

One of those is called Project Brain Child, which is solely focused on ending childhood cancer.  I have learned from a friend of mine, whose daughter has a brain tumor (a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma), that pediatric cancer does not get the money, the time or the attention in the cancer world.  Kids with cancer are left to fend for themselves.  

We can all do something about this.  Go to Members Project and vote for Project Brain Child.  You do have to be an AMEX card holder to vote.  Once you have voted, pass this blog post on to everyone you know.  Everyone in your address book, on your own blog and throughout your social networks.

Do it today.

Tony

More on No Bailouts!

The video that talks about what NoBailouts! is all about.

Find more videos like this on No Bailouts

Pass it along to all you know.

Tony

No Bailouts!

Below is the text of a blog post I made on TonyKatz.com, my political blog.  It has to do with the recklessness and, in my view, incredible wrong of a government bailout of AIG, mortgage companies and others.  Please read, please comment.  If you agree, then join us at:

Visit No Bailouts

Spread the word.

Tony

___________________________
Let’s Talk About Change
Posted on September 20th, 2008 by Tony Katz
Over the course of the next two weeks, you’ll be seeing a new look for TonyKatz.com, and a whole new series of topics. Why? Simple: The leadership, with bravado, mind you, gave up on what is the only smart economic system (Capitalism) and - in the guise of calm and working to help the people - have started us all down the track toward unfettered, worthless socialism.
Let me say for the record that I am not an economist. Rather, I am a student of the world like most of us are. However, I am learning at an accelerated rate, and I already know the most important rule:
Capitalism is better, and to sell it out for a quick fix in the markets is disgusting, unAmerican and despicable.
I will be talking over the course of the next weeks and months (and longer, potentially) about what the moves by the FED and the Treasury have done to us, what the President and the government have allowed to happen to the nation, what the words, the terms and the thought processes actually mean, and what the real effect is in both the short, and the long term.
There will be my articles throughout, but also consider TonyKatz.com to be a place to find information from experts, as well as a dynamic to engage others in conversations on these subjects.
The problem that we all now face is truly universal for all Americans. Regardless of your politics, one has to recognize that the “bailouts” of AIG, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and who knows what is coming next, are not sound decisions, but rather decisions made out of fear that push the nation away from Capitalism and towards socialism. The only politics on this subject, from me, is that socialism is a horrible, ineffective and unacceptable system. Capitalism works.
Further, I hope to highlight those in the public and private sector who are doing the right thing, and standing up to this egregious moment in history. I’m happy to offer this link to Bloomberg.com. It offers the words of Congressman Jeb Hensarling, who represents the 5th district of Texas. He speaks honestly of how these bailouts are only going to affect the taxpayer, and goes on to say:
“These massive federal bailouts have exposed taxpayers to literally tens of billions of dollars of new risk,'’ and created a “moral hazard where companies are absolved, not punished, for excessive risk taking…”
Rep. Hensarling has it right on. The system (Capitalism) works in good times and in bad. When things are good, profits are made - and hopefully large ones at that! However, in bad times, companies can falter, and fall. These are not bad things, rather they are important functions of a system that is based on a good product at a good price and not of a system of pseudo equality and cronyism. (As an aside, it seems to me that the word cronyism is only used in conjunction with Republicans, but it exists with both the GOP and Democrats - and other political beliefs. Any idea that it is not equally spread throughout the human landscape is just an unwillingness to accept reality.)
I called Rep. Hensarling’s office to thank him and ask him questions. I have also called the office of Rep. Elton Gallegly, from the California 24th. I hope to hear back from both of them soon. If they agree to interviews, podcast or video, I will have them here. It is my plan to call all 435 members of congress and all 100 senators. I want to know what they are thinking, and I want them to know what I am thinking. 2 down, 533 to go. It’s easy to do - contact your Representative.
No one of a thinking mettle can sit idly by while the country pushes in this new direction, which is guaranteed to bring future generations much more trouble and heartache than it could ever solve. I will not sit by while others - who never learn the lessons - pass the problem down the line. This site, this change, is my start of action.
I hope you will join me.
Carthago Delenda Est!

Tony

Following Gustav

Andy Carvin has put together a fantastic site to keep people informed on what is happening with Hurricane Gustav.  Not only is this about storm tracking, but about how you can help, about getting the word out from New Orleans and other places via social media channels and about being tuned in to know where the most help is needed and when.

For more information, and to sign up, go to The Official Site.  Stuff like this is fantastic, and shows the best of people - wanting to help, and getting others the information they need to help others.  A far and wonderful contrast to people like Michael Moore, who hope for disasters for political reasons.

I like the people I associate with.  They try to do good things, and don't wish for disasters.

Tony