On July 4th, 2009 I gave a speech to several hundred people attending a Kalamazoo Tea Party. For the occasion I rented a tricorne, or three-cornered hat, the kind popular during the Revolutionary War. Afterwards it was suggested that I find a new symbol for today's era, that the hat and the “Don’t Tread On Me” rattlesnake were for a different time, one when the States were fighting for their freedom against England.

Now the States and the People are struggling for Liberty against a federal government that does not have faith in the common man, but rather strives to dominate and control him.

While pondering what might be appropriate for such a time as ours, I noticed a Bumblebee foraging through the clover. That's it – it represents The Common Man.

• It is everywhere, in all shapes and sizes with distinctive coloring
• It just wants to be at peace, living and working in its community
• The Bumblebee is non-aggressive, but will sting if disturbed.

Guess what? We are disturbed. Reckless spending and bailout of big banks, spiraling National Debt, payoffs and corruption, huge taxes on the way, unprotected borders while fighting dubious foreign wars, good being called bad, bad being called good, and the seemingly endless list goes on and on.

And the only appropriate caption was, Don’t Back Down^®. This is a cry to stand firm. We see the future and know we must change course now. There is no time to lose.

Hear us Washington. We have a right to liberty and you, Washington, are placing that right in jeopardy. We want our liberty protected. Follow the Constitution.

My hope is that you will visit BumblebeeStore.com and pick yourself up some gear to prepare for battle. Get a hat and shirt and let our unity for TCM Power Principles ring loud the Liberty Bell.

It’s time to turn back the hands of oppression and renew our individual rights.