Dec. 16, 1773: Colonists disguised as Indians dump tea into Boston harbor declaring to England they won't tolerate taxation without representation.

Fast forward almost 236 years: Republicans disguised as intelligent voters dump tea bags into whatever body of water they can find, declaring what? Taxation without representation?

I don't think so. We just had a fair election, and Barack Obama and Democratic members of Congress were overwhelmingly elected by the American people.

These "tea baggers" might not like the outcome of the elections of 2006 and 2008, but they were fair elections--a great improvement from the questionable elections of 2000 and 2004.

Maybe they're protesting the tax cut 95 percent of them just got under President Obama and the Democrats in Congress; maybe, like Jon Stewart recently said, they're "confusing tyranny with losing" or maybe they're just mad at Lipton. Who knows?

But one thing is certain: They're being ridiculous and no one is taking them seriously.

Why do I care? Why can't they have their silly little "tea parties"? Unlike the colonists of 1773, we now understand ecology. We cannot go around dumping tea or anything else into our waterways. Have you seen the videos of these people? Some of them are throwing small handfuls of tea (even that done by enough people will do damage), but many of them are throwing huge sacks of it, sacks and all into our waterways.

What's wrong with you people?

If you want to protest a stronger economy, lower taxes, more jobs and fair elections, please do it without destroying our very fragile environment.

Sherry Jensen Thousand Oaks