Deliberative legislative bodies tend to be dismissive when the people express an opinion the ruling class doesn't share. It started with a handbill posed on November 29, 1773 inviting Bostonians to attend a meeting to plan a protest of taxes on tea. In part, the announcement read,"...the hour of destruction, or manly opposition to the machinations of tyranny, stares you in the face. Every friend to his country, to himself and to posterity, is now called upon to meet at Faneuil Hall...to make united and successful resistance to this last, worst, and most destructive measure of administration."The gathering soon outgrew the announced meeting site and moved to Old South Meeting House. There the people agreed to act.They meet again on December 14th, and then on the 16th when they faced this question:"[W]ill you abide by your former resolutions with respect to not suffering the tea to be landed?"  In speaking to the question, Josiah Quincy, a lawyer, said,"The...(Read Full Post)