In simple terms, colonists protesting the imposition of taxes through the Tea Act boarded ships in Boston Harbor and threw the tea overboard. The event is so iconic that some believe that it drove Americans away from drinking tea. Through the years, it has also been used by other tax protestors.

Now small groups have been forming throughout the country under the Tea Party label. One such group has formed in the East Mountains and Estancia Valley to protest the growth of government.

While critics of the tea partyers may write them off as right-wing zealots, the fact remains that they are becoming a group that demands attention. It's easy to question their motives about reduced government when its members remained silent over the government growth during eight years of the Bush presidency, but they should still be commended for their new-found involvement.

It's important to realize that a representative government is only as good as the people who participate. We may disagree with the way our federal, state and local governments act, but the only way to affect change is to become involved.

It's a message that also has been taken up by the East Mountains for Change group, which grew out of the local effort to elect President Obama. Since that time, the group has been out in the community, not so much as political activists, but as just plain folks wanting to make a difference. East Mountains for Change have helped plant gardens and donated books to Roosevelt Middle School.

Some may argue that our American democracy is broken because partisanship keeps anything from happening. We argue that the republic is just fine because more voices are being heard. Change in America has always been incremental and gridlock in government is our birthright.