From The Detroit News — Originally published Thursday, April 16

The annual tax day rally at the state Capitol also was a TEA party — as in Taxed Enough Already. One of 25 such rallies across Michigan and many more around the country Wednesday, the Lansing protest drew about 5,000 vociferous anti-taxers and was billed as the “start of a second American revolution” — against big government.

… [W]hen that many people show up to chant so enthusiastically, elected officials should take heed of the protesters’ intensity.

Speakers … railed against wasteful spending and Michigan’s anti-competitive tax structure. Property taxes are too high, the state income tax is excessive, speakers said, and the Michigan Business Tax, with its 22 percent surcharge, is a monster.

… Lawmakers and Gov. Jennifer Granholm have vowed to make painful cuts and avoid a tax increase solution to the $1.8 billion shortfall in next year’s budget.

The message they can take from Wednesday’s festivities is that they need to follow through on that vow.