Yesterday in Charlottesville, Virginia, and today in Glenn Allen, Virginia, concerned citizens and activists came out to two "Stop Tanking America" events, highlighting the need for alternative energy resources and real solutions for our energy needs.

Last night in McLean, Virginia, activists gathered for a “Stop Tanking America” Rally, continuing the many grassroots events taking place across the country, highlighting the need for alternative energy resources and real solutions for our energy needs.

Over the next several months, AFP-VA is taking the fight right to your community. We’ve been working non-stop by opposing local tax increases and reigning in government spending every chance we get. In addition to fighting local tax increases and government spending, our grassroots activists are organizing door-walks, phone banks, rallies, and we’ve been hosting Economic Freedom Presentations all around the Commonwealth to ensure that we win the fight for freedom and prosperity.

But we need help and support from activists like you in order to have an all-out push with the tried-and-true grassroots energy needed to get the Commonwealth back on track.

Join our efforts here: http://thefreedomchallenge.org/.

Tax FreedomIt can be disheartening when you hear how many days of your year are spent merely to pay taxes. And this year is no exception.

According to the Tax Foundation, "Tax Freedom Day® 2012 arrives on April 17 this year, four days later than last year due to higher federal income and corporate tax collections. That means Americans will work 107 days into the year, from January 1 to April 17, to earn enough money to pay this year’s combined 29.2% federal, state, and local tax bill.

If the federal government raised taxes enough to close the budget deficit—an additional $1.014 trillion—Tax Freedom Day would come on May 14 instead of April 17. That’s an additional 27 days of government spending paid for by borrowing. This year’s federal budget deficit remains high, though it has declined slightly over the past two years.

AFP's very own Nicole Kaeding wrote an excellent article on why states should decide against any healthcare exchanges. The end result is limited or no freedom in our own healthcare decisions. Anyone who continues to tout that these "exchanges" would be our own (especially after taking Federal money to set them up) is kidding themselves.