Wes Burton said he is fed up with the "toxic environment" that has caused the U.S. economy to spiral out of control and threatens to take small businesses down in the process. 

Burton, of Burton Architecture in Towson, said he has clients that want to move forward with building projects, but can't secure funding because investors are afraid. "We barely scrape by every week," he said.

On Monday afternoon, Burton let out his frustration at a tea party rally which included the Now Or Never Bus Tour in the parking lot outside of the Honeygo Community Center in Perry Hall.

The event included more than 250 people and opened with a song that included the lyrics, "This socialist nightmare must come to an end," set to the tune of "New York, New York."

Event materials advertised former-Maryland first lady Kendel Ehrlich as the keynote speaker. She gave a brief speech and encouraged the crowd to vote for her husband, former Maryland governor and Republican gubernatorial candidate, Bob Ehrlich.

She then surprised the crowd by introducing him as the next speaker. The tea party's most visible advocate, Sarah Palin, did not endorse Ehrlich in the GOP primary in September.

Ehrlich said that it's time for the state and country to get new leadership. He also joked about having significantly more Facebook friends than his opponent, Martin O'Malley.

"I'm a lot friendlier. That's all I can say," Ehrlich said. 

Other speakers at the event said that U.S. economic woes will continue to worsen unless the country's current administration is replaced.

"America is broke," said former gubernatorial candidate and Maryland politician Ellen Sauerbrey. "It's time that we use the power we have to clean house." 

Dave Schwartz, Maryland's director of Americans For Prosperity, which sponsored the event, told the crowd to stand united and defend the American dream.

"This is our opportunity to stand for freedom," he said. "This is about our value system."

Trish Date, president of Baltimore-based Rittenhouse Energy Services, talked about redundant government restrictions that are placed on businesses and drive up costs for consumers.

"We as citizens pay for all of this," she said. 

Many visitors said they were at the event because they disagreed with the state and country's current leadership. 

Martin Jones of Middle River said he came to the rally to support local Republicans. Jones said he is a registered Democrat, but will vote "right down that straight line for Republicans," because he disagrees with the Obama administration's stance on universal healthcare.

Genia McDowell, also of Middle River, wore a tea bag costume at the rally.

"I'm sick of it," she said. "The politicians are not listening to us."