I read all of the posts in this thread, and came to the conclusion that there is more prejudice than reason involved in this discussion. Anyone can join the so called TEA Party movement simply by showing up at a rally, or by joining one of the hundreds of internet groups. The group has no single spokesman to curb the excesses of individual members, unless you include Sarah Palin. She is not the choice of many members of the movement, and is indeed considered unqualified to be a presidential candidate by the people who run TEA Party Nation.
And yet they keep inviting her, that sends a rather mixed message doesn't it? Its one of the many underlying hypocrisys/inconsistences that is the Tea Party
What I am trying to communicate is that there are fringe elements present who are not representative of the consensus of the movement's members, though they claim membership. These fringe elements attract the attention of the press because they are more "exciting" than others who simply stand and let their presence at the rally speak for itself. Furthermore there are many who never attend rallies, myself included, who are not visible but support the movement in principle.
Those elements are larger than you want to admit. They are collection of all the extremist groups that used to be in the Republican Party. From the radical pro-life, the tax reformers (those that want to ban the IRS), to the screwer end like the Birthers and the militias and there very self serving narrow-minded interpretation of the constitution. Look at Sarah Palin -her family was involoved in a Alaska sessionist movement. That isnt mainstream America, thats Cuckooland USA. And if the media focuses on them that really is the fault of the tea party for not doing enough to kick the fruitcakes out. Ultimately you control your own membership not the media.
http://www.teapartynation.com/
"Tea Party Nation (or TPN) is a user-driven group of like-minded people who desire our God given Individual Freedoms which were written out by the Founding Fathers. We believe in Limited Government, Free Speech, the 2nd Amendment, our Military, Secure Borders and our Country!"
Again more hypocrisy. You claim to be different from other political parties but you are really the same. For example you promote small government but when your de facto leader (Palin) was Governor, her state was of the biggest porkers in Washington. And whats so special about what you believe in? Do you really think that Liberals, Moderates and others dont believe in liberty, America, etc? THOSE ARE ONLY SLOGANS. the ideas you promote are exactly the ones the GOP has promoted since Ronald Reagan.
Ronald Reagan talked a good line about big intrusive government, until he became President and created the biggest government in US History. The Tea Party is no different, they crave power just like the GOP and Dems do.
Those selected "beliefs" are shared by many people who are not even involved in the movement. It remains to be seen whether they are all shared by everyone who IS involved, either online or at rallies. For example there is the group represented by
http://www.crashtheteaparty.org/ who admit that they intend to disrupt activities, in opposition to the principles of the TEA Party. Any bets on whether the news reporters will distinguish them from real members of the movement?
I don't think you want to make accusations about disruptive politics. The Tea Party took that to whole new levels in 2009. Do you remember the Healthcare town hall meetings? Or the spreading of outrageous lies about Death Panals as if Obama were a Dr. Menegele
The development of political parties is an unfortunate result of the fixed term election by district system. What seems to infuriate the existing parties most of all is that someone should have the gall to want a third party option. The power of a third party was best shown in 1992 when United We Stand under Ross Perot took 19% of the vote in a presidential election. At TPN the management is firmly against running a third party presidential candidate, choosing to believe that the republican party can be transformed from its lackluster performance and reenergized to gain victory in both 2010 and 2012.
I agree about having 3rd parties, but political parties formed by extremists and crazy conspiracy theories (birthers and many others) is not the way to go. It didn't fly with the John Birch Society back in the day it wont fly now.
I am an independent voter. I reject both existing political parties because they want to concentrate power at the federal level, disenfranchising both the states and the people of the nation. I expect that the time will come within the next ten years or so when the states rise up against the federal government to strip it down to a manageable size, using some popular movement like the TEA Party movement as a driving force. On the other hand, I thought 13 years ago back in 1997 that federal powers would be challenged by now, so my timing is a bit off. The key factor making a states' rights movement possible now is the current depression with tens of millions out of work and angry about federal government deficits. There is talk about a federal "value added tax" coming to reduce the deficit. I say - "Go ahead, make my day" to that notion. Taxed Enough Already is a serious protest, not just a slogan...
I am Center-Left voter. American have very little to complain about in terms of how much taxes they pay. Compared to what other countries pay in taxes, we pay very little. You should see what I have to pay in France. My arguement is not that we pay too much (we don't), its that the money is pissed away on things like taxcuts for millionaires and wars against brown people.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Income_Taxes_By_Country.svg
Chart from OECD 2005.
Edit1 :
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/t/thomasjeff125003.html
Edit2 :
This is for mmarsh, who claims that nobody has a plan - see my post at :
http://www.military-quotes.com/forum/tax-day-coming-around-yet-t82484.html
Even the TPN management recoiled in horror from my plan - the total destruction of all political parties.
I read your post, but you didn't explain was how we prevent the entire US economy from collapsing as a result. Your ideas are just slogans, they sound good but in todays reality are unworkable, I dont think any economist could possibly back such ideas. #3 sounds perfect way like a way to turn America into a Oligarchy.
Lonnie Courtney Clay
