It is astonishing. The unexpected power of the spontaneous Tea Party uprising took the political left and right by surprise. Ordinary people, fed up with government and business as usual, are becoming a force to be reckoned with. The political pundits, as is so often the case, do not have a clue what the Tea Party movement is about.
The original Boston Tea Party was December 16, 1773. Thousands of angry and disgruntled American colonists rallied at the Old South Meeting House in Boston, Massachusetts to abolish once and for all the imposition of taxes on them by the British Parliament. Tossing the tea into Boston Harbor was merely a focal point for protest. The real issue was that the colonists had no elected representatives in Parliament and little say in government. That was about to change. The fight for American independence had begun in earnest.
The modern Tea Party movement has come about for the same reason. Citizens rightly feel their government is no longer theirs. In the movie “Network,” a frustrated TV reporter finally reaches the breaking point and on air yells, “I’m sick and tired and I’m not going to take it any more!” His action sparks the whole city to life and everyone opens their windows and in unison yells the same thing. If you have had enough and you don’t want to take it any more, welcome to the Tea Party.
The first sign of a galvanized national Tea Party movement was in late summer of 2008. That was when millions of Americans were outraged by a $700 billion bailout of failed big businesses, of broke big banks, of raided union pension funds and of high-flying Wall Street gamblers. President George W. Bush and his administration of Wall Street insiders, who claimed to be adherents of the free market, fanned the flames of a budding revolution by reimbursing the losses of corporate scoundrels and hedge fund crooks. This rescue by the Republican president and the predominantly Republican Congress was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back, just as the tea tax did in 1773.
The Tea Party brings together disparate people from across the entire political spectrum. There are Republicans and Democrats, Conservatives and Liberals, Libertarians, Contrarians, Independents and even a few hard-boiled Anarchists.
Democrats and Republicans, those two long time dominant, monopoly parties, particularly fear a challenge from this new competitor that is beginning to offer a real choice at the ballot box.
Members of the Tea Party fear or favor no one. While Democrat apologists whine that their party is unfairly targeted by “far right Teabaggers,” Republican incumbents across the country have fallen to Tea Party ire and have been unceremoniously tossed out of office. Good riddance!
Tea Party patriots have been portrayed as uneducated and even unprincipled, but such an uninformed opinion contradicts reality. Members of the Tea Party are thoughtful, intelligent, caring and concerned about our nation and the world. That’s why they are Tea Party members.
Our government was designed to function with the participation of ordinary, average men and women who are under the guidance of a few fundamental laws. It is a government of, by and for the people. While it is true that most first time candidates for office, including Tea Partiers, have little or no legislative experience, they bring to the table something far more valuable. They bring their life experience in trades, in business, in law, in medicine and even in raising their families. They are people from all walks of life; they are not professional politicians. They are the backbone of America.
If experience is so great, then why have incumbent politicians, who are allegedly so smart, so clever and so experienced, managed to bankrupt this nation for generations to come by spending us into oblivion? That is certainly not the kind of experience we need or want.
Republicans and Democrats should fret less about the Tea Party and spend more time energizing their own parties. It is likely that many Democrat and Republican incumbents will not be returned to office after the mid-term elections for a variety of reasons. Instead of criticizing the activism of Tea Partiers, party loyalists could better spend their time getting out the vote for their own candidates.
Some question just what is the platform of the Tea Party. The answer to the question is that the Tea Party doesn’t have platforms, charters or leaders, other than the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Tea Partiers particularly revere Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution, which clearly defines and limits the power of government. It would be nice if politicians had the same respect for our Constitution.
Whether dumping tea into a harbor or dumping an incumbent on Election Day, revolts such as these make history and they can revolutionize a nation. Like their 1773 forebears, modern day Tea Partiers will earn a place of honor in history. Their noble legacy promises to be one of strictly limited government, personal responsibility, maximum personal freedom and respect for the rights of individuals. What more could you ask?
Tea Partiers are standing up for all of us. Ask yourself what you have done to help your country and what will your legacy be. If it is only a small part of what the members of the Tea Party have and will accomplish for America, then it will be enough.
There is more information about the Tea Party on Wikipedia.
It is astonishing. The unexpected power of the spontaneous Tea Party uprising took the political left and right by surprise. Ordinary people, fed up with government and business as usual, are becoming a force to be reckoned with. The political pundits, as is so often the case, do not have a clue what the Tea Party movement is about.
The original Boston Tea Party was December 16, 1773. Thousands of angry and disgruntled American colonists rallied at the Old South Meeting House in Boston, Massachusetts to abolish once and for all the imposition of taxes on them by the British Parliament. Tossing the tea into Boston Harbor was merely a focal point for protest. The real issue was that the colonists had no elected representatives in Parliament and little say in government. That was about to change. The fight for American independence had begun in earnest.
The modern Tea Party movement has come about for the same reason. Citizens rightly feel their government is no longer theirs. In the movie “Network,” a frustrated TV reporter finally reaches the breaking point and on air yells, “I’m sick and tired and I’m not going to take it any more!” His action sparks the whole city to life and everyone opens their windows and in unison yells the same thing. If you have had enough and you don’t want to take it any more, welcome to the Tea Party.
The first sign of a galvanized national Tea Party movement was in late summer of 2008. That was when millions of Americans were outraged by a $700 billion bailout of failed big businesses, of broke big banks, of raided union pension funds and of high-flying Wall Street gamblers. President George W. Bush and his administration of Wall Street insiders, who claimed to be adherents of the free market, fanned the flames of a budding revolution by reimbursing the losses of corporate scoundrels and hedge fund crooks. This rescue by the Republican president and the predominantly Republican Congress was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back, just as the tea tax did in 1773.
The Tea Party brings together disparate people from across the entire political spectrum. There are Republicans and Democrats, Conservatives and Liberals, Libertarians, Contrarians, Independents and even a few hard-boiled Anarchists.
Democrats and Republicans, those two long time dominant, monopoly parties, particularly fear a challenge from this new competitor that is beginning to offer a real choice at the ballot box.
Members of the Tea Party fear or favor no one. While Democrat apologists whine that their party is unfairly targeted by “far right Teabaggers,” Republican incumbents across the country have fallen to Tea Party ire and have been unceremoniously tossed out of office. Good riddance!
Tea Party patriots have been portrayed as uneducated and even unprincipled, but such an uninformed opinion contradicts reality. Members of the Tea Party are thoughtful, intelligent, caring and concerned about our nation and the world. That’s why they are Tea Party members.
Our government was designed to function with the participation of ordinary, average men and women who are under the guidance of a few fundamental laws. It is a government of, by and for the people. While it is true that most first time candidates for office, including Tea Partiers, have little or no legislative experience, they bring to the table something far more valuable. They bring their life experience in trades, in business, in law, in medicine and even in raising their families. They are people from all walks of life; they are not professional politicians. They are the backbone of America.
If experience is so great, then why have incumbent politicians, who are allegedly so smart, so clever and so experienced, managed to bankrupt this nation for generations to come by spending us into oblivion? That is certainly not the kind of experience we need or want.
Republicans and Democrats should fret less about the Tea Party and spend more time energizing their own parties. It is likely that many Democrat and Republican incumbents will not be returned to office after the mid-term elections for a variety of reasons. Instead of criticizing the activism of Tea Partiers, party loyalists could better spend their time getting out the vote for their own candidates.
Some question just what is the platform of the Tea Party. The answer to the question is that the Tea Party doesn’t have platforms, charters or leaders, other than the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Tea Partiers particularly revere Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution, which clearly defines and limits the power of government. It would be nice if politicians had the same respect for our Constitution.
Whether dumping tea into a harbor or dumping an incumbent on Election Day, revolts such as these make history and they can revolutionize a nation. Like their 1773 forebears, modern day Tea Partiers will earn a place of honor in history. Their noble legacy promises to be one of strictly limited government, personal responsibility, maximum personal freedom and respect for the rights of individuals. What more could you ask?
Tea Partiers are standing up for all of us. Ask yourself what you have done to help your country and what will your legacy be. If it is only a small part of what the members of the Tea Party have and will accomplish for America, then it will be enough.
There is more information about the Tea Party on Wikipedia.
Sincerely,
Tony Cain