A Tea Party

 They are having a tea party on the Mall in Washington today. The Tea Party movement is running into a whole lot of opposition these days. The fear of the Tea Party movement is coming from Wall Street to those at the philosophical left and all the establishment in between. Politics, in America, as practiced is really for the wealthy and the well-connected. The well-connected includes various interest groups as well as those economically dependent on the government. These owners and beneficiaries don’t need changes and disturbances.

  The Tea Party movement is franchising people. Some of these people may have never even registered to vote before. They are coming out because they sense something is wrong and that the something wrong is now affecting their livelihood and the future  of their families. They see Republicans and Democrats as distrustful. They see those parties and the individuals who rule and compose those parties as owned by organized interest groups. Different interest groups to be sure, but the effect is all the same. Democrats and Republicans are in a straight jacket and cannot function for the broad citizenry of the land. And, only recently the parties have become “exclusive”. Closed parties! Complete with loyalty statements, threats, ostracizing, and the diminishing of the individual conscience has permeated both traditional parties. That is why the legitimacy of Republicans and Democrats is on the line.

  A vaguely defined legacy establishment including media hierocracy, think tanks, academies etc. has joined in the opposition. This general establishment which many think strongly influence both parties,  would feel more comfortable without a new ingredient thrown into the equation. Especially, one so uncouth and intellectually handicapped as the Tea Partiers. So, they try to discredit the Tea Party and marginalize them. But, the establishment just keeps losing in this effort. But, when “political power” is on the line you can expect most anything from the guardians of the status quo. So, expect to continue to hear the old epithets: racism, red-necks, radicals, ignorant, extremists, etc. thrown at the Tea Party.

  The Tea Party movement probably cannot be stopped. The movement is healthy for the country and timely. But, it does need guidance. When you see some of the individuals who try to associate with the movement you have to be somewhat concerned. Some are like a Who”s Who of the demagogues of the country, save some you might see on cable TV. The celebrity demagogues such as Beck and Gingrich are destructive to the movement. I say demagogues because these people don’t  have a rational appeal. If you parce their comments you will see they take about a 25% truth and then put a pair of wings on it.

  The Tea Party can have no working relationship or alignment with Republicans or Democrats. The Tea Party’s basic tenant is limited government. Republicans, rhetoric notwithstanding are  not effective opponents of big and aggressive government. At least, not in the last 30 years. When in power they have  built layer after layer onto the federal government. All the while, the representatives have come home and told future tea partiers they were in Washington holding back monolithic government. Tea Partiers remember the lies and ineffectiveness of Republicans. Present Republicans represent the wealthy and have abandoned traditional Republican principles. Now, the Tea Party understands that real well.

  Likewise, the Tea Party can have no association with Democrats. Mainline Democrats love government. Their answer and solution can be counted on to the government. Government first and always. It does not bother the Democrats to see the government component in the economy inch up year by year. They see this encroachment as no threat to our liberties. They can find no connection or disharmony between the concentration of means and liberties.

  Of course, neither Republicans or Democrats are bothered by debt.

  External opposition by the establishment, both traditional parties, the media, pundits, etc. will only strength the Tea Party movement. The more lies they tell the more the movement will grow. However, the Tea Party must beware of internal infiltration among demagogues, parties, associations, and those who would make the movement a personal ladder.

  The Tea Party needs to stick with what they do best. That is; comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.