They don't trust government. They don't trust politicians. They don't trust science or scientists. They don't even trust an official birth certificates when they the issuing state provides a photocopy.
You know who I'm talking about. So exactly how do this growing movement, broadly described by the moniker, Tea Party, intend to govern, should they get their way? Like all radical far left or far right populist movements through out history, they don't even trust one another, at least not entirely.
Tea Partiers in two camps: Sarah Palin vs. Ron Paul (See Full Politico.com article.)
You might say then that the Tea Party solution to the current two-party system is to create a two-party system within their new party, or something...
But even if one of those two factions emerge in 2012 with viable third party candidates, the question remains what are they for that would replace all things they say they're against? And, about those things they're against do they even understand them well enough to be against them, much less understand how or what to replace them with?
Maybe the core question should be this: are they even angry about the right
things at all?
For example, You'll find no shortage of signs at Tea Party events condemning Obama, Pelosi and the IRS and government in general. But you will see no banners condemning this:
"JP Morgan Chase made $12 BILLION in profit in 2009, as a direct result of our tax money - yes, I need to keep repeating this fact. These are profits that would not exist if it weren't for our tax dollars....Now comes news that JP Morgan is on the verge of getting a $1.4 BILLION tax refund! Yes, you heard me right, a $1.4 BILLION TAX REFUND.
But JP is not alone in this latest theft. In total, the financial terrorists are due to receive $33 BILLION IN TAX REFUNDS!" (Full article)
Hmmm. Haven't heard Sarah Palin screeching about any of that. Why not? It pisses me off. It pisses you off. But not a single "you betcha" out of Little Ms. (made-$12 million-this-year)"Populist."
Another thing you won't hear at Tea Party rallies is anything about the growing disparity between the have's (who would have the average Tea Partier arrested on sight if caught roaming around their estates) and the have nots.
"As of late 2009, the number of billionaires soared from 793 to 1,011, and their total fortunes from $2.4 trillion to $3.6 trillion". Despite the crisis, the list of billionaires has grown by 218 people and their aggregate capital has expanded by 50%. This may seem paradoxical, but only at first glance. This result was predictable, if we recall how governments all over the world have dealt with the economic crisis." (Full Article)
On top of that those "bootstraps" the rich
are always telling the poor to pull themselves up by, are getting
shorter and scarcer. And that ladder they can climb once they're on their feet .... well someone's been sawing off the
lower rungs:
From The Economist Magazine: The Diminishing American Dream
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).