Tea Anyone?

Louis Currier – September 22, 2010


“I'll show you politics in America. Here it is, right here. 'I think the puppet on the right shares my beliefs.' 'I think the puppet on the left is more to my liking.' 'Hey, wait a minute, there's one guy holding out both puppets!'” ~ Bill Hicks


It is becoming more evident than ever that we are in need of a third political party in American politics. The two party system has been hijacked by the likes of George Soros, Peter Lewis, Rupert Murdoch, Harold Simmons, and many other wealthy contributors who seek to control government by buying it. How many elections of recent past can you think of where your choice was that of the “lesser of two evils?” Reality is; most people are not extremist left or right wingers but lay somewhere in between. We are tired of our paychecks being bilked more and more, tired of big government telling us what to do [because we don’t know any better], and just want government to be efficient allowing us the right to… life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

The Tea Party movement, although not an official organized party has sent the political establishment scurrying around wondering what to do about the evil people who dare to enact their rights. The most recent tantrum is that of Karl Rove who was taken back in his Delaware loss to the Tea Party backed candidate. Katy Abram in her statement “You have awakened a sleeping giant” was right on the mark and the establishment did not head her warning. This was not a warning to democrats but all politicians who fail to stand up for the American people. There has been a lot of talk as to who the Tea Party is. Many encourage that it is part of the vast Right Wing extremists. Others assert that it is a re-branded republican party. Now that the Tea Party has affected the Right [Republicans] we again assess; who is the Tea Party?

Has it occurred to anyone that the people who make up the Tea Party are average everyday Americans, like Katy Abram, who are sick and tired of the political elitist ruling class? In my opinion that is exactly who they are. They are everyday people who are tired of being ignored, tired of politicians favoring the special interest over the people, and tired of runaway government that is threatening their normal way of living. It is not left or right but comprised of many people with one issue in mind – “We the People!”

Even though there is a movement afoot to shake up politics as usual, the establishment and the media continue to paint Tea Partiers as “angry voters.” Joshua Spivak, in an AOL News Op Ed, dismissed the Tea Party movement by stating that “Any possible third party has the same nonexistent chance of success as all the ones that went before” and he equates the movement to [perceived] voter anger and goes on to state that “The tea party movement and the increasing anger [there’s that word again] with the political process makes a third party look like an appealing option to many. But it is simply a mirage.”

Spivak seems to be right about one thing – what stifles the emergence of any third party is its ability to break into the entrenched two party system establishment, however a recent Gallop Poll has indicated that “The desire for a third party is fairly similar across ideological groups, with 61% of liberals, 60% of moderates, and 54% of conservatives believing a third major party is needed.”¹ Is a third party movement taking hold? I am not sure but what seems to be obvious is that voters are disenchanted with the political establishment and seem to be sending a message. The poll results also seem to re-enforce my belief that the Tea Party is not left or right but comprised of many people with one issue in mind – “We the People!”

Those who say, "it cannot be done" should not interrupt the person doing it! ~ Chinese proverb

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¹ September 17, 2010 Americans Renew Call for Third Party
http://www.gallup.com/poll/143051/americans-renew-call-third-party.aspx

You work for Me!

IN 2010 YOU WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO GET RID OF THE SITTING CONGRESS: Up to 1/3 OF THE SENATE, AND 100% OF THE HOUSE.

Let’s face it – the average blue collar worker donates very little to the political candidates campaign coffers. The costs of running a campaign are enormous for anyone desiring to seek elected office and this is simply out of reach for the average American. If the average American donates a minor portion of the campaign contributions, where does the money come from? Special interest groups, lobbyist, and political action committees. Are you naïve enough to believe that these donors freely give out millions of dollars without an expectation of return on their investment?

In the game of politics there is no such thing as something for nothing – the ideology of quid-pro-quo runs rampant through political circles [just look at the recent Healthcare Bill negotiations in the Senate]. As I alluded to in a previous post [The Problem of Incumbency] politics has become a business. People and organizations make investments into the business [government] with an expectation of return. Because of the large flow of money into political campaigns from special interest groups, these special interests will always garner the support of legislators over the needs of the taxpayer [taxpayer dollars don’t pad their pocket but campaign contributions do]. After all – in the world of business – would Sprint invest capital in NASCAR if there were not a return on the investment? Would Anheiser Busch invest in the Super Bowl advertisements if there were not a return on the investment? And would Companies invest millions in advertising capital through celebrities and sports stars if there were not a return on the investment?

The only way to control the influence of money in politics is to vote anti-incumbent until politicians understand that the will of the people must be addressed before the special interest money. Politicians do not serve for the sheer pleasure of doing a good thing – they are paid and paid well for what they do [or don’t do in some cases]. When we hire these elected officials we must make sure that they understand that they work for We the People. I am tired of sitting back saying - there is nothing just one person can do to correct the problem. I have decided to become an active participant and maybe – just maybe – inspire others, who too have been sitting on the sidelines saying that - there is nothing they can do, to get involved and finally take charge and tell our legislators – You work for Me!