John Pape
There are those who say the Tea Party movement is driven by anger. As much as I hate to admit it, that well may be true.
There are many out there who have become very, very frustrated with what they view as a government that, at best, is out of touch with the people it supposedly serves or, at worst, simply doesn’t care about us.
Regardless of the reason, “we the people” have simply become the means to an end for the politicians’ seeming eternal quest for re-election and power-gathering. And we foolish, unwashed commoners continue to expect our views to be represented by those very same politicians. When they inevitably do not, we become frustrated…and we become angry.
The recent federal healthcare “reform” effort is a classic example. Polls have continuously shown that a vast majority of Americans do not support the federal takeover of our healthcare system. Did that make a difference? Of course not.
We saw the political process turned into the worst example of backroom politics, replete with behind-the-scene sell-outs, broken promises of transparency and inclusion, and outright lies. That made us angry.
But don’t get me wrong; the Democrats do not have the market cornered when it comes to running roughshod over the will of the people. Gov. Rick Perry’s relentless pursuit of the ill-conceived Trans-Texas Corridor was an example of the GOP assuming we were too dim-witted to know what was really good for us.
Despite public hearing after public hearing during which Texans forcefully expressed their opposition to the plan, Perry and the toll road advocates continued to try and force their will on the people. That, too, made us angry.
When our politicians have town hall meetings back here at home and confidently assure us our voice will be heard in the halls of the Capitol, and then sell us out for the promise of a plum committee appointment or some other Beltway perk, we, yet again, get angry.
The Tea Party movement is, I believe, symptomatic of that anger boiling over and coalescing into “we the people” sending a message that we’ve had enough. We want politicians to give the nation we believe in back to us.
Some have said the Tea Party can pull support away from the Republicans and undermine any chance of reversing the current direction of government. That might be true, assuming we can trust the Republicans any more than we can trust the Democrats.
It certainly begs the question: Is it better to stand by your principles and lose, or abandon your principals and win?
That’s the question we all must consider.
For those wanting to know more about the TEA Party movement mentioned in this article. I found this fairly accurate description of it in Slate:
http://www.slate.com/id/2263063
So some do get it, Amricans are angry at out of control dem spending.
That’s right, Bush’s (R) TARP didn’t spend trillions of our dollars. Both parties are borrow, tax and spenders. There is enough political finger pointing to go around. No need to be partisan. Both parties have screwed the middle class taxpayers!
You’re right Bush’s TARP didn’t spend trillions of dollars.
No matter how you or your dem friends spin it, dems are the taxNspend party. Pointing and yelling over and over “Bush did it too” won’t fly with the electorate(except the really gullible), thanks to Obama and his huge deficits.
Here’s some facts for the uninformed, Snowe and Collins vote dem 56% of the time, they’re Republican’s In Name Only. When Specter quit hiding behind the (R) and publically ran as a (D) he lost.
TeaPartyers are angry at R’s who vote dem(taxNspend),also.
The taxNspend party will get a message in Nov, you dems can call it voter anger or racism if it makes you feel self righteous.
I understand, you’re angry and upset with no one to vote for, merely against.
I choose to see it differently, I choose to vote for someone.
Its a simple perspective some see the glass as half empty(D)
and some see it as half full(R).
But to get back to the suject at hand, voters are angry with the taxNspend dems and will show it in Nov.
enjoy the rest of your day, I will.
What or Why is TEA Party hiding from in Ft. Bend, before 2010 elections? These tea party movements have yet tobe seen or heard from toay 2010. It seems The tea party tobe voiceless!
On the simplistic surface analysis of the sentiments of the Tea Party Movement; its reasoning for organizing seems sincere and purposefully. Yet, nonetheless, in taking a closer look prospectively and examining those same reasoning’s for its formation during the Obama administration puts me in a quandary as to whether the true/sincere sentiments of the Tea Party Movement is really about what it says it is about.
In fact, the reason my eyes glaze over in a crossed eyed glaring, stare is that with all the horrific happenings like no other presidents in modern memory during the 8 year reign of George Bush 2; there was never a point of anger to ignite the formation of a Tea Party Movement, then, as it has been within the very short span of Obama’s presidential reign (within months of President Obama’s election, actually).
So, therefore, I’m not convinced that the reasons the Tea Partiers say they are put out and angry with the government is “really” all there is to their anger. Now, if the Tea Party Movement had formed in reactive anger to George Bush 2, I would have been a card carrying member from jump start. On the other hand, with its subsequent formation only to Obama’s Presidency when Obama inherited all of George 2’s mess and was stuck with trying to fix it while the real culprit had a get-out-of jail free card, I’m suspect that this grandiose anger is a just a boiling point anger overflowing to be really about the election of the First Black President.
Bush 2 failed miserably at being transparent during the entire 8 years of his presidency and at the last minute as he exits the door, we all found out at a simultaneous moment, that our government and our economy was on the brink of disaster. Bush2 prissed out the door and dumps horse manure in Obama’s lap; and, so, actually Bush 2 signed TARP as he skipped to my Lou out the White House door. A recent poll , however, revealed that most Americans think, mistakenly, that it was Obama who signed TARP; rather than Georgie Bush 2. TARP was already a done deal when Obama took office; as a result, he had no choice but to implement it.
“The Troubled Asset Relief Program, commonly referred to as TARP or RCP, is a program of the United States government to purchase assets and equity from financial institutions to strengthen its financial sector which was signed into law by U.S. President George W. Bush on October 3, 2008. It is the largest component of the government’s measures in 2008 to address the subprime mortgage crisis.” . . .as defined by Wikipedia.
As far as the Health Reform goes and many of the other reforms accomplished by President Obama, my frustration and peevishness has been that he stopped short of perfecting the reforms and conversely weakened the reforms by bending over backwards for bi-partisan consensus from the Republicans who never intended to oblige in the first place. From the very beginning, the Republicans vowed to bring down the success of the president’s policies and his presidency because they weaved a plot to work toward President Obama’s failure as the United States of America’s first Black President, specifically and in particularly.
Consequently, I find the Tea Party Movement’s boiling point anger so ironically,timely rearing its head to coincide with the election of our first African-American/Black President to view the Tea Party Movement defined by pure innocence only is conspicuously contradictive against the inheriting Obama’s government and not against George Bush 2′s ancestral government in thus, directing an outrage of governmental policies gone amok.
Moreover, even, presently, if governmental anger accompaniment is present, solely, within the Tea Party Movement, the delay to not vent likewise during the reign of Bush 2 is highly suspect, disparate, and discriminatory in my opinion. Hence, it is my opinion, still, that the election of the first Black/African American President Obama gave impetus to vent outrage and anger, now rather than previously , as a result of President Obama’s election giving way to intensified anger against the government cloaked as a means to knock , hate, and bring down President Obama in the convenient guise of governmental outrage.
I think what John does in using the TPM as an example of voter anger is as an illustration of the broader problem of corporations and governments so closely aligned that the light of day rarely shines through. I’m under no delusions that either party represents the average voters or taxpayers interests but each parties and donors (mainly industry donors) interests and their cartels.
As for the TP, they actually were very critical of Bush 2 when they first formed but I would say have been very much steered to fall in line with mainstream top-down GOP strategy and tactics during the current admin. Does that mean that all members are toadies for the GOP? I certainly hope not. Just as I hope their are Democrats, Independents, Greens, Libertarians, Constitutionalist, etc. that can see what is going on at the local, state and federal levels. I’m not one of these people who is going to run around and attempt to paint either of the two major tax supported parties as the angels or devils (they are neither–they are opportunist). I think both are very much responsible for allowing the sale of our system to the highest corporate bidders.
Just one opinion though. Good article Mr. Pape.
Another factor which makes local politics is confusing is that professed Republicans lead the way in spending, usually the trait of another major party. Not only that, but they swear that their spending is the “will of the people,” when we all know that its basically just to help their friends, who are only a small minority of the voting population. This large scale government spending is supposed to re-invigorate the local economy, which they have no proof of and which is reminiscent of the Federal Government spending now taking place and which likewise does nothing to improve the nation’s economic outlook.
“Another factor which makes local politics is confusing is that professed Republicans lead the way in spending, usually the trait of another major party.”
What can anyone say to that except good on you! It is why we can’t trust many of those currently in office or sometimes those seeking office. Perhaps some sort of additions need to be made beyond the standard swearing in oath. Naturally the problem with these oaths with or without any additions is they are not enforced and are the first promises broken to the public in the name of the deal.
Please step forward to Debate Anger of the Tea Party movemnt! Where does
What does The Tea Party stand or have to say about the 2010 elections?
One of the best places to hold forum or debate civil anger is in regular
elected official meeting in commissioners court, BOT, board and city council meetings annualy to be energize to go to th polls an vote in annual elections!
I think John did a good job tracking the anger that many are feeling during this recession and how the government continues to divert our tax dollars to the special projects. Much like they’ve always done. I don’t know about you all but I just love that bumper sticker that says, “Honk if I paid for your house”.
We have a good example of politicians running amok right here in Missouri City aka Paradise (thanks to neighboring cities). Our politicians will soon embark on a $10 to $20 million spending spree to show once and for all who really runs the town (right into the ground). We’ve already got a renovated championship golf course and we’ll soon have a new clubhouse (500 parking spaces) for their parties, a recreation/tennis center, and a lot more. Who cares that the other side of town can’t even get their sidewalks repaired? There’s a family that has given up trying to get the sidewalks repaired for their handicapped son to get around on. We get excuses and delays from the City Staff while the Council Members get expedited handling of everything they want. More to come on this.
I agree dos and think that it is high time for term limits in that town and any city with such incrusted city officials. It’s the only way to shake up the special interests that actually run so many of our local elected officials. Mr. Wiley of GFBCEDC can tell you all more about how the system really works than joe average voter off the street. Better give him a call for more info on how the ‘informal’ biz network runs our area.
This is the realy anger all about http://unitedwestandforamericans.org/2010/08/10/who-is-joyce-shaffer/
Yes, the Tea Party is symptomatic of that anger boiling over and coalescing into “we the people” sending a message that we’ve had enough. The problem is that anger and frustration do not replace the deep need for an informed public.
This is where good media is vital. Unfortunately corporate interests too often control media. This was clearly seen with the editorial on Home Owner Associations that had its comments blocked after just a few minutes. In the few areas where these comments are not blocked, they rapidly reach into the hundreds in just a few hours; such is the outcry against these private governments with hidden, anti-homeowner interests.
Also John, the great majority of US citizens were, and are, in favor of Medicare for all or a Single Payer health care system. This is also vitally important information.
http://www.healthcare-now.org/another-poll-shows-majority-support-for-single-payer
“And we foolish, unwashed commoners continue to expect our views to be represented by those very same politicians. When they inevitably do not, we become frustrated…and we become angry.” Once again kudos Mr. Pape on a stated position! Especially this one,
“…assuming we can trust the Republicans any more than we can trust the Democrats.”