IJ- honestly, I would have been proud to carry that because I remember very well being told I was not a real American because I said we should not be in Iraq. I was also told I was not a real American because I wasn’t a Christian, and that anyone who spoke out against the government was enabling terrorists. The people who told me that were neither liberal, or Democrat.
Dave, I resent that remark. I do know my American History, and know full well where the name comes from. There have always been ligitimate protests and concerns about how we are taxed, and what should be done with this country’s money. SOME of the Tea Party’s rhetoric is legit.
BUT, too many of the people involved in the Tea Parties across this country are not just concerned citizens who think we’ve gone astray. The movement has coalesced and let themselves be run by their lunatic fringe. These are extremely angry, frustrated people who think this country has been taken away from them, and not by those who really have taken it from them – big politics, big money, and more big money. They really mean a black president, minorities in general, immigrants, and everyone who is “different” from their Norman Rockwell small towns.
A legit third political force in this country would not allow the racist posters, the totally absurd rumors about the president, the gun toting nutballs, and the other extremes of their movement to define them. This has happened because this IS them. These are people who cannot accept that we don’t live in 1955 anymore. We are a multi-cultural, huge nation, with complex systems in place to insure that people are fed, clothed, hospitalized, educated and defended. Now those systems don’t always work right, granted, but they are there for a reason, because people want and need them. Everyone wants to pay less taxes until the programs they like and demand face cuts. The Tea Party line is strong on complaining and assigning “blame”, but very short on solutions.
Personally, I dont like tea. I think of it as dirty water primarily drunk by English people. It wouldnt affect me at all if they throw it all in the harbor.
As to yhe founding fathers: my favorite by far was Benjamin Franklin. Second, Alexander Hamilton.
OK I haven’t really paid much attention to the tea party, but here’s what I can cobble together what their platform seems to be. If anyone has any unbiased corrections, please offer them. Then maybe people can actually respond to these with something resembling argument instead of just calling the entire movement “nut jobs”. Seriously, just pick a point and refute it. It’s not that fucking hard, people.
– Promotion of judeo-christian culture in the United States to the exclusion of other cultures, in particular muslim culture.
– Lower government spending and lower taxes.
– Cutbacks / elimination of welfare and other entitlement programs.
– Anti-immigration (ties in to the first point I guess)
– English language only (same – ties to first point)
– Economic protectionism (not really sure about this one but is seems to go with the general vibe)
“He has posted off and on over the years, just not nearly as much as you do (I think you hold a record).”
bxgrl, dear, I do NOT hold the record for posting. I MAY have eclipsed Biff as having the most Brownstoner email in my Inbox, but not the posting record.
If I had to guess, I would say dave holds the record as the most prolific poster here, prolly followed by Biff, at least until he moved to a trading floor.
Well i for one dont like my taxes going to help the middle class since i dont qualify for any of those middle class welfare packages, nor do i qualify for the lower class, and obviously i dont get any rich people perks. sucks being part of the forgotten class!!!
lechacal- if the Tea Party wants to be taken seriously, perhaps they should stop insulting and ranting themselves. And maybe coming up with some real solutions, instead of just complaining about what they don’t like.
And don’t get me started on the hypocrisy of their leadership- Palin, Angell, Beck, Bachmann. They are pundits. I wouldn’t even dignify them by calling them politicians- and I don’t consider “politician” a compliment either.
“Score another one for agnostic jews. Any evangelical takers?”
Slopey, us agnostic Jews have to stick together! 🙂
IJ- honestly, I would have been proud to carry that because I remember very well being told I was not a real American because I said we should not be in Iraq. I was also told I was not a real American because I wasn’t a Christian, and that anyone who spoke out against the government was enabling terrorists. The people who told me that were neither liberal, or Democrat.
Dave, I resent that remark. I do know my American History, and know full well where the name comes from. There have always been ligitimate protests and concerns about how we are taxed, and what should be done with this country’s money. SOME of the Tea Party’s rhetoric is legit.
BUT, too many of the people involved in the Tea Parties across this country are not just concerned citizens who think we’ve gone astray. The movement has coalesced and let themselves be run by their lunatic fringe. These are extremely angry, frustrated people who think this country has been taken away from them, and not by those who really have taken it from them – big politics, big money, and more big money. They really mean a black president, minorities in general, immigrants, and everyone who is “different” from their Norman Rockwell small towns.
A legit third political force in this country would not allow the racist posters, the totally absurd rumors about the president, the gun toting nutballs, and the other extremes of their movement to define them. This has happened because this IS them. These are people who cannot accept that we don’t live in 1955 anymore. We are a multi-cultural, huge nation, with complex systems in place to insure that people are fed, clothed, hospitalized, educated and defended. Now those systems don’t always work right, granted, but they are there for a reason, because people want and need them. Everyone wants to pay less taxes until the programs they like and demand face cuts. The Tea Party line is strong on complaining and assigning “blame”, but very short on solutions.
Personally, I dont like tea. I think of it as dirty water primarily drunk by English people. It wouldnt affect me at all if they throw it all in the harbor.
As to yhe founding fathers: my favorite by far was Benjamin Franklin. Second, Alexander Hamilton.
Anyone else have a favorite founding father?
OK I haven’t really paid much attention to the tea party, but here’s what I can cobble together what their platform seems to be. If anyone has any unbiased corrections, please offer them. Then maybe people can actually respond to these with something resembling argument instead of just calling the entire movement “nut jobs”. Seriously, just pick a point and refute it. It’s not that fucking hard, people.
– Promotion of judeo-christian culture in the United States to the exclusion of other cultures, in particular muslim culture.
– Lower government spending and lower taxes.
– Cutbacks / elimination of welfare and other entitlement programs.
– Anti-immigration (ties in to the first point I guess)
– English language only (same – ties to first point)
– Economic protectionism (not really sure about this one but is seems to go with the general vibe)
– Repeal of health care legislation.
“He has posted off and on over the years, just not nearly as much as you do (I think you hold a record).”
bxgrl, dear, I do NOT hold the record for posting. I MAY have eclipsed Biff as having the most Brownstoner email in my Inbox, but not the posting record.
If I had to guess, I would say dave holds the record as the most prolific poster here, prolly followed by Biff, at least until he moved to a trading floor.
Whatever, lech!
Nicely put, Slopey! : )
Well i for one dont like my taxes going to help the middle class since i dont qualify for any of those middle class welfare packages, nor do i qualify for the lower class, and obviously i dont get any rich people perks. sucks being part of the forgotten class!!!
lechacal- if the Tea Party wants to be taken seriously, perhaps they should stop insulting and ranting themselves. And maybe coming up with some real solutions, instead of just complaining about what they don’t like.
And don’t get me started on the hypocrisy of their leadership- Palin, Angell, Beck, Bachmann. They are pundits. I wouldn’t even dignify them by calling them politicians- and I don’t consider “politician” a compliment either.