I respect a lot of what you say, Deckard, but you give way, way too much credit to Watergate as a reason for general distrust of government. It's much simpler than even that - you can't promote rampant libertarianism, the idea that people should be free to do what they want and **** doing any communal obligations, and expect a proper, functioning bureaucracy, because as we know all too well, it's libertarians who don't trust the bureaucracy, which means the bureaucracy becomes less effective, which promotes a terrible cycle. And I'm not just talking right-wing libertarianism - while the Republicans shatter the communal bonds of the government, it's Democrats who shatter the communal bonds of well, the community, by going after churches, family, and other institutions. What I think people constantly forget about governments and rulers, no matter how we discuss proper rules or policies, and so on... is that governments MUST inspire. Not only for the government, but for the betterment of the human condition to break our capacities. We've done the opposite. We've been shattering the bonds between ourselves and the community, and between ourselves and the nation in the name of freedom and liberty, and now we're seeing what is it, and it tastes like ash.
I distrust the government because everytime either myself or the people I know interact with them they either end up in jail or they end up losing a lot of money (or both). We distrust the government because the government doesn't trust us. They think we're all criminals.
The greatest fear I have is people decrying education and science and ending up politically and religiously extreme with no base level intellect so they are easily programmed to believe whatever/whenever as long as you pander to their fear first.
Solid, I realize that not everyone in the "tea party" movement is an extremist. Many are well intentioned libertarians, or of similar ilk. You and Thumbs, in my opinion, would certainly fall within that group. What I think you fail to realize, and maybe it's because you're too close to it, is that the leadership is extremist (IMO), and the "movement" has become an umbrella for people with views far from your own. Heck, far from that of most Americans. No, I don't see the least conflict in supporting today's Democratic Party and my liberal beliefs. I've made numerous posts criticizing Democrats in Congress, the Obama Administration, and the President himself. Some of the things that have come to light recently disturb me greatly, but I see them as bumps in the road. Those responsible should be canned, like yesterday. Should anything like the IRS scadal come to light, those responsible should pay. Other policies begun under Bush that Obama campaigned against have continued. That ticks me off. Yet the alternative, unchecked GOP power, is an entire order of magnitude worse. And your "tea party" will continue to simply be a wing of the Republican Party, with influence beyond what their numbers justify in the primaries, thus having inordinate influence on the GOP. And how do they do that? They are organised and they vote. Simple as that.
Wealth inequality. You can't expect college tuition, healthcare, fuel, housing, etc to continue to outpace wages without dire consequences.
I guess the other stuff is just opinion vs. opinion at this point. But the medicare funds cut did actually cut waste. They allowed the transfer of records of a test from doctor to another rather than have them pay to run the same tests again as one example.
Also student loan debt. Not being able to discharge them through bankruptcy means many folks may never be able to buy a home, start a business, etc. This problem is only just beginning to have economic reverberations. Wait a decade or two and maybe so many people will be effected that a future president runs specifically on this issue. Heck maybe it's what will finally drive a third party candidate into the White House!
Did you read your post? Where you say progressives have an obsession with political power, ugly tendency to suppress and even destroy opposition. Where you said the tea party were freedom loving and patriotic. Where you claimed the problem with ACA was the transfer of funds from Medicare. Where the government tried to kill your movement. Hyperbole? Really? The people inside extremist movements seldom seem to think they're extremist. These are some of your tea party favorites. Michelle Bachmann Sarah Palin Richard Mourdock Christine O'Donnell Sharron Angle Allen West Todd Akin Ron Paul Rand Paul Glenn Beck Jim DeMint
Thanks for giving such a thoughtful and measured response which I fully expected, but you might be surprised how many "Democratic Leadership Counsel" types are now Libertarian. I for one have never been a Republican. I have always been pro labor (despise the bullying of many corporations), pro civil rights, pro environmental protections, and pro civil liberties. I actually think many if not most "run of the mill" Americans have a "live and let live" attitude, the real heart of Libertarianism.
The only ones on your list who I really like and respect are Rand Paul (his father is off the reservation), and Allen West, a bright mind and ex-military. Never cared much for Sarah Palin or Michelle Bachman. And, Christine O'Donnell, you must be kidding.
