On Saturday, my hometown and current residence had a ‘Tea Party’. This new form of political activism that is argued to be rightist and fanatical and ignorant was not as the media has presented it. The rally was quite tame with vendors and information booths. People seemed friendly and open to promoting positive change not destruction. However, it appeared just like any political activism, politics. They are just as much a group trying to gain money and power, like any other. Republican candidates for example had tables to talk to prospective voters and appeal for their bid. One form just replaced another. The masks on the political machine are changing but the ‘tea party’ was begging for money just as any other party or candidate would. However, their message is clear that they are not a political party. Then why do they need money? They are peaceful protestors who sell t-shirts and take donations. I guess this money will be distributed to the homeless or the US Treasury or lobbyists asking for reduced government or someone’s pocket?
The event had booths around the periphery and the center had the rally with speakers and the audience which let out periodic cheers with the wave of an American flag. The core values (as printed in the event’s program) are fiscal responsibility, limited government, and free markets. These are not radical in my opinion or out of line with a more conservative view of American government. So where does the opinion come from that these are radical conservatives?
The program also included the top ten disasters of Obamacare. I will outline them from the event program to provide a better glimpse into these disgruntled citizens’ distress with the new health care plans.
1. New spending grows the federal deficit
2. Bending the cost curve in the wrong direction (meaning increasing health care spending overall not decreasing it)
3. New taxes and mandates hinder economic growth
4. Regulations grow government control over health care
5. Expanding broken entitlement programs
6. Burdening state budgets (because it requires expansion of state run health programs)
7. Neglecting Medicare (the current health care safety net)
8. Creates discrimination against low income workers (incentive to avoid hiring workers from low income families)
9. Exchange eligibility creates inequality (unequal subsidies towards health care purchases)
10. Questions of constitutionality (requires all Americans to purchase health care, which extends congressional power)
From these I think there are some more significant points than others. Numbers 1, 4, and 10 are the most concerning to me. I feel that government regulation is necessary in certain cases and health care is one such thing (to an extent). Increasing power beyond constitutional restraint to control a market is against our principles on both economic and political levels.
~PB
I think that is a good article.
ReplyDeleteI believe that their request seem quite fair in the eyes of the American people; I m not fully aware of what are their expectations and why obviously.
On the other hand this part tickled my curiosity:
"One form just replaced another. The masks on the political machine are changing but the ‘tea party’ was begging for money just as any other party or candidate would. However, their message is clear that they are not a political party. Then why do they need money? They are peaceful protestors who sell t-shirts and take donations. I guess this money will be distributed to the homeless or the US Treasury or lobbyists asking for reduced government or someone’s pocket?"
as I told you, in France we do not get any information, or it is only playing on the cliché of the patriot american, about this movement and maybe, i wrote maybe hehe, you could get to write about them? ;=)
Write about patriot Americans or tea party-ers? I think the media largely plays with this group. As with any function there will be extreme people and those less knowledgeable about the issues and the media capitalizes on seeking out these people to represent the tea party. Also, any form of civic participation will appear patriotic to another country. Voting itself is an extension of nationalism and the continuation of government. Do the flags turn the world off? I have seen many national flags at football games and lining the streets outside the US so I don't think it is characteristic to the US. I think the only thing that turns me off is when the flag is on clothes. Weird. I think though that the Union Jack and now Brazil's flag are making more of an appearance.
ReplyDelete~PB
The medias play with these people, i wouldnt doubt it, but same goes for a channel of "opinions" like fox news that plays on the ignorance of the people thanks to its popular speakers. It works both way; and what is the weight of these guys in the Tea party movement?
ReplyDeletewell the thing about tea party-ers is that they lost the presidential elections through the republicans and that they cant accept that obama put his program through. i d be curious to know what s the number that they represent too. That reminds me of the guys on strike all the time in France although a president has been elected on the basis he would make some reforms.
Does this mean that they re wrong to protest? not at all, but maybe they should check their manner and/or try to put some distant with more violent elements.
i dont really get the point with the flag though.
I believe that letting private companies running healthcare at a national level would be a disaster and hence the state has to take care of that bit.
For the other market it is different although you could say that the defense market is pretty much subsidized (and thus regulated by the government i guess) by the state and no one seems to complain here, of course it s another duty of the state.