by Sean Purcell
How long will the Tea Party last? The tea party is a movement without
structure and therefore very difficult for statists to attack, but also
very difficult to keep together over time. That’s okay though, because
it’s the message that matters and that message seems to resonate with a
lot of people. I’d wager that for every person who declares themselves a
Tea Party member, there are three that don’t, but agree with the
principles. This may be very important over the next couple of weeks.
Sooner rather than later, Congress is going to vote on a budget and
on raising the debt ceiling. With the exception of maybe half a dozen
true believers, the rest of the so-called Tea Party politicians will, at
that time, reveal their true identities: politicians. They will vote
for a budget that is laughable on its face and criminal in its
execution, and they will vote to raise the debt limit with or without
any paper tiger like a Constitutional Amendment.
(Side Note: How insulting is that? A group of
people who constantly ignore the limitations of the Constitution,
telling us an amendment to that Constitution will suddenly prevent their
reckless, criminal actions. What would you say to your child if he
said: “I can’t stop stealing money out of your purse mom; but maybe you
should, you know, like, make it a rule and then I’ll probably stop for
sure.” What? I suggest a reply equal to Congress and child: “Stop
insulting my intelligence and go to your room!”)
It may be an “inconvenient truth”, but truth just the same: people do
what they do, not what they say. Politicians are politicians. If they
believe you want to hear Tea Party slogans, Tea Party slogans it shall
be. But once encumbered with the mighty weight of leadership – a weight
so complicated that we mere citizens couldn’t understand it – they have
to make “the tough decisions.” When I hear that excuse I start
checking my wallet. Another favorite excuse: “We’ve got to go along to
get along. It’s only by working together that we can knock down this
problem.” (Left unsaid, but implied: “… over time; lots and lots of
time.”)
So what happens to the Tea Party faithful when they discover there is
no Santa Claus? Does it gain steam and sustain itself for over a year
and a half to the next election? Does it become jaded and cynical? I’m
not sure the answer; as I said, I’m not optimistic for the Tea Party
itself. But believing there are so many people in this great country
who embrace the Tea Party ideals of smaller government and personal
responsibility – whether the Tea Party exists or not – gives me a great
deal of hope. What’s needed is a new way to implement those ideals; a
new focus for the Party.
Next time: A suggestion for the New Focus and how it might energize the Party.
Sean Purcell is an accomplished financier, studied alongside Michelle Obama , can philosophically discuss the merits of anarcho-capitalism , and has a keen eye for the shenanigans which occur in smoke-filled rooms.
