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[Bauglir]

Point. I got a bit sarcastic by the end. More like, if they believe they've worked hard, success is inevitable; if they don't, then they're content with their lot in life because they believe that everything has worked out. Of course, many of the wealthy in the lot are just using the movement for profit, but I'm sure many of them legitimately believe in it. After all, it justifies and thus erases any guilt they might have for being luckier than everyone else. That's very attractive in an ideology, and I can't honestly say I haven't felt attracted to similar modes of thinking.

That said, this is only the most stereotypical member of the party; the rare few who speak for the majority. Most, I think, aren't nearly this bad at thinking, but are willing to go along with those who are because it's closer to a more moderate ideal that they have in mind.

[Soulwynd]

With this inspiring image from IG-G:



I think the two main issues are greed and racism.

A seven state study conducted from the University of Washington found that Tea Party movement supporters within those states were "more likely to be racially resentful" than the population as a whole, even when controlling for partisanship and ideology. Of white poll respondents who strongly approve of the Tea Party, only 35% believe that blacks are hard-working, compared to 55% of those strongly opposed to the Tea Party, and 40% of all respondents. However, analysis done by ABC News' Polling Unit found that views on race "are not significant predictors of support for the Tea Party movement" because they are typical of whites who are very conservative.

A University of Washington poll of 1,695 registered voters in the state of Washington reported that 73% of Tea Party supporters disapprove of Obama's policy of engaging with Muslim countries, 88% approve of the controversial immigration law recently enacted in Arizona, 82% do not believe that gay and lesbian couples should have the legal right to marry, and that about 52% believed that "lesbians and gays have too much political power".

Not that pools apply from a minority to a majority, but it shows that a good % of the people who took the pool are pretty much what you'd expect of the tea party.

As for greed, well, I think they truly believe that less taxes for corporations and rich folk means more money in their pockets. That not helping people who are fucked up means even more money in their pockets. I mean, in a world without this excess of stupid greed as we have now, that might have been true, but it's not the cast most of the time, it seems.

[Bauglir]

To be fair, I'd object if given a survey with a question asking if "blacks were hardworking". There's no way to answer that question that isn't inherently racist, and if I didn't have an opportunity to request clarification, I'd probably answer "no" because it's technically closer to responding with "There is no causative effect between being black and being hardworking, and I doubt there's even a correlation".

[MetalSlimeHunt]

Mr. Feelgood is pretty good at that sort of trolling.

I've got to say, what Feelgood does isn't really trolling. He just presents real reactionary arguments instead of his own opinion, and Bay 12's political climate is ELITE LIBERAL enough to take the bait.

In any case, the actions of the Tea Party are ironic in that they're probably hurting American conservatives more than helping them. Because of their reactionary politics, they're alienating the moderate sub-faction of the already small Republican Party. If things keep going this way, the GOP is going to collapse entirely. I'd be worried about the Democrats trying to create a One-Party State if that happened, but to me the Democrats are characterized by crippling inaction, so that likely won't be a problem.

[mainiac]

Politics isn't a sporting match where you root for your team to win the world cup every four years.  It's a real life serious business thing where politicians change the country every day.  Who cares if the GOP suffers a little electoral damage from a backlash?  Their politicians are tilting the scales towards their priorities now.

[Glowcat]

To be fair, I'd object if given a survey with a question asking if "blacks were hardworking". There's no way to answer that question that isn't inherently racist, and if I didn't have an opportunity to request clarification, I'd probably answer "no" because it's technically closer to responding with "There is no causative effect between being black and being hardworking, and I doubt there's even a correlation".

However, the idea that "blacks aren't hardworking" is inherent in the fiscally conservative ideology which posits that people are only poor if they don't work hard. Most black people in the country are poor, ergo under that assumption they must not work hard. At best some of these ideologues might admit there's a problem which isn't due to widespread laziness among a certain people, but they believe "economic freedom" is more important. Hence why you see people like the Paul family defending the rights of businesses to discriminate with the assumption that the all-powerful Free Market shall establish balance on its own (and if it doesn't, *troll shrug*). It's one of the subtler ways the conservative movement masks racial bigotry. They aren't against minorities, they're against poor people! They don't want racial discrimination, they want to protect marriage protect the rights of businesses!

As long as they don't outright say they're racists they can still have a political career or otherwise be considered a legitimate political voice.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

Politics isn't a sporting match where you root for your team to win the world cup every four years.

If only.

Who cares if the GOP suffers a little electoral damage from a backlash?

I would think the Tea Partiers would, given their ideology. In any case, creating diversionary lines between the moderate republicans, the conservative republicans, and the reactionary batshit-insane republicans might have more of an effect than you give it credit for.

The GOP are fairly small in number compared to the Democrats, and an internal division would make things even worse for them.

[G-Flex]

What do I think of the Tea Party? I wish I didn't have to think of them.

I can understand a political party or movement being around that I disagree with, but I can't abide by one that has such a history of supporting anti-intellectualism and conspiracy theories.

I disagree with Libertarians, but I can deal with them well enough. However, it seems like the Tea Party movement is, by and large, composed of the worst the Republican Party has to offer. The apparent dishonesty and reactionary nature of the movement bothers me in a way that honest disagreement never would.

You can say that this is just a small, vocal minority of the group, but that isn't the case. For that matter, "leaders" of the movement have exhibited startling traits, and quite frankly, I don't care what your beliefs are; if you support Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin, something is wrong, not because of their beliefs, but because of their methods... which are, to be blunt, harming us. One of those two figures is a paranoid, conspiracy-theorist fearmonger, and the other is apparently so ass-deep in political double-talk that she can't even do that coherently, tending to answer questions or make points solely using complete non-sequiturs and buzzword salad.

It's a sad day when delusional fringe movements actually start playing an important role in American politics.

[Soulwynd]

To be fair, I'd object if given a survey with a question asking if "blacks were hardworking". There's no way to answer that question that isn't inherently racist, and if I didn't have an opportunity to request clarification, I'd probably answer "no" because it's technically closer to responding with "There is no causative effect between being black and being hardworking, and I doubt there's even a correlation".

Well, yes. Pools are often worded in bullshitty ways.

It would still be valid if there was a "Ethnic heritage doesn't affect one's productivity." answer.

But we may never know for sure.

[Africa]

As far as I can tell, they're united by a distrust of the federal government and demands for it to be more accountable (which I can totally get behind), and a belief that keeping the government from overspending and running up debts is one of the most important things (which I can get behind). So why do I have nothing but scorn for them? Because they're also apparently united by an irrational hatred for Barack Obama (which I refuse to believe is not rooted, at least partly, in racism) and in the dogmatic, quasi-religious belief that cutting government spending will fix everything. Yes we need to cut government spending, but gradually, not by suddenly gutting essential programs. And in the middle of a recession is not the time to start drastically cutting spending. Again, this belief is so dogmatic that lessons from history are lost on it.

And, the leaders of it are batshit crazy, and the "citizen-politicians" it put in office sound like such a good thing in theory, except that in fact it means they're a bunch of crazy, uneducated rednecks who have no problem holding the entire country hostage for the sake of their unrealistic ideas, and who have no accountability to any of the population (which overwhelmingly opposes their methods and ideas) because they say they aren't interested in running for office again.

[Phmcw]

Koch brothers. Enough said.
Tea party is a gathering of people naive enough to be exploited to the bone and to come back asking for more.

[C27]

I have two words to say about these guys.

Political Lysenkoism.

I can only hope that they don't end up causing the same type and scale of disaster that Lysenko did for the USSR.

[ggamer]

I really hate the tea party. They give Reactionaries a bad name.

[Grakelin]

I love tea parties. Part of it is that I just like seeing my female friends in their fancy dresses, but just the atmosphere in general is great.

[mainiac]

Haha, Grake, you are so funny!

Remember how nobody posts on that other forum we frequent?  Gee, I wonder why that is?