The Tea Party

It's interesting to me that the new Tea Party, which takes its name from the Boston Tea Party (of renown to those of my generation, and all generations before it), stands for many of the same concerns as the original. Those concerns are freedom from oppressive government, oppressive taxes and, in the case of the new tea party, adherence to constitutional principles. The Tea Parties are not partisan, and in fact, all parties are represented as well as all religions and races. If Republicans are overrepresented, perhaps it's because they have a greater sensitivity to oppressive government, taxes and adhering to constitutional principles. If blacks are underrepresented, perhaps it's because they are less likely to be Republicans. Certainly those black Americans in the tea party movement are passionate about their beliefs.

So the interesting point is that Democrats, who ordinarily laud grassroots efforts, or so spooked by the Tea Party. To them it's dangerous, nutty, right wing. To a smaller extent the Republican Party is spooked as well. At least the professional elite in the Republican Party is rattled by this amateur approach to their profession. It will be interesting to see the results of next week's election.