The Tea Parties Are Ultimately Bad For Liberty

These tea parties were a great idea, but they only go a certain length. The MeetUps were warmer. There is something even better and more powerful to help make America better, and that is introduced for free here.

As is noted on other comments here, the tea party idea has multiple weaknesses, and it is getting weaker all the time.

http://www.howtosavetheus.com

libertarianism used to be liberalism. democract used to be republican. republican used to be democrat. and so on.

They're like $7 a pack---$5 of it in taxes! That's BS. Who cares if it's bad for me, the government shouldn't tax it at 250%. The original tea party was about taxes on a real item, I'm pissed about the cigarette tax. I know I should quit, but not because the taxes are too high. If this is what people want with weed, keep it illegal.

any populist movement that has the outward appearance of having a "conservative" message (or can be distorted to appear so). They're so desperate for a message and support that they'll glom-on to anything that looks like it might have traction. The only way to keep them out is to attack them and the Democrats simultaneously.

The Tea Party of the1700's was topical for its time and addressed a very specific problem of THAT era. We should NOT try to recreate it- the three-cornered hat thing makes us look trivial and silly and it distracts from people's ability to seriously engage the issues. Instead, we need a message that's equally creative but germaine to OUR time.

Perhaps we need to protest the fake left/right, Dem/Rep paradigm that is our present dilemna? The challenge: how to distill that message into a three-word slogan that everyone will understand?

DEMOCRATS-REPUBLICANS-SAME

what is wrong with being an enemy of liberalism.. liberalism is not libertarianism.

Tea parties I have been active with (as organizer or speaker) have been decidedly non-partisan, anti-partisan, and have focus on issues.

Why not give Ron Paul Tea Parties an original name and copyright it. Also, write up a mission statement for the original Tea party. In addition, create an official logo and copyright as well.

Then all the wannabe's who are attempting to co opt the tea parties for their own purpose will stand out like a sore thumb.

Remember "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."

Interesting. C4L has had tables and speakers at both Tea Parties in Louisville along with American Family Association of KY, the Ayn Rand Institute, Dr. Rand Paul's campaign, Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions ( http://www.bipps.org ), and the Jefferson County Libertarian and Republican Parties.

The April Tea Party there were two staunch Liberty-minded Republicans who
spoke (State Sen. Dan Seum and Louisville Metro Councilman Doug Hawkins). The one on Independence Day had no politicians.

Sad that some of these are turning into GOP fests but at least that's not the case here in Louisville.

any activist action for freedom is better than sitting by the computer and drinking budwiser beer.

"The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government -- lest it come to dominate our lives and interests."
-- Patrick Henry

In your quest for ideological purity you are missing an opportunity. Many people at these tea parties are dissatisfied and therefore susceptible to new ideas. If we are not there to educate, you may be certain there will be others to take our place. I believe we should do what we can to sustain the tea parties...who knows if there will be any of them next year.

Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.
Thomas Jefferson

I remember the LiberTEA PARTIES, like the rEVOLution, we spelled things a little different.

On RP's desk is a sign, "Don't Steal, the government does not like competition".

I say, keep giving them stuff to "steal"... Ultimately, they fool no one but themselves.

My paper last week came out with the first letter in years (decade) from our local GOP, who wrote to tell us the GOP wants the State, Arnold, to raise park fees from $6.00 to $15.00.

There are 5 people running the GOP here and they have ONE purpose, to remain the last 5 GOP registered in the county.

Called an insurection. We have been in the grumbling stage of the march toward revolution for too many years. Grumbling is only the first of seven steps necessary to move on to next stage. I have published the stages of revolution in my book: "In The Teeth of the Wind--A Study of Power and How to Fight It".

Sheldon Waxman
sheldonw72@gmail.com
www.independentcontractor.info

Most of the people probably aren’t libertarians, but just average Americans who are ticked. Trouble is… Most of these individuals seemingly only want to gripe. Now for the good news… Many people are learning!

—Cliff in Sioux City, Iowa
———————
If you remember anything, remember the throw-away tools of war.

Tea Parties are a great opportunity to educate people on our home turf. If we ever want to make a change, our message needs to become mainstream and you are throwing away a perfect opportunity at reaching that goal.

My 2 cents.

Recently moved back to the Maryland area and at our local tea party I met up with some CFL folks who were working the crowd with smiles and hand'n out fliers. Was told the local repub organizer told the CFL leader they didn't have time for him in the speaking rotation.

Sad. One local retired school teacher gave a good talking. 2 of the 3 speakers were bland and rehashed tired gop talking points.

Handed out a lot of flyers and made many new friends.

Ramblin Randy

I agree completely with your post. The Republican Party has seized the opportunity afforded by the Tea Parties to pretend to be doing something of substance---with the only goal in view being the re-taking of power in 2010.

Sure, there are probably some local exceptions here and there, but for the most part, I think it's only helping the Republicans. And the Republican Party is no friend of liberty, or of the Constitution about which they boast when criticizing the Democratic Party.

If having Obama in office, along with a Democrat-controlled Congress sitting at his feet is the equivalent of having two pokes in the eye with a sharp stick, then having the Congress taken over by Republicans in 2010 is like having only ONE poke in the eye with a sharp stick for starters, and then a knife in the back a little later.

Jack Pelham
Rule of Law Revolution
www.ruleoflawrevolution.com

In my hometown, anti-war rallies drew somewhere in the dozens. Tea parties have drawn over 2,000.

Ron Paul event. infiltrate and inform. that's what they are for.
get them agreeing to ron's ideas before you ever mention his name.

I have a lot of friends and acquaintances who were not Ron Paul supporters, but who are open to many of his ideas. In particular, they are intrigued by his views on foreign policy and monetary policy.

Many of them voted for Obama, but were disappointed to see his cabinet choices, especially Geithner and Gates. They are recognizing that these choices represent the status quo. This pushes them towards ideas they might not otherwise entertain.

I try to identify what influences people's opinions. How do you introduce ideas that are out of the mainstream? What turns people off and makes them stop listening?

At first, I thought the tea parties were a great idea. A spontaneous protest coming from RP supporters and those, like my friends, who were waking up. But what I found is that these events are seen as FOXNews/GOP sponsored anti-Obama rallies. People are open to some new ideas, but they don't want to hear Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck and a bunch of Republicans bashing Obama.

So they stop listening.

I don't know what tea party you attended, but where I've been, there is enough hostility to go around for all the power elite. Of course Obama is getting the lion's share of the rage - he's the current figurehead and he deserves it. But don't forget that Obama is also expanding gov't power exponentially, making even Bush's usurpations seem like child's play.
IMO it isn't helpful to look for more divisions among the few liberty loving patriots left in this country. We need to try to find common ground so that we can defeat those who would rob us of our freedom. Let's save all our righteous indignation for the cause of restoring liberty.

The only thing I see a problem with the Tea Parties is they are being co-opted by corporate amerika.

http://thelibertyjournal.com/2009/07/04/are-the-tea-parties-...

We still have that date & event.

And if and when the GOP via Faux News takes over that event...then no problem, we make a new one....

Such is the never ending battle for Liberty

In Peace & Liberty...
Treg

What are on earth are you talking about? If you are telling me that Liberalism and Libertarian are one in the same, I am out of here and wasting my time. Libertarian stands for Liberty ! How do you marry Liberalism and Libertarianism? What a nut job.

"The price of Freedom is Eternal Vigilance"- Thomas Jefferson

how much more support did hr 1207 get after the first tea party? quite a lot.

we don't want to divorce ourselves from the rest of the public (or republic) because there may be a few war loving republicans at the tea parties. important issues are still important issues. it doesn't have to be libertarian issues vs. republican issues. if we continuously see congressmen getting booed at the tea parties for voting for stimulus and tarp, then we know something good is going on.

as for the bush hating anti war protests. because of people like us, there are still anti war rallies, and i think it's a good thing. a lot of campaign for liberty members were marching right beside the answer coalition in washington a few months back. sounds more like they're against the issue of the war itself, rather than being bush haters.

infiltration is the key. not divorce.