The American people have just erected the largest and most important trade barrier in history - they said no to the importation of European democratic socialism and decided it’s time to support to the greatest product this nation has ever produced domestically - constitutional government based on the principles of economic and political freedom.
Oh, sure, there are still a few European wannabes holding out for their piece of France - our own beloved Vermont and much of New England, New York and California come to mind. But this election has shown the rest of the country is responding to messages of fiscal responsibility, limited government, free markets and individual liberty and responsibility. Not at all coincidentally, these are the very ideas that have been found on placards, heard in speeches and expounded upon in numerous opinions pieces since the Tea Party movement roared into existence eighteen months ago.
The people of the Tea Party have overcome tremendous opposition in their fight to restore accountability to American politics and policy. First they were dismissed, then mocked, then attacked. According to a famous quote from Mahatma Ghandi, that is the natural progression in any situation when a bunch of upstarts dares to take on authority.
But then, Ghandi said, you win.
The Tea Party has entered the “win” phase. In a relatively short time, it has evolved from scattered groups of citizens holding rallies marked by the singing of patriotic songs, recitations of the pledge of allegiance, opening and closing prayers, dissertations on American history and more than a few angry speeches and into a collection of politically savvy activists. For some months now the Tea Party has been defining the terms of our national debate.
This reality strikes fear in the hearts of established politicians, who rather enjoy spending their days figuring out ways to increase their own wealth, power and status. Having to work with people supported by country-class rubes is rather distasteful. Republicans already know this, having already been forced to rub shoulders with these candidates. Democrats are about to meet the riffraff.
Tea Party-backed candidates who are heading to Congress have a quaint but specific mandate from voters - they are expected to actually read and understand the Constitution of the United States and honor the spirit of the document that codifies the uniquely American political philosophy based on the concept of natural law and its byproducts - maximum individual liberty, state sovereignty and limited national government.
None of this fits the ruling class agenda so its contempt for those of us who still share the founders’ vision knows no bounds. But what really frustrates the Washington elite, politicians and pundits alike, is that the Tea Party is such a moving target. It provides no leader to besmirch and attack because it is composed of millions of motivated citizens working together in thousands of small groups for a common cause. The charge that the Tea Parties receive millions of dollars in funding from shady outside sources is patently untrue. As someone who heads a small group here in Bennington, is associated the larger Vermont liberty movement and counts many New York Tea Party members as friends, I know that every time we want to rent a fair booth or order a box of pocket-sized Constitutions we have to pass the hat.
I also know the liberty movement’s motto, “Don’t Tread on Me,” applies to politicians and fellow travelers alike. Media pundits who only understand centralized power cannot accept this new paradigm and keep trying to make the members of the liberty movement fit into their Washington box of consensus building and compromise. But trying to control this movement is like herding cats. Each town, county and state organization is different from each other and from their counterparts across the country. We’ve agreed to disagree on many issues and remain civil and cooperative as we stand committed to those political values on which we can unite. The Tea Party may be the embodiment of the form of government our founders envisioned for this country, one truly organized by and for the people.
The American people understand bigger isn’t necessarily better when it comes to most things, especially government. They understand the solutions to our difficulties can be found within the American people and the communities they comprise. They are willing to do what needs to be done but they are no longer willing to beg for Washington’s permission to govern themselves and their communities as they see fit. Increasingly they realize that what D.C. does or doesn’t do should be irrelevant in American lives.
Their challenge, now that they have reached this new understanding, is to make sure their representatives also understand and respect the new American paradigm and, when it comes to government, keep buying American
No comments:
Post a Comment