...and I note that while we could find common ground on what the important issues are we certainly have a huge chasm between what we see as the solutions. But not all of them are even willing to have that rational discussion. They are purposely disruptive and just shouting over others.
I am less interested in the shouting matches than the issues themselves. Regardless of how much any two people may disagree about a solution, if a solution actually resolves an issue then who cares who suggested it? I think the point I'm trying to make is that I hear legitimate concerns being expressed by Tea Party advocates and as much as I wouldn't want to socialize with certain people, that doesn't mean they don't deserve to be heard.
I've grown tired of the attack politics of all sides. It's fair to parody and satirize about anything. It's wholly a different level of disagreement that has each group trying to personally destroy the other. If a group of people want to identify themselves as something new, I say have at it.
On the other hand, the too-large-government issue IS a concern to lots of people. As is excessive taxation. And while I strongly disagree with the more militant Tea Party enthusiasts to threaten violence, I can understand their growing frustration and contempt for the existing political parties.
Runaway government spending has to stop. And mean-spirited government spending cuts that hurt the innocent and dispossessed is not a solution. Government and education can be modeled to scale back without sacrificing quality. But that means that we all grow up. That means that protecting the fat cats in government and education needs to be addressed.
The poor are not our enemy, the entrenched obsolete bureaucrat who is self-insulating and feather-bedding their own position and paycheck are the ones that need to surgically removed from further damaging this country's ability to economically heal.
The issues of the Tea Party don't go away by demonizing them. And this country doesn't recover by ignoring the problems so painful that even hermits are marching in the streets.
The best way to dissolve the Tea Party is to effectively address the issue of reducing the size of government and its attendant spending habits.
Let's all stop shouting and get serious about solving this crisis before some misguided idiot starts getting trigger happy. Quite frankly, while I abhor the Palin-ization of that movement, I think their concerns are as important as any we face.
