Over the past year a group of people have come together to wave signs, to shout down politicians, and to announce what they are against. There seems to be one unifying issue, their dislike of the federal government. Behind this unity is fear.
Some fear the future financial stability of the country. Others fear the advance of federal programs to help the unemployed, the sick, the retired, etc. There are some who have a fear that their right to be armed with guns may be regulated.
Many fined cover for their position by calling any challenging approaches "unconstitutional". Others attack those who hold a different opinion as socialists,or fascist, or just generally "un-american".
The bottom line is that there is no positive message common to the Tea Party people.
It is easy to see that their fear has led them to build "straw men" who they can accuse, attack and generally use to justify their anxiety. Here we have a classic example of an anxious people, projecting their anxiety onto others. Here we have a classic example of fearful people telling everyone else that they need to be afraid too!
It is time for a reality check. If anything is certain, people who are afraid of the future will always be anxious. They will react to change by saying no. (or even "Hell No!") Therefor, those who can envision a kinder and gentler nation will have to say: "get out of the way, if you can't lend a hand".
It is sad that they are so busy saying "NO!" and fighting change, they fail to offer up any credible solutions of their own.
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