FREE SPEECH ZONE | Welcome to the wonderful world of the Tea Party
I have been constantly amused by the similarities of the Tea Party in Alice in Wonderland and the Tea Party that exists in America today. They both seem to live a fantasy world, and as the Cheshire Cat noted to Alice at the Tea Party: "We are all mad here". How perfect!
So, take a trip with me to an America conceived and run by the Tea Party - it may be a journey that even the Tea Partiers (let's call them TPs for short) may find surprising, and may even regret.
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To begin with, let's examine those things that the TPs are striving for; there are basically three. First few or no taxes. Second less spending, and less government. And finally, elimination of the Federal debt. Well, who would not want all of those, I sure would. Problem is they come with a price, and the implementation of each, or all, is untenable.
So, what is the world of the TPs without taxes? The ramifications are so numerous; there is not enough time or space here to detail them. But a quick synopsis displays a few of the following.
- Lots more criminals roaming the streets. Why? Because even as we speak, prisoners are being let out of jail early because the states are running out of funds to retain them. We are not talking abut hundreds that have been let out early; we are now actually seeing tens of thousands who should be serving full terms that have been let go - and now running free in our Tea Party world.
- Which brings us to courts? Most are underfunded now, and wait times for trials and remediation of complaints takes longer than it should. We have been taught in our system of laws that "justice delayed is justice denied". So it is in this TP new world.
- Regulatory administration. The lack of regulation of banks practically destroyed our economy and even now consumer protection has been weakened. Even at our current level few believe we want to cut these protections further - no matter, they apparently are not needed here in TP land.
- Speaking of protection, if the TPs urge us to have "less government" them might want to consider the effect of that desire on police...firemen...and of course the military. ALL are government run. The Department of Defense consumes about 1/3 of our total spending. Which of these do the TPs wish to eliminate or erode? Hello? I can't hear you.
- Well then there is education. Is it overfunded? Many TPs think so, although our educational system internationally is dropping further behind. Perhaps just larger classroom sizes and slowing down modernization of our facilities will do the trick. Yes, that is part of the wonderful world of the Tea Party.
- Hate holding on the phone? Well, with lots less government I hope you enjoy your trip to the license bureau, or any other needed and accepted government functions you may want to contact. Have to call 911? "Hello, hello, is anyone there"? If all this upsets you, take care of it when you VOTE - did I mention that voting is a government function. Hope you don't have to wait in line too long.
- There is no room in our wonderful world of the Tea Party for immigrants. Don't need 'em, don't want 'em, don't like 'em. Indeed, in several recent exchanges, the teabaggers have called Mexicans...well, I can't repeat it. That would be OK, I guess, but do the TPs remember that with far less government funding, the border patrol would be greatly reduced! Now that's a conundrum for the Tea Party, cut government funding, but keep out the illegals. I forget...I guess in a fantasy world there is a possible solution?
- Then there are those government programs that take a substantial part of our budget, but are immensely popular (or possibly mandated). Not to worry, in the wonderful world of the Tea Party, you can kiss goodbye to Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security (now privatized), and others. But what about Tricare - the fully funded government medical program that covers our retired military personnel? And the Veterans Administration? Sorry guys (and gals) that goes too.
- Homeland security. Not in the wonderful world of no taxes, Sorry, no revenue left.
Well, that was fun, but we must not forget, that the Tea Party program does appear to reduce spending and government size as described above. But, maybe not (remember, in Alice's story, nothing is as it seems). Why? Because for many essential services like police, fire, homeland security, prison guards, and many others, overtime pay has eaten up many of the supposed savings from cuts in personnel. That's right, in state after state, the government has cut jobs (yes government employment is already DOWN not UP), but to provide services needed, the relevant agencies have had to pay overtime in significant amounts. Such is life in the wonderful World of the Tea Party. Less people, less service, same money.
But then in the wonderful world of the TP, we DO reduce debt, right? Well, not exactly, consider George Bush. He reduced taxes big time, but our debt went UP. Problem was, he forgot to reduce expenditures. He said, as the TPs do, that reducing taxes would actually grow the economy. Wrong! The Tea Party folks claim they will not make that same mistake, yet the Bush years are a real cautionary tale - until the Tea Party folks actually do first reduce spending (per all the items above), they better take care on their promise to drop taxation. We've been there, done that in the real world, and it didn't work.
So, let's return to our initial connection with Alice in Wonderland, perhaps the most relevant quote to describe this wonderful new world of the Tea Party was from Alice herself: "It would be so nice if something would make sense for a change"! Amen.
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Graduate U of Minn 1954. Flying officer USAF 1954-57 honorably discharged from reserve with rank of Capt. Owner several ad agencies in the Twin Cities and San Diego for over 45 years.
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Comments
Rebuttal
Ok. Although I feel my comment will fall on 'closed' ear I will address
each point. Many of which are easily found (if you look).
prisoners are being let out of jail early because the states are running
out of funds to retain them. We are not talking abut hundreds that have
been let out early; we are now actually seeing tens of thousands who
should be serving full terms that have been let go - and now running free
in our Tea Party world.
A:The majority of people in prison are there for drug posession. That is
the reason for overcrowding. Let the non-violent people out and there will
be plenty of room for the violent ones.
trials and remediation of complaints takes longer than it should. We have
been taught in our system of laws that "justice delayed is justice
denied". So it is in this TP new world.
A: Refer to the answer above. Count workload woyuld be cut way down.
destroyed our economy and even now consumer protection has been weakened.
Even at our current level few believe we want to cut these protections
further - no matter, they apparently are not needed here in TP land.
A: Most of the regulations we have now serve to obfucate the theft
occuring. What the govt needs to do is stop the creation of
money(countfieting) by banks(fractional reserve) and
wallstreet(derivitives).
might want to consider the effect of that desire on police...firemen...and
of course the military. ALL are government run. The Department of Defense
consumes about 1/3 of our total spending. Which of these do the TPs wish
to eliminate or erode? Hello? I can't hear you.
A: Humm havent heard anyone say get rid of police and fire. As for
military, of course we need one thats funded but we dont need 700 bases in
130 countries to defend ourselfs.
although our educational system internationally is dropping further
behind. Perhaps just larger classroom sizes and slowing down modernization
of our facilities will do the trick. Yes, that is part of the wonderful
world of the Tea Party.
A: No. What we need to do is trim all the waste ie(Board of Ed). There are over 100,000 people that never teach a child at the fed level. All they do is push papers and collect checks. Let the local communities administer thier schools without all the federal overhead.
enjoy your trip to the license bureau, or any other needed and accepted
government functions you may want to contact. Have to call 911? "Hello,
hello, is anyone there"? If all this upsets you, take care of it when you
VOTE - did I mention that voting is a government function. Hope you don't
have to wait in line too long.
A:Now your being ridiculas. Of course 911 would still be there. You seem to be equating TPs with anarchists. Your way off there. As for the wait at gov offices, there would be much less to stand in line for (less personal regulation, more freedom).
Don't need 'em, don't want 'em, don't like 'em. Indeed, in several recent
exchanges, the teabaggers have called Mexicans...well, I can't repeat it.
That would be OK, I guess, but do the TPs remember that with far less
government funding, the border patrol would be greatly reduced! Now
that's a conundrum for the Tea Party, cut government funding, but keep out
the illegals. I forget...I guess in a fantasy world there is a possible
solution?
A: Sigh. Racebaiting now? Not gunna work on me since my grandfather was an immigrant. Immigration is not the problem. People are people. The problem is the handouts our gov steals from one group to give to another.
our budget, but are immensely popular (or possibly mandated). Not to
worry, in the wonderful world of the Tea Party, you can kiss goodbye to
Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security (now privatized), and others. But
what about Tricare - the fully funded government medical program that
covers our retired military personnel? And the Veterans Administration?
Sorry guys (and gals) that goes too.
A: Now your scare-mongering. No one is talking about killing Medicare or SS(both of which are broke by the way, good job). We need to ween off these programs over a long period of time as to not harm those already dependent on them.
revenue left.
A: Humm we seem to have done fine for many years without HS. We are homeland security.
I have only one question for the author. What level of taxation would you say is just compensation for the social contract. 50% 60% 90% or 100%. Seriously which is it?
I really try to avoid the adhominim attacks but for a military man you really do seem afraid of many things.
freedom is full speech, like it or not and the TEA PARTIES!!!!!
My FATHER was a wise, kind, smiling ,and brave World War II Veteran of almost 5 years of his life in the South Pacific war zone. He loved GOD deeply and our country. He was very full in the wisdom of the Lord and fearless in the boldness necessary to speak or act in any manner honorable to protect our precious freedoms. We all make mistakes and poor judgement calls from time to time, but when you see the world through the eyes and wisdom from the Lord by seeking HIS counsel, you will know this is going to be a decision made of the highest order. Our Judeo-Christian Constitution was born out of GOD'S love for us and HE gave us free- will to not be puppets manipulated under coerzion or violence as some religions do to people. America will continue to be BLESSED if we never let go of giving HONOR to the true and Living GOD who made this country so great that other people from different religions and goverments even sometimes risk their lives to come and live here.I love living in a NATION UNDER GOD and giving HIM do honor is not something I will ever apologize for and take for granted . GOD can and will lift our Blessings from us if we continue to strip HIM out of our way of life. PRAY to the LIVING GOD ; He will never let you down and His truth, love , forgiveness and power for us is inmeasurable.
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