Some Thoughts on the Tea Party Movement

I’ve been encouraged that the Tea Party movement is growing and becoming better organized.  Conventions will be held to coordinate efforts, and even the MSM is starting to pay attention without the typical attacks.  We are having an impact, but to continue doing so, some things need to be considered.

Contrary to what the MSM has been saying, the Tea Parties are not a branch of the Republican Party, Fox News, the insurance industry, and so on.  There are Republicans, Independents, Conservatives, Libertarians, and even Democratic and Green Party folks involved (I did see some Green Party folks at a local event).  Therefore, the movement should stick with the three basic tenants that can potentially unite all of these groups: small government, fiscal responsibility, and free markets.  If battles erupt over other issues, the movement will fracture and fail.  Just ask the Reform Party.

The movement needs to ALWAYS be about IDEOLOGY.  Consistent with that, I don’t believe that there should be a national “leader” of the Tea Parties.  Do that, and it will become more about the leader than the cause-more about personality than ideology.   I’ve seem some folks postulating excitedly that since Sarah Palin is speaking at one of the conventions, she is going to become the “leader.”  I literally cringe when I hear such talk.  Don’t get me wrong, some “star power” supporting the movement is a great thing, but avoid having a leader that can potentially divide the coalition.  It’s about ideas, not leaders.  Keep it grassroots, and let the people run it.

We, individually, need to always question everything.  Yes, I know, it makes me sound like a 60’s hippie, but it’s a great way to keep us honest.  In all honesty, questioning everything is why I’m a Conservative.  I was indoctrinated liberal in college, but once I got out in the real world, and started seeing that everything I taught was fail, I questioned, and sought out information.   Then I studied Conservatism, which fits reality quite nicely.  We  can never stop questioning.   We need to be able to point out possible mistakes, potential issues, and absolutely never be sheeple.  In other words, NEVER blindly follow.

So why mention this here?  We always need to honest with ourselves.  When anyone joins something bigger than himself or herself, there is always danger in losing oneself to the group.  It can happen in any situation or movement.  People, no matter how intelligent or forthright, can get caught up in a movement that leads to nowhere, or worse.  Considering that there are likely liberal psyops in many groups, forums, or blogs, we have to keep evaluating things to make sure that we are always being true to the ideology above all else.  When we start compromising our idea, falling for false flag ops, or failing to see that a “leader” is misleading us, our movement fails, or we become no better than the Republicans or the Democrats.

I think, as well, that we can’t always “take our ball and go home” when things don’t go exactly as we want.   Yes, most of the Tea Party folks are Conservatives, but we’re not all cut from the same cloth either.  Some of us are issue oriented, others lean towards the libertarian side.  All is well with this; it gives us some real diversity of thought.  However, there is always the danger that we can fracture over smaller issues, while letting the larger ones go unattended.  If people stick with the three big issues, the others can be discussed and debated.  Let’s remember that the Constitutional Convention was NOT a hugfest.  The debate was often heated and contentious, but at the end of the day, the delegates, representing the best and brightest of the country, if not the world, gave us something incredible.  We have to look to their example, and within ourselves, to find the best way to move the movement forward.

If we stick with ideas, and avoid the pitfalls of previous failed movements, we can achieve great things.  If we stick to the ideas that unite us, we can accomplish some things that would make the founders proud.  Just remember, it’s ALWAYS about IDEAS!!

© Matt Ross

Originally posted at Conservative Hideout 2.0

The Liberty Pen

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Category: Politics