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My normal brother called me last week. He had been going into a public building, when a group of Tea Bag Patriots momentarily blocked his way. Being less patient than myself, my brother told the people to move out of his way. A young woman – he estimated that she was in her early twenties – began telling him that he needed to join the struggle against the socialist plot being inflicted upon this nation by Barack Obama. Mt brother told her to “get the fuck out of my way,” and continued towards the building. She continued to yell nonsense at him as he walked away from her.
He said that years ago, when he lived in LA, he used to walk by a group called “Moonies” when he was at the airport. They used to flutter in his way, too. One kept asking him for a donation: “ten dollars, five dollars, one dollar, a half-dollar, a quarter, dime, nickle ….a penny.” So, he gave the fellow a penny. He said that at least the Moon-beams were polite, though the guy didn't actually thank him for that penny. The T-Bagsters were openly hostile, venom-dripping, and far more aggressive. No penny for them.
Later in the week, I logged onto a forum called “face book.” I communicate with, among a few others, an old friend who works in the region's largest news media source. A couple of his co-workers also participate on that forum, including on some of the discussions he starts regarding politics. These friends of his are T-Bagsters.
I meet my friend years ago, when he lived in an apartment in the building I inhabited (this was in my “single father” phase). He was a decent fellow, but he was far too invested in leading the life of an under-employed, overly-partying para-musician. Thus, our friendship was casual, until he became fully unemployed and desperate for money. I began to notice an increase in traffic at his door, with people going in and out rather quickly. I spoke to him about other options in life. He loved the media, so I helped him go back to college, get his degree, and find employment.
Like many people dealing with substance abuse/addiction issues, he had frequent cycles. Sober and employed; then high and fired. In time, he found “religion,” and has been gainfully employed and on the straight and narrow for years. However, as often happens, that “narrow” defined his perception and outlook. Hence, his friendship with the narrow, rigid thinking of his co-workers.
I find it curious that these people make decisions about what news is reported, and how it is reported. They do not work for Fox News, but the two friends definitely could. So, I ended up trying to engage them in an intelligent, factual, rational discussion on things political and social. Now, I'm at an age and state of mind where I rarely engage in “arguing.” I don't need to. No desire to make a contest out of something like a discussion or even debate on the internet. (I will, however, gladly engage in such a competition in the correct forum.) But these fellows found our conversation frustrating enough that they resorted to insults and name-calling, and the simply refusing to speak to me. My friend told me that they were “a couple of hot-heads.” Gracious! Was it something I said?
A month ago, I took a brief trip with my wife. I visited with an old friend, who I had worked with many years ago. He had earlier worked for then-NYS Assemblyman Charles Rangel in the late 1960s, and on his campaign when Rangel took Adam Clayton Powell, Jr's position in 1970. After that, my friend had a few jobs, usually on the state level, and over the years has not only been a good friend, but a heck of a resource for inside information and gossip.
When we were having lunch, he told me that he has joined the Tea Bag movement. I wasn't really shocked, nor repulsed, but I was wondering why? They struck me as an odd group, that were infected with nativism and Xenophobia. Plus, they listen to Glen Beck and Sarah Palin, and take them seriously.He said that there are a lot of “crazies” in the Tea Party, but that there are lots of them on the progressive left, too. I said that the difference, in my opinion, is that those on the left are at the fringes, while those in the Tea Party are the majority. He did not strongly disagree.
While we discussed a wide range of issues – in a discussion that continued over a few days – there were some areas where we were in agreement. The politicians in Washington, from both the Democratic and Republican Party, have betrayed their oath to uphold the Constitution. In doing so, they have clearly betrayed the public trust. And the public – both on the left and right – need to focus their trust today on two things: that Constitution, and on themselves. The Congress isn't going to go against the wishes of their corporate pimps, and stick up for you and I. And the US Supreme Court is not there to provide us with those protections that the Constitution demands – or they wouldn't have selected Bush/Cheney in 2000, or ruled that corporations are people.
The most interesting thing that my friend said was that the last best hop for this country is actually the intelligent, informed progressive/liberal left. He said that more than any other group in the country today, the democratic left has an understanding of, and appreciation for, what the Constitution is supposed to translate to in our modern society.
We agreed that there isn't going to be a unified front between the Tea Bag Party and the progressive/liberal left. Nor is that desirable. What we need to focus on is each of our groups acting in our own best interests. The truth is that the old labels really do not fit well any more. The Democratic Party isn't the coalition of interests, working for the common good, that it once was. It began morphing decades ago, and became stratified to a point where “unity” is only accomplished when everyone else supports the actions of those at the top. Certainly, elite democrats have more in common with elite republicans, than with you and I, no matter what they say when requesting our money, our time, and our votes.
A century and a half ago, there were far more than two political parties. At times, some cooperated with others – those times being when it was in their common interests. That is, in my opinion, about where we are at today. I'll work with like-minded democrats any time; with like-minded folks on the progressive left any time; with local republicans on a limited basis (for example, after the 2006 flood in our region; and with elite republicans never. I can deal with someone from the Tea Bag Party on an individual basis, such as having lunch with my old friend. But the vast majority of them strike me as angry and delusional at this point in time. Sadly, the vast majority of democrats in DC have exposed themselves as prostitutes, and I am not particularly interested in working for them, when they consistently ignore the needs of people like me, and betray the Constitution.
Strange brew, politics.
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