Effort to achieve balance being led by unbalanced spokespeople
April 30, 2010 · 1 Comments
By Gary Lee Burns
The silent majority is no longer silent. It’s beginning to speak as a group called the Tea Party. The social liberals are becoming fearful that their agendas may not be advanced because of this growing movement.
They need not fear. This is good. Balance is good. A group of American citizens that extols our Constitution, fiscal responsibility and free enterprise.
Why are we all not on board? Because of their spokespeople, that’s why. Sarah Palin, Michele Bachman and Glenn Beck. Their tone and words are revealing as they highjack a simple notion for political gain and celebrity. As the scripted actors they are, I applaud their performances. They are only credible spokespeople for themselves and not necessarily for the values most Americans hold dear, including civility.
They are doing more harm than good. Their words don’t invite the rational. They polarize people.
The Tea Party needs a real John Galt! Who is John Galt? The quiet Capitalist thinker created by author Ayn Rand in Atlas Shrugged, who simply had enough of a system that disinsentivized individual productivity. We are a country founded on the notion that we will be represented when government collects our tax money. Not overtaxes.
The American system is a result of a Revolution; considering this, we are all Tea Party citizens. We are represented by those we elected. Once elected, they must lead within the constraints of our Constitution, not by the polls or popularity. Our leaders must also listen or they will not be elected again. This is why it is essential the majority not be silent, but speak with a rational, passionate voice.
We, the people, are the Tea Party. We, the people, remain the United States of America.
I liked the article — it made me think. Perhaps I’ve been too quick to dismiss the Tea Partiers as ignorant, extremist wingnuts when it’s really their leaders who inspire most of my ire. However, Sarah Palin and her mindless, angry, and celebrity-obsessed cohorts didn’t take over the Party by force; they were chosen and are beloved by their de facto subjects. Doesn’t that, at the very least, speak to an appalling lack of common sense? I’m still not convinced that the Tea Party provides an example for any of us, even if it was (and I’m not so sure about that) founded in the right spirit and on the right principles.