Attempting to Understand the T-Party's Agenda
When I read about the Tea Party movement, and their campaign against big government, I find myself wondering what programs they want to slash.
If it is law enforcement, what part of this operation needs to be reduced? Would it be a reduction in manpower? Does the Tea Party believe the salaries are inflated, or that too much money is being spent on modern firearms and equipment? Maybe they are in favor of allowing the public to carry firearms wherever they want to. This would make it easier for a person to shoot it out with a bad guy, which would mean a savings since fewer police would be required if the public were allowed to settle their own problems with force. You could save money on having fewer lawyers, judges and courts, and you wouldn't have to rely on a jury to protect your rights.
During the days of the Old West the public often took care of business the old-fashioned way, with a gun or a rope. If they made a mistake and executed an innocent man, it was just his bad luck. It looks like the state of Florida, by adopting its "stand your ground" legislation, believes a return to frontier justice is just what this country needs.
I assume the Tea Party also wants the government to stop spending so much on environmental matters in its attempt to prevent contamination of air, water and ground. Do they really believe corporate America would give public health a priority over corporate profits? The recent coal ash spills in North Carolina may cause some second thoughts about leaving it up to the industry to police itself, especially when you have a coal industry-friendly governor in charge.
Maybe the Food and Drug Administration is spending too much money on trying to protect the public from adulterated products. There are always those who want to do away with the Department of Education, which would be another way to reduce government expenses. This would be in keeping with the desire to return to earlier days of the "little red school house" where there was less emphasis on quality education, a subject that some apparently think is overrated.
What about the savings that would be realized by slashing Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps and unemployment benefits. The idea a person should be able to make it on his own has a nice ring to it, but you know the elderly, the poor and the disadvantaged have very little chance of making it without help. I have noticed those who advocate cuts in these programs are those who don't have to worry where their next meal will come from. If the Tea Party is serious about abolishing the safety net for the poor, this would amount to the United States moving toward a caste system similar to the one that exists in India, where if you are born into poverty, you are to stay there. If our country went in this direction, you could certainly cut education expenses, since it wouldn't do the poor any good to become educated.
The Tea Party has made it abundantly clear that in their opposition to the Affordable Care Act, and in particular the private option before the Arkansas Legislature, they are willing to cause the cancellation of health insurance coverage for thousands of poor in the state, just to make President Obama look bad. This is an example of how sick and mean-spirited this organization really is.
Now I do understand the Tea Party does not want the government relinquishing control over matters such as abortion, immigration and same sex marriages. Also, they want the government to continue their good work on restricting the rights of some to vote. They would have to oppose any attempts to cuts in the defense budget, since their party is financed by corporate America, and such a cut would lessen their profit. How effective do you think the Tea Party would be without the deep pockets of the Koch brothers, et al.
How the Tea Party would love it if John Wayne were still alive. You can imagine how supportive he would be in working with them to turn the clock back to the days of less government and more self-help, where everyone would need to carry a firearm. What a comforting thought.
Commentary on 03/09/2014