Fighting increased dependency and expanding government – the TEA Party

Yes, tax policy and President Obama’s agenda are part of the TEA Party’s driving force, but more important is the realization that the expanding role of the federal government creates an increased dependency on government.

Michale Barone has required reading for TEA Party “members” in his Investor’s Business Daily editorial today. Obama thinks the protesters are cute and kind of amusing. He doesn’t really get their point about taxes. Shouldn’t they be happy about their $400 tax cut last year? Don’t they realize their states are being handed billions and billions of dollars in “stimulus” funding? He thinks you should be happy and very pleased by his hand outs.

Don’t mind the ballooning yearly deficits and national debt behind the black curtain, that will work out just fine.

[P]ublic policy also helps determine the kind of society we are. The Obama Democrats see a society in which ordinary people cannot fend for themselves, where they need to have their incomes supplemented, their health care insurance regulated and guaranteed, their relationships with their employers governed by union leaders. Highly educated mandarins can make better decisions for them than they can make themselves.

That is the culture of dependence.

The Tea Partyers see things differently. They’re not looking for lower taxes — half of Tea Party supporters, a New York Times survey found, think their taxes are fair.

Nor are they financially secure — half say someone in their household may lose their job in the next year. Two-thirds say the recession has caused some hardship in their lives.

But they recognize, correctly, that the Obama Democrats are trying to permanently enlarge government and increase citizens’ dependence on it. And, invoking the language of the Founding Fathers, they believe that this will destroy the culture of independence that has enabled Americans over the past two centuries to make this the most productive and prosperous — and the most charitably generous — nation in the world.

I’ve noted the TEA Party “members” are amateurs when it comes to explaining the movement. In no way is this a diss, I’m an amateur myself. As conservative opinion and philosophy continues to be warped in the media – described as a movement against government and against taxes – TEA Party members must continue to focus and improve their message delivery.

Our Focus…

• The United States Constitution is a great founding document that is very relevant today. The answers are within.
• The expanding role of the federal government is not good, as it breeds unsustainable dependency on the federal government by states and the people.
• Centralized power at the federal level breeds corruption in a massive scale. Favors and back-door deals are the norm. It has simply become a political game to ensure we get our fair share – or more if at all possible.
• Return power to the states and the people. The incremental shift of power from the people to the federal government during the past 50-plus years has made things worse, not better. As an example, if we want health care reform or single payer, it must be done at the state level.
• The extreme economic challenges developed between 2007 and 2008 was the awakening point for many Americans. Certainly, the Obama administration’s policies during 2009 – primarily supported by inside-the-beltway Democrats – exasperated the situation.
• Yes, many got into the game late – does that make them wrong?

Notice that I never mentioned the president’s race, since it has nothing to do with anything.

Counter protesters…

• The ones I’ve spoken with flat-out say the Constitution is “outdated.” I laugh at them as they exercise their First Amendment rights.
• They like dependency supported the federal level, since federal politicians and bureaucrats – and the power they wield – are far-removed from the people. Therefore, they are protected by layers of bureaucracy and get to quietly enjoy their “perks.”
• They want their “fair share”. They feel they are “due” something. I’m not sure why … oh wait, maybe it’s because of the 50-plus years of entitlement politics?

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