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This past week saw some amazing displays of grassroots politicking.
It also showed the nastier side of politicking.
On one hand, the tea parties here in the Houston area (and around the nation), displayed what the power of the Internet and of discontent can muster.
The Houston Tea Party Society estimates that between 8 and 10 thousand people turned out for the downtown tea party rally on Wednesday.
Having talked to the organizers of the event, I know they had to be thrilled with the turnout. Their's was a bottom-up effort. There was little (if any) input from any organized political party. And they counted among their members republicans, democrats, libertarians, and independents.
There were also large rallies in Ft. Bend County and in northern Harris County. Those events also drew thousands.
All of the rallies made it clear that there are a lot of people who want to share their ideas and voice their concerns. There is nothing more American than the ability to stand on the courthouse steps (or wherever there is a microphone) and speak out.
It is part of the American fabric that we may protest and gather and voice our dislike of policy and direction.
One can be hopeful that the thousands who attended the rallies will become more involved in the political process.
But with that hope must also come the knowledge that we have a real problem facing us that is more pressing than stimulus packages:
As one watched the spotty, partisan national coverage of the events it became apparent how the deep divide is in this country.
To illustrate my point, here are a few of the comments I got an a pre-tax day post I wrote about the pending parties and connections to established political parties:
"Another article penned by the media displaying their outright hate of America, being they always choose to defend the ones who want to destroy America byway of initiating Socialist programs. You guys must feel so proud of your traitorous actions every time you cash your paychecks."
"Tom, get your head out of the sand. The tea parties aren't about Republicans, Democrats, Independents or any other party. They are about "WE THE PEOPLE." "
"wackkk!!! This is all grassroots. Tom stop being a rookie, and learn the game. THE RNC is trying to take credit but the real "reality" is that a couple of Houstonians began the movement from all sides of the aisle."
There is a grassroots element to this. And it may have started out as such (in Chicago). But it has the support now of a Republican party that is looking to find a foothold after November's elections.
It (the GOP) has seized upon this "movement" and is trying to adopt it. And so there IS a connection to the establishment, even if the original tea partiers don't like it.
At the same time, it is naive to believe that this incredible fervor is ONLY about taxes and spending. There is an ideological bent to the Tea Party Organizations that stems from that core belief. But, like any group that grows rapidly, the ideas that bind the tea partiers reach far beyond stimulus and debt.
But why is it that readers/viewers are so defensive of an affiliation to any party? Why is it that an article written about an event yet to happen draws so much passion?
On the flip side, why are so many NOT involved in the tea parties quick to dismiss the partiers as right wing zealots?
Why do they try to cast them as dangerous or unstable?
It is because we are so divided. November did little to unite us (to this point). Despite promises from both sides of hand holding and aisle reaching...we are in the same predicament that we found ourselves before anyone went to the polls.
And that is, despite branded affiliation or socioeconomics, we are a nation of blame right now. The left blames the right. The right blames the left. The politically affiliated blame the independent voices. The independents bristle at the notion of being branded this or that. And the problem is always someone else.
It's enough to make everyone stew (or steep as the case may be).
Thanks for reading. TA
