Comments on: Taking Tea Partiers Seriously

By: Smoking Gun’s Worlds Dumbest Partiers pt. 1 |

Smoking Gun’s Worlds Dumbest Partiers pt. 1 | — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 03:04:30 +0000

[...] Comment on Taking Tea Partiers Seriously by nutcase [...]

By: nutcase

nutcase — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:55:00 +0000

fstanley,

Be careful what you wish for.

The closer people actually are ideologically, the more animus they tend to show in their differences. Most Baptists find far less to get upset about with Catholics than Foot-washing Baptists do with Snake-handling Baptists. When the orientation is ideological, you get more splintering.

I recall one time reading that the Italians had 37 parties. They had also had 40 governments in 41 years. Their post office would periodically bulldoze all of the undelivered mail into piles and incinerate them. That doesn't represent the desired level of efficiency and stability.

Ted Kennedy shared the stage with George Wallace. While they were both Democrats, no one ever accused them of being ideological bedmates. The same was once true of Republicans, such as Barry Goldwater and Jacob Javits. All they had to agree to was to support each other for election.

The Republican insistence on ideological purity has engendered the Tea Baggers and even less savory types (see Alaskan Independence Party and others). Now the Tea Baggers are splitting into multiple shards. Even the Democrats are becoming more distinctively Blue Dogs and other breeds.

Umbrella parties have other positive aspects but the primary one is that they tend to lend a modicum of political and social stability.

By: fstanley

fstanley — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:12:53 +0000

I have always found the two-party system very limiting because they have to be very big umbrellas. I would like to see more new parties because I think it would allow for greater variety and expression of ideas. The current system makes it very difficult for new parties to run candidates at the state or national level so it makes sense for groups like the Tea Party to start at the local level. That is why I am surprised that they are having a national convention and not surprised that the different local groups are not getting along.

...Stan

By: Kevin

Kevin — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:50:09 +0000

A thought provoking column. I'm relieved by the lack of comments so far that none of your loyal readership appear to be closet tea-baggers. (Not that I'm really surprised...your logical reasoning would be toxic to their synapses).
I know I shouldn't tweak them, but I can't help myself...up here in the boonies I only hear and read about their most extreme behavior.

Kevin.