In recent weeks, we've heard quite a few rumblings about the Tea Party Movement and its racial undertones.  The recent happenings have the whole country talking.  However, where has all the talk led us? Do many of us even know what the Tea Party is about? Do we realize the potential damage the Tea Party Movement can do to American politics as we know it today? Let's take a closer look...


The Tea Party movement is an American socio-political movement that arose in 2009 as a result of several nationally and locally coordinated protests.  Its roots stem from Ron Paul's presidential campaign in which supporters rallied behind Paul's fiscal conservatism, a value which the Tea Party strongly advocates.


Tea Party protests are usually in opposition to federal laws, mainly economically-focused.  The main laws protested through the Tea Party movement are the Healthcare Reform Bills, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (commonly known as the "Stimulus Bill") , the Federal Reserve Transparency Act, and the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (also known as the financial bailout). Tea Party supporters emphatically express their dissatisfaction with government spending, taxes, and government involvement in the private sector.


Local Tea Party protests have drawn a great amount of negative press over the last few weeks.  Statements of hate and bigotry made at these rallies have overtaken news outlets and have sparked intense debate about whether the movement's real problem is with the president's policies or the president's pigment. However, bigoted statements and other unfounded accusations about our current government are to be expected considering the movement's purpose: speak out against and derail any of the POTUS and Democratic Party's plans.

The dangerous aspect of the Tea Party movement is that most of the supporters cannot even articulate their grievances with the government in power.  You'll always hear "OBAMA IS A SOCIALIST," "STOP THE SPENDING," and "CUT TAXES," but when asked about specific socialist practices of which the Obama administration has been guilty or about the specific things on which the government should stop spending, most have absolutely no clue. Some Tea Party supporters speak in pure, unadulterated hate
aimed at the Obama administration, the Democratic Party, and anyone else that does not align with their views.

This type of "blind protesting" can be dangerous on both political and social levels.  Put it this way: with a lack of knowledge on the issues, it is easier to stray from the original focus of the debate and wander into personal bias and prejudice (racial, political, etc.), which can lead to a skewing and slanting of the facts.  This, in turn, can mislead many voters and have an incredibly negative effect on several aspects of government, with campaign strategies and nationwide distrust of politics feeling the most immediate of consequences.


In conclusion, do not be led to believe this is only about the Tea Party movement.  If we're all honest with ourselves, a large majority of people against the Tea Party movement and other conservatives are just as uneducated/uninterested in the real issues of our government.  Each and every one of us living in this country should feel as if they are personally responsible for educating not only ourselves on the issues, but also each other.  


The government will never truly work for the people until the people begin to engage in RESPECFUL and EDUCATED dialogue. Only then will be able to demand what is REALLY needed for the country as a whole to move forward.