For US Mahaloians, what is your opinion about Tea Party (the modern one, not the historical Boston Tea Party)?

It seems like after every other election a new splinter group pops up because their needs are not being met and their voice is not being heard. They often come together over one or two issues and then as time goes on, the rank and file find that their anger dissipates, other life issues take over, and they stop being active. The Libertarians Free State project is a good example.

I find the Tea Party movement to be interesting and predictable but not compelling nor credible. Much like the Green Party, local chapters have different priorities and agendas thus diluting the big picture message. This might not have mattered much in 2000 when Ralph Nader ran, but 10 years the internet magnifies these inconsistencies.

The core values of the Tea Party seem to focus around fiscal responsibility. This argument has always made me crazy because the average citizen has no idea how to make this work at the national level. People in California may not like it when I say this, but taxes are good.

I want roads, snow removal, the post office, first responders, public education, social security, health care, and support for the arts. According to the Tea Party, all of these things should be 100% privatized. No where in the history of the world has this ever worked.Ever.

Since you ask my opinion, I think that they are ignorant, not too bright, and hypocritically greedy. They do not seem to realize that the tax rate was already lowered below what is necessary for the USA to survive long term by Reagan and Bushes. The only part of the budget that can be reduced is the military, and that only if we can wind up the current wars without setting ourselves up to be attacked again.So called pork barrel projects are usually actually needed infrastructure.

Government waste may seem large in dollars but is actually small in percentage. It costs money to avoid waste, the harder you try the more you are spending on auditing and record keeping. We are beyond the point of diminishing returns already.

But none of this means anything to the Tea Baggers, they are just complaining because taxes exist. And, mixed in, are a lot of right wing religious nuts who think the government hampers their religion. Since the Tea Party is not a real party it won't last long.

It won't get attention for long either, because it has no actual constructive agenda nor any solutions to any of the nation's challenges.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.