Editorial: Tea Party as Symptom

I do not believe that the Tea Party is responsible for the mass violence in Arizona yesterday, not intentionally and certainly not directly. I will be very surprised if it is found to be otherwise.


Throughout the rise of the Tea Party phenomena, I've thought of it as a symptom rather than a cause.


The Tea Party seems to attract disaffected people who have lost faith, if they ever understood it or had it, in the democratic process.


Basic to our system of government is the fact that sometimes one party loses, and sometimes the other one does.


Meanwhile, sometimes a third and even a fourth party, rises and adds to the conversation, often bringing ideas and other options, and that expands the possibility of solutions to tough problems. It is a healthy way to govern.


I think most Tea Party-identified people are appalled by the act of violence in Arizona yesterday. I do not think they are bad people who would wish a violent death upon anyone.


I do think they are people frustrated by feelings of powerlessness in a gigantic country where many decisions are made at the top that do not reflect what they feel are in their best interests. OK, I get that and, believe me, I felt it mightily while George Bush was president. I try to understand.


At the same time, there are political figures who have and who will continue to try to manipulate people who identify with the Tea Party to benefit their own agendas.


I think of Sheriff Palin, swearin' and stampin' her feet, and posting a map of the US with Democrats to be defeated in the 2010 round of elections located with rifle crosshairs. This is inflammatory, and it is manipulative. It is easy to name dozens of other politicians who also play that game with ordinary peoples' emotions.


There is a growing, though still small, lack of common decency, boosted by media that rip at it like sharks. There is a refusal by the Republicans in Washington to accept the democratic process as enough of a safeguard for our country's and our citizen's futures, often stepping far outside what is acceptable behavior.


These Republicans proudly say that they will not, under any circumstances, work at governing cooperatively and collaboratively. They are undermining the basic tenets of a democratic system. It is that behavior that I deplore. Our country and our people deserve far better.