The Tea Party
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2010-07-12/tea-party
Diane hosts a conversation about the evolution of the Tea Party movement. We discuss it's goals, who belongs and how it’s shaking up the political establishment.
Guests
Kate Zernike
a national correspondent for The New York Times and member of the team that shared the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for explanatory reporting. Her book, "Boiling Mad -Inside Tea Party America" will be published in September.
Matt Kibbe
president and CEO of FreedomWorks and co-author with Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey of the forthcoming book, "Give Us Liberty: A Tea Party Manifesto"
Diana Reimer
an organizer with Philadelphia Tea Party Patriots
Ryan Hecker
an attorney, a Houston Tea Party Society activist and an organizer of the Contract From America Project.
Comments
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Yes! Finally, DR has explored the conservative movement on her show. So often the MSM has presented conservatives, libertarians or Tea Party supporters as kooks, racists, or anarchists. I feel that I am none of these.
I do support a limited, Constitutional goverment, free markets, and personal responsibilty. I think both Reps and Dems are culpable for the deficit and both are involved in redistribution of wealth. The federal government takes money which from it citizens and gives it those who haven't earned it. The Reps are involved in spending our taxes with undeclared wars, nation-building, and military aid to foreign countries in the form of troops/arms/money. Dems spend taxes on welfare and entitlement programs, again from people who did not earn the money. It assumes that government owns whatever you make and allows you to keep a certain portion (whether it is 60%, 70%, or 90% is irrelevant).
I would call myself a libertarian. I am not racist, a "neofascist" or against immigrants, all of which people assume. I think immigration is great and necessary. I don't think there should be any quotas. Immigrants built this country; they bring creativity, innovation, energy and drive. But there should not be any handouts, either. Economic Nobel laureate Milton Friedman said that you cannot have open immigration AND a welfare state. The nation would go bankrupt (as we already are) because the demand for services would always exceed supply.
Also, fascism, by definition, promotes for more centralized government, control and power. This certainly goes against libertarian beliefs of free markets and personal responsibilty. This is what Hitler wanted, complete control over the populace. This is what George Washington rejected after the War for Independence when he turned down the title of, "Emperor" in Newburgh, NY.
My money, my money, I am assuming nobody is printing it in their basements. Govt. prints the money and puts it into circulation. You earn it based on the value you are perceived to have added (not always fairly). It is such a great country because the Govt. takes back a part of the money in form of taxes and tries to make it a country worth living in so many different ways. Is it perfect? Not by a long shot, but you are never going to achieve the perfect system, you can and have to keep striving for it.
I am an immigrant, a CPA and a Chartered Accountant, and have seen how tax systems work in different countries. Overall I have to say that the US has a working apparatus that is fair and progressive. The code is cumbersome and frustrating, made so by amendments, exemptions, special interests, etc over the years. Could you please enlighten me with an alternate system that is not going to have some of the same flaws in the long run? Rates have been high and low and have to be tweaked from time to time. Even “my money” people would have to admit that the Govt. needs funding that is a percentage of the amount that is put into circulation.
That is correct, "my money, my money." It is my money. I spent years sacrificing, studying, and working hard, for it while some of peers might have been having more fun, taking it easy or just not caring. Others may not have been as gifted but America is the land of equal opportunity not equal ability or income.
By the way, the 16th Amendment to US Constitution was ratified in 1913. Gee, I guess the federal had no money prior to then? Wrong, they had to limit their budget from what they collected from excise and sales taxes, tariffs, etc. but not a personal income tax. If it worked for over a hundred years why can't it work now.
Of course the Fed have the printing press and also expand the money supply, debasing the currency, shrinking any savings you may have by actually causing your dollars to be worth less due the fiat system in which the US dollar is no longer backed by any commodity, such as gold. That is just the Fed's way of monetizing our debt to fund more wars, welfare programs and bailouts. And you are correct, the US government is bloated with corporatism: special exemptions, tax breaks, pork projects and trade agreements. This is not true free trade or free markets. I agree. But less government involvement is the answer. Less government protectionism, less government bailouts, less government in bed with big business.
Indeed. I too, am sympathetic to the basic premise of the tea party early on.
Fiscal responsibility, etc...
But now it seems taken over by people who really want to establish the Confederate states of America and all that that means... the return of privelege for some and a vast underclass of underpaid workers who toil in subhuman conditions (brought about by their desire to deregulate).
but I do have a beef against less government... and free markets.
Very nice terms, no?
Do they realize this is just another way of saying "Feudalism"? If there are those who don't understand why Feudalism is not desireable, then they should read more history and find out exactly why Europe rejected feudalism and why America was established precisely to combat the oligarchies produced by feudalism.
Sadly, many want to return to this nostalgic paradise like this is some ideal. It is not. Feudal age was not the age of chivalry, no matter what fairy tale you read.
The powerful ruled over the weak, that was that. There was no government by the people for the people. Nobility was just a corporation handed down from kings to princes... a huge moneymaking machine for the wealthy.
Do you want to return to that?
the libertarian philosophy is in line with MAD MAX world view.
I suggest you go to countries which practice libertarianism...
Afghanistan is one.
there is a fabulously free and unregulated market. You can do whatever you want, whenever you want without government restriction.
There is little centralized government.
Everyone is responsible for themselves because those who can't take care of themselves perish there.
That is a land where people do carry themselves by their bootstraps.
The borders are open and immigration is welcomed.
Can't get more libertarian than that.
how far do you want to take it is the question.