The Future of the Tea Party Movement

"Tea Party" is a misnomer; it’s not a "party", it's a Movement. It’s millions of relatively conservative citizens that agree that the central government in the United States has overthrown and overgrown its Constitutional limits and threatens all that made our country the envy and hope of the world. This erosion of liberty goes back decades, but massive bailouts during the Bush administration and the progressive policies of the current administration have collated a previously amorphous  general unease into an increasingly organized political block that will continue to grow and will have a huge effect – namely that it will force the Republican Party back to its core values with the result that true conservative candidates will run and be elected in primaries, and voters who have been disgusted with the choices they’ve been given at the polls for decades will be energized to get involved and support these candidates.

The Tea Party Movement must emphasize "Movement" rather than "Party". In spite of the fact that too many Republican politicians are not fiscally responsible or true to the Constitution, it makes no sense to punish the less guilty Republican Party and reward the guiltier Democratic Party by splitting the conservative vote. But it’s also incorrect and undesirable to think in terms of the Republican Party absorbing the Tea Party Movement. In order for the Movement to accomplish its destiny it must remain aloof from “Party”; it must be the active voice of the heretofore inactive “Silent Majority” with allegiance only to the Constitution, small government as defined by that Constitution, the Free Enterprise system of economics, and a strong United States of America. This growing association of hard-working, patriotic Americans has always had the political power it is now discovering; it will maintain that power as long as it remains active and holds to its core principles.

I see three possible dangers to the future of the Movement:

It’s said that the Tea Party has no leaders, but of course there are some that are more prominent and active than others. One danger is in these quasi leaders attempting to mature the Movement into a Party, causing it to lose its grass roots appeal thus sapping its energy. If this happens the benefactors will be the Democratic Party and the far left, and the Tea Party Movement will become a small historical footnote instead of the rising voice and salvation of America.

Secondly, if the Movement attempts to influence beyond the Constitutional values mentioned above it will begin to lose appeal for many who consider themselves Libertarians and Independents. Pitfall issues include abortion, religion, gay rights, capital punishment, and all other topics where some will think the government should interfere, but others think the government has no business. While these topics are important to many or possibly a majority of the active “Tea Baggers” they must take a back seat to the primary goals of smaller government and adherence to the Constitution. I’m not suggesting that these people compromise their convictions; I’m stating that these issues are not the focus of The Movement, nor should they be. Additionally we must embrace all lovers of liberty regardless of background or skin color, and oppose only the ideology of others, and the need to avoid any form of violence is almost too obvious to bother stating. An added benefit to holding to the defined core values is that it avoids providing material to the liberal media, who will use every controversy and extremism displayed to ridicule and undermine the Movement.

The third and possibly most likely danger to the Tea Party Movement is that it will be partially and temporarily successful and the grass roots will wither for lack of the fertilizer of urgency. For instance, now that the 2010 mid-term elections have been favorable to the conservative cause, too many might feel that the need for involvement and activity is past. If this happens the victory will be short-lived. It’s imperative that we remember that our country has been over growing government for many decades and that one favorable election, or even a dozen will not completely accomplish our goals. We must be neither discouraged by setbacks nor made complacent by victories. While we have the means to make a real difference, let’s not be satisfied with averting the immediate danger, let’s continue on to convert The United States of America into the nation that our Founders and Framers envisioned.