[WS:] If it did, it would make the "tea"/repug party movement a legitimate target and stir some opposition - which would not be a bad thing. But I do not think it will. It will be playing the neo-liberal game of promoting "freedom" and "lessening the burden of state" and as such, it will receive a wide popular support. The net effect of this movement will be similar to what happened to the mental health care system in this country - those in a position to pay will receive first class service, everyone else will end up in the streets and the only "services" available to them will be in the prison system - regardless of their gender, race, nationality, religion, or sexual orientation.
Wojtek
On Wed, Oct 27, 2010 at 11:44 AM, <c.berlet at publiceye.org> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Yes, a transient movement. Not likely to institutionalize like the
> Feminist Movement. But these transient movements can last for years and
> pull political parties in their direction. Stop thinking about elections
> and party victories and start thinking about how the TP Movement already
> is pulling the Republicans AND Democrats to the Political Right. And think
> about how this will play out in society in terms of legitimizing racism,
> xenophobia, anti-immigrant aggression, and homophobia.
>
> "Tea Party Loyalists Biased Against Blacks, Latinos, Immigrants, & Gays"
> by Chip Berlet, Alternet
>
> http://tinyurl.com/teapops-10-26
>
> -Chip
>
>
>> Marv Gandall
>> Michael Lind gives it a try:
>> The Tea Party will prove transient By Michael Lind Financial Times
> October 19 2010
>> ^^^^^^
>> New American political movements come in two varieties: genuine
>> third-party movements and those that just mobilise the base of one of
> the existing parties. The former transforms an existing party system;
> the latter reinforces it. And the Tea Party is an example of the latter
> – so while it has attracted a great deal of attention, it has little
> long-term potential to transform America’s political landscape.
> ^^^^^^^^^
>> CB: Hope it isn't wishful thinking to call the TP transient.
>> What are Lind's examples of actual historical examples of the "former" -
> third parties that have transformed the existing party system ? I
> assume he doesn't include Bolsheviks , Fidelistas, etc.
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