The Tea Party movement is a remarkable social and political phenomenon. I’ve lived through the Korean War, the Sixties, Camelot, the Cold War, Vietnam, Watergate, and the fall of The Wall as well as more recent events. And that is just a short list of the immense social, economic, political and human events that have rocked the world over the last six decades. Although it might be premature to say, the Tea Party movement may well come to belong in that pantheon. 
 
Up until last year, American politics seemed to have reached a point of balanced ineffectiveness. Both political parties have been spending hordes of our money to retain power or gain a new edge on the competition. In the process, the emphasis of politics has shifted even more from governance and solving problems to winning the “game” at all costs. As for the losing party, they become the obstructionist party until it’s their turn to reign again. That pattern has been evident for years, even decades. Congress, especially, has led the way toward this deconstruction of good government.
 
And as our society and government become ever more complex and immersed in political greed, cynicism and distrust take over in the public’s mind. We’ve seen this distrust and dislike mushroom in the public opinion polls about Congress. It also appeared with the loss of the Republican Congressional majority in 2006. Last year we saw a big switch in power to the Democrats. But the behaviors don’t appear to have changed much, and why would they? The new party in power is made up of the same folks, the same motivations and the same behavior as before. The base of each party is rock solid in believing that only their party knows the truth and can guide the rest of us out of the darkness. Meanwhile, those who are less ideological appear to have finally tired of the “game.”
 
You don’t have to go far in the blogosphere, or listen to too much cable news to know how much the Tea Party movement is vilified by some and pampered by others. The movement will not fail because of ad hominem attacks, nor will it succeed because of support from the traditional political right. One may think the movement is fringe, full of kooks or racists, but the underlying message of fiscal conservatism apparently has broad appeal. The latest USA Today/Gallup poll indicates that 28% of Americans call themselves Tea Party supporters. The Tea Party is also picking support from some Democrats. So the appeal of the Tea Party's core message is resonating with a growing group. That shouldn’t be a surprise given the microscopic recovery of the economy, the government projections for long-term high unemployment and the continuing gluttonous orgy in Washington. Maybe the key question for the Tea Party is whether the fringe image will stick. If the Tea Party can solidify its foundation of fiscal conservatism with sound programs and alternatives, and continue to build support among rational citizens, then there is a good chance it will have enough energy to move from a position of protesting to a position of offering solutions. More may be required to establish longevity beyond the coming mid-term elections, but that’s still in the future. 
 
The real magic of the Tea Party is the awakening of a large portion of the American populace. There is a new sense the voices of people not heard from before can be combined to influence America's political direction and public thought. Certainly the Civil Rights movement and the Anti-Vietnam War protesters were strong populist movements. But there might be some important differences with the Tea Party folks. The movement appears to be centered in what we used to call “the silent majority,” that is, people who are not necessarily ideological. They have not been noted for being protesters or having a loud voice before. But deeper still, they are awakening to a sense that they can speak out, they can become activists. They can learn about and understand the founding principles of our republic. And they can bring the spotlight of free speech and government accountability to bear on our elected representatives. They are providing us with a lesson in civics using the rights of speech and assembly, and the ballot.
 
In a recent email, Lynn Carpenter, a former finance director of the City of Bellingham and one of the key organizers of the local Tea Party movemen wrote, “This year we are teaching classes on the Constitution, having a seminar on the Constitution, having a Tax Day Tea Party on April 15th and an ice cream social this summer. We are planning two political forums as well as Tea Party Town Halls, and we will have a booth at the Lynden Fair.  We are planning some get-out-the-vote projects, plus more.  This movement is growing with middle class Americans who have not been involved in politics ever.  If you had asked them a year ago if they would ever stand on the street with a protest sign they would have said you were crazy.  Yet there they are with their signs and flags.  These people don't like Democrats or Republicans.  The politicians are borrowing, spending and printing money like never before in our history. The Tea Parties started when the Republicans had control of the White House and Congress, and they behaved just like Democrats: more spending, more government.  That is when it hit home that middle America had no one in Washington D.C. who represented them."
 
Agree or not with the principles espoused by the Tea Party, they have activated a much higher level of citizen participation, discourse and political accountability in our country. To me that is what being a citizen is about.
And for that, Hooray for the Tea Party!