Getting The Tea Party News

By Coleen Torres


If you have a computer, it's not hard to keep track of the grassroots political movement causing a disturbance in republican ranks. Tea Party news is often mentioned in mainstream media reports and broadcasts. However, for complete coverage of the movement, going directly to dedicated websites lets people read and judge for themselves.

Rallying citizens who favor a free market system, less Federal interference in state and local politics, and a balanced budget approach to public life, the Tea Party is a loosely organized conglomerate of local groups dedicated to opposing some of the more progressive aspects of the Federal agenda. Although many members hold conservative views on social issues as well, the movement is based on impacting mostly public issues.

The organization sets its inception in 2009 and has just celebrated its fifth anniversary. The origins of the movement are either attributed to Ron Paul's campaign for president or to a couple of bloggers who urged voters to send tea bags to Congress to express outrage over taxation and current policies. This links the TP to the Sons of Liberty who threw English tea into Boston harbor in 1773.

A lot of controversy over this 'grassroots' move comes from those who oppose either the agenda or the 'third party' aspect of the TP. Progressives and liberals try to dismiss the movement as 'not truly grassroots', racist, anarchistic, or worse. The Republican 'establishment' - dedicated to supporting long-time representatives in the House and the Senate - say the movement threatens the solidarity of Republicans and thereby lessens the chance of successful opposition to the Democrats.

It's vital that voters get the real picture, rather than relying on mainstream headlines or blog accounts. There are easily-accessed, dedicated websites online, such as TPNN, the TP News Network. You can sign up for emails, find recaps of recent coverage, and see the calendar of events for the year. You can also find out about TP groups near you.

The TP is in the national headlines often, as when endorsing candidates for public office. Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz are examples of unknowns who were elected with TP support and who have stayed in the limelight by sticking to or departing from their conservative values. The IRS targeting of TP-affiliated, non-profit groups and the consequent investigation also keeps the group in the headlines.

In the current political climate, it's hard to get the truth about issues and even accurate reports of public statements. This is good reason to follow the TP online, getting their position and comparing it to what might be reported in the mainstream media or in statements made by commentators. In addition, the TP supports and endorses candidates for political office; in order to judge the candidates fairly, getting both sides of the story is important.

If you have a computer, go online and find major websites for the latest on TP activities. If you don't have one, go to the public library and use the machines there to keep abreast of current events.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment