Divide and Conquer - The Battle Plan of the Tea Party
The United States is comprised of a union of 50 Federated States. A partnership exists between the Federal Government and each of the 50 States to provide for the common good. Often it is the Governor of a State that goes on to be the leader of the Nation.
The Federal Government sets policy nationally and promotes the common good by giving funding to States for programs in addition to setting laws regarding civil rights. This relationship has always been more of a partnership.
The Tea Party Libertarians believe in little to no government and seek to dismantle all regulations that are in place for the public good.
This attack on our government didn’t start nationally. It didn’t come from grass roots support either. Huge amounts of money from the Koch brothers and other Ayn Rand Objectivist thinking Libertarians planned and funded this over many years. We are only now seeing the results.
In 2010, with the help of all this money, the Tea Party not only got members elected to the US Congress and State Legislatures but replaced many Governors as well.
The tactic they use is to replace traditional Republicans in the primaries using their bankroll to outspend them on advertising. It is much cheaper to turn a local election than a National one. It is also much easier plan this attack in years when there isn’t a National election because turnout is lower too.
Once in power, the Tea party in the US Congress became entrenched. Its obstructionist plan opposed any constructive legislation. As a result the Federal belt was tightened and aid to States was cut. In many Republican controlled Sates, instead of picking up the slack to fund their own states needs they too cut vital programs and put hardship on many. The economy contracted and employment slowed. This gave the Tea Party the pain to blame others for what they in effect are responsible for, the contracted economy.
I was just talking to someone today about their fear of cuts to disability. What she didn’t realize was that, although Social Security Disability is a Federal Program, it works in partnership with Sates to provide coverage. The Disability Claims Adjudicator who actually approves claims for recipients is a State employee, not Federal. Each State has more power to cause Americans pain than you think and make it look like it is the Federal Government’s fault.
Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin was caught on tape saying how the plan is to “divide and conquer”. This is exactly what we see playing out all across the country as States undermine the Federal union and enact laws to take civil rights away and dismantle the social safety net.
By becoming 50 separate political bodies rather than one united one this country is weakened and vulnerable. Tea Party members of Congress in alliance with their counterparts at the State level have crippled the economy.
Tea Party members of Congress like Paul Ryan have tried to push forward legislation that hasn’t even been popular at the State level like the “personhood bill” that would have all kinds of ramifications with birth control and people who use alternative methods because of fertility problems. By first dividing America at the State level we see the agenda creeping into the Federal arena now too.
We need to recognize this and act together in UNITY. Not only does the President need to be re-elected in November but we need to vote STRAIGHT DEMOCRAT and give our President and State legislatures the power they need to restore and protect our democracy.