Not These Guys
 

My goodness! Are you somehow suggesting that it's any different this time around? That this country has been "governed" by purely partisan politics for at least twenty years that I remember?

No, it's not funny that the Democrats all voted against Republican-sponsored legislation, any more than the opposite. What is shows is that for whatever reasons--but I think in the end it all boils down to money and power and special interests--our system of government is broken. It doesn't work. It's dysfunctional regardless of which party is in the majority.

If you're going to try to tell me that it would all be different if the GOP was in total control, I'd laugh. They were for eight years. See where that got us. Then the Democrats had control and it wasn't any better.

Now it's even more screwed up because we have the Tea Party, which appear to be a bunch of inexperienced, not too smart, my way or the highway ideologues. Maybe there are some others out there that embrace the same fiscal philosophies, but would be better at winning battle after battle instead of trying to win the war all in one shot. But it's sure not these guys.

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Mostly agree what you say about partisan politics, but disagree with your opinion about the Tea Party. At least the Tea Party has helped focus everybody on fiscal responsibility. They may not be sophisticated in the ways of politics but they know about budgets and excess spending. We need to reduce the size of government and get them the heck OUT of our lives, not intrude further.

On the surface it would appear you're correct, but I'm of the opinion that the parameters have changed in significant ways.

The Republican Party has to now deal with the Tea Party movement which is slowly and inextricably dragging the Party to it's conservative roots and demanding austerity. The last elections proved this and the next elections will confirm it if my guess is correct. The still in charge go along to get along leadership knows this and is balking, but their own election defeats will convince them that the base has awakened.

The Democrat Party is being controlled behind the scenes by the Socialist Progressives and our President is their front man. The major media is complicit and their ally. The push is on to convince the people of a "class war" even as government policies are destroying the fabric of our lives. The decaying American Dream is being portrayed as the result of the avarice of the rich, to the detriment of the working class, in the face of the new laws and regulations on major corporations, and increased taxes on small businesses that are destroying industry and job growth.

That's my basic analysis and I can hear the caterwauling now. Time is the avenger, and we'll see how it all plays out.

Actions
 

Take no actions. Just let the free market work. When government gets involved in "fixing the free market" we always get in trouble. Take away any
government sponsored financing, repeal the laws that tried to fix things by
making bigger and bulging goverment and go back to a solid free market. It worked just fine since the republic was founded and I am sure it can continue
to function very well without all the politicians (both sides) doing unconstitutional patch work to the laws of the country.:mornincoffee:

You May Be Overestimating The Public Response
 

Personally, I endorse movement towards fiscal conservatism. But these Tea Party people are so idealistic and inexperienced that they're running the risk of breaking our country in an effort to achieve their ideals. I think they would have had an excellent chance of adding to their numbers had they used their power to win some battles in the Congress, add more seats to their numbers in upcoming elections and then win some more battles and ultimately the war in the future. But I think they've destroyed that opportunity by acting as they have. They were sent to Congress to govern more conservatively, not to govern with the destructive results that are happening.

If the stock market plunges several hundred more points, as is predicted. If the financial system becomes constrained because of a default or threat of a default. If the economy slows from it's already anemic recovery. If unemployment rises. If government services that no one ever thought of are suddenly withdrawn...then I think the electorate will be looking around for someone to blame. There's not much question that the Tea Party will have been the group that kept heaping on the straws that finally broke the camel's back. There's nothing wrong with the ideals they espouse. But they didn't know how to navigate the political process to their greatest advantage. That will cost them and anyone else who calls themselves fiscal conservatives.

There are some who might respond to this post today saying...it's not over 'til it's over. In my opinion, regardless of what happens in the next 48 hours...it's over.

No, Richie, I'm of a mind that the Tea Party has wasted a tremendous opportunity.

Why pick on the Tea Party
 

when it is in it's infancy. The ball is just starting to roll.