In my opinion, this movement, that basically inspired by the Boston Tea Party of December 1773, have a big potential to make a change in America, especially to change the political view in the Obama’s presidency and his Democrat Party. This movement focused on economy issues, especially taxing, as described in their alias TEA, Taxed Enough Already.
As the movement begun in 2009, the sense of Republicans tightly into it and it’s clear that Republic is the opposition of Democrat Party. The grassroot protesters mainly are conservative and libertarian, but likely sponsored by Republicans to criticize the Obama’s government. Also, the appearance of Sarah Palin, who is Republicans and rival of Obama, in this movement is kind of rebellion to Washington, frankly anti-government. Because of that, we have to clarify, is this movement pure a initiative of citizen or a sponsored movement that provoke by the interest group to break the government down. If the second condition happens, we have to question the democracy of America, if the citizen being lead to do something that they surely don’t know, it means they are become the victim of interest conflict.
The next question is what will happen with this movement. If this become a real party, it will be more complicated especially about their agenda also leadership. Their real agenda that want a good, clear government, administration, and constitution possibly become more detail and full of politic. Then about the leadership who must be take control, will have a big influence to the movement. The it has a relation with the management of the party, that’s good if they can manage their image, develop theirself as a good party and ready to compete with the dominance of other party. But the other impact should be anticipated.
If the movement become the real party, not all the supporter will agree with the party itself. Even possibly will reject it because it’s not in line with their idealism. The domination of Republicans should be notice, because it will be their base of support, potential voters. Then the Republicans can easily use it only for their purpose and basically against the movement. Also, not all of the supporters are Republican, if the party become more Republicans, how the party will understand the other. And how the party manage the differences among them is a big question. The real party needs fund to manage theirself, and how the get it will be a problem. So it can be predict that if they become a real party, The TEA Party will no longer exist. They have a lot of trouble to face and they are too young to compete with the big two party of America.
I think that this movement should be consistent with their idealism and not easily influenced by other party because they potentially make a change, a big history of America and tea, the real TEA movement.
*artikel ini saya tulis untuk memenuhi tugas Kawasan Amerika
