Posted by
Patrick Henry on Tuesday, April 20, 2010 11:59:15 AM
Wonder what's driving Tea Party anger? Sure, it's the reckless spending, breathtaking
deficits and runaway taxation. But it's more than that. It's the "look-down-your-nose"
attitude taken by northeastern and coastal liberals toward the white middle class who
are routinely called "racists," "extremists," "nut jobs" and worse by those educated in
the east, liberal by persuasion and ensconced in the halls of political or journalistic power
by profession.
Listen up, liberals. We know what you think of us. Now hear what we think about you,
and why. Actually, we don't much care what you think, because you've already shown
that you don't care what we think by slamming through legislation rejected repeatedly by
a majority of Americans and opposed 50-39% at this writing. We don't believe you have
the common sense God gave a goose! Who else endorses ceaselessly spending money
a country doesn't have and passing the tab on to the next generation? Maybe that's a product
of those wonderful eastern universities that are so busy telling you what to think they never
taught you HOW to think.
But I'm sure, in all your eloquent sophistication, that you've learned the power of persuasion.
Or, maybe not! Who told you that calling people "neanderthals" (Frank Rich, NYT) or
"cro-magnons" (Courtland Milloy, Washington Post) was the way to win hearts and minds?
Maybe shaming people by calling them "racists" and "wing nuts" worked at your school. But
it would have gotten me a punch in the mouth at mine. Is this the great diplomacy you hope
to unleash on Iran and Al Qaeda, or do you reserve it solely for reviling fellow Americans?
And if none of those sophisticated gimmicks works, pull out sexually oriented slurs like
"teabagger" and throw them at everyone who dares disagree with you. It shows a lot of
class. (You'll note I didn't specify WHICH class).
As for us poor hicks who attended midwestern schools, worked in factories, offices and
laboratories inventing and making and selling things (i.e., making America great), we're
a little tired of your pedantic prattling, cultivated corruption and bait-and-switch politics.
It has occurred to us that what you want to change and what you hope for are not at all
what the rest of us had in mind. We don't see you as particularly smart, wise, chic or
capable. And it seems that the only time you get your hands dirty are when you're
shoveling wads of OUR money to your own cronies. Clearly, we're not very attractive
to you. But puh-lease, lose the idea that we envy you.
You want to talk to us? Then talk TO us, not DOWN at us. You want to have real
dialogue? Then ditch the odd notion that we have much to learn from you while you have
nothing to learn from us. You want to ratchet down the anger? Then quit calling us vile names
because we disagree with many of your ideas and policies. You want cooperation? Then
quit talking bipartisanship and start practicing it. Or don't, it's up to you. But IF you don't,
remember that when push comes to shove there are more of us than there are of you. And
the ballot box can be a great leveler. Think about it.