Written by David Starr   

The Tea Party has acted as though it wears the mantle of fate when it comes to taking back "their" country. But it isn't a size that fits all. Quite the contrary, Tea Partiers politically envision an exclusive, homogenous USA-devoid of diversity based on a fossilized interpretation of 18th century ideals, without taken into consideration that things have changed over the past 300 years.

A Tea Party website, www.teaparty.org, lists "15 Non-negotiable Beliefs" which are vague, but nonetheless revealing:

"1. Illegal aliens are here illegally."

Stating the obvious twice doesn't justify deportation of immigrants when it comes to the roots causes of it, whether legal or illegal. U.S.-led/World Bank/IMF austerity measures have been root causes of maintaining and increasing poverty, e.g., in "Third World" nations. Desperation becomes a factor, and this ups the chance for illegal immigration.

If Tea Partiers are so concerned about illegal immigration, then they would attack the causes: Austerity measures imposed by their own government/country and international leading institutions.

"2. Pro-domestic employment is indispensible."

A citizenry would naturally want to keep domestic jobs in their own country. But, again, Tea Partiers do not see root causes, in this case, sending jobs overseas. Capitalist-ruled corporations are, by nature, profiteering entities, i.e., the priority of profits over peoples. And poor peoples naturally accept whatever work they can get. Runaway corporations provide the work, but without a real sense of altruism. Finding cheap/slave labor is the priority in getting richer to where even the sky isn't the limit. Meanwhile, the local working class becomes desperate to find whatever jobs they can in the face of dropping living standards: divide and conquer of the working class, both foreign and domestic.

Tea Partiers don't seem to get this and in turn blame the wrong peoples.

"3. A strong military is essential."

Whether Tea Partiers know it or not, this is another way of saying "support imperialism." A "strong military" hasn't been about self-defense. It has been about the defense of empire. As the only superpower in the world today, the U.S. has had a military that gone well beyond self-defense. Rather than imply that the U.S. military must continue with an over-bloated budget, Tea Partiers should consider what self-defense really means.

"4. Special interests must be eliminated."

Anyone can agree on this, but what are these "special interests" Tea Partiers are talking about? If it includes Wall Street, then there would be a vast agreement on that. But what about social programs, unions, and government agencies fulfilling a logical and ethical cause, e.g., environmental protection? Tea Partiers see these benefits for the "commoner" as special interests "imposed" by "big gubberment." Wrong again.

The natural function of these entities is to support those without corporate/government power, not those who have un-natually benefitted from power to create private monopoly at the expense of public accountability/the public good. But Tea Partiers can't seem to differentiate between peoples power and monetary power.

"5. Gun ownership is sacred."

Tea Partiers get this wrong by misreading the 2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. To paraphrase: "For a well-regulated militia, the right to bear arms shall not be infringed." We have a two-part sentence, the first stating a purpose, and the second part providing a solution for the first. So, this is based on militias (do Tea Partiers agree with the term "well-regulated," although they are against "gubberment" regulation?), having the right to bear arms. Nowadays, however, the idea of having militias is antiquated since the U.S. has a standing army, with its over-bloated budget.

These are the first five "non-negotiable core beliefs" of the Tea Party. Part 2 will look at the next five beliefs.

David Starr writes on social and political issues, both national and international.

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