Don't Write Off Everyone in the Tea Party
Deborah Meier continues her conversation with Mike Klonsky today.
Dear Mike,
You make a good argument, Mike. You mostly persuade me. But ...
Your argument is weakened by citing the situation in Chicago where, you claim, we don't need the Right and allying with Tea Party types might actually weaken us.
It's often, as you know, a local-by-local situation. I'm not mostly talking about formal alliances, but whether one "welcomes" individuals who do not share our agenda. No one stops them from joining with us under our banners, you might reply.
But how one words one's banner—chants and slogans—makes it easier or harder to widen one's net. I've been involved with causes that, in retrospect, carefully crafted their banner to be sure only the pure of mind would join us.
I still hold out hope that many of those who have been attracted to the Tea Party (et al) hold fears that are legitimate, and that I share. It means not writing them all off. I, too, fear the government AND the corporate elites. They are often one and the same.
I like localism because it provides a break on central power and because it's where ordinary people can practice democracy. Modern technology makes this even more imperative. It has become easier to imagine—ala science fiction—real dystopias. Ditto for privacy, which is as essential to democracy as institutional transparency is. Can there be a more dystopian idea than claiming corporations are people or that the state must know all?
I suspect that you and I, case by case, might reach the same conclusions. But having spent a good part of my life in small sectarian milieus (in which I learned a lot of value), I know how easy it is to Don't Write Off Everyone in the Tea Party - Bridging Differences - Education Week: