Let them drink tea.

It would be foolish to discredit the tea party movement as a major force in politics today.  The movement to try and mold our government so it sticks strictly to the constitution and follows closely to what our founding fathers would have wanted is something I can even find myself appreciating.  However, there seems to be a number of serious disconnects in the group:

1.  The birther movement has joined together with the tea party movement as a way to find a political safe haven they could not find anywhere else.  Instead of being ignored, these extremist ideas are being thrust to the forefront of conversation.

2.  The idea that Obama is a socialist, or a nazi or a communist.  First of all, I know a number of socialists and they are frankly insulted by the insinuation that Obama is close to a socialist at all.  Nor is he a Nazi or a Communist.  The government does not run any private industry at all.*

3.  The idea that Obama wants to take all of the money out of your pocket and give it to the poor.  Seriously middle class?  Obama and the administration is trying to put more money into your pocket so that you can spend more to better the economy while taxing those who have more money than they will every truly need.  Yes, those are the people who 'make jobs' but they are not doing a good job of it considering how high our unemployment is.  You want the government to fix the deficit?  They need to tax someone.

4. This idea that our founding fathers wanted us to live in a religious nation.  Are you kidding me?  the documents written by founding fathers clearly state that they are against a purely christian nation considering that the people who sailed across the sea to get here came over here so they can worship whatever they want.  You could worship Ronald McDonald for all I care and you know what?  Good for you.  As long as you are not hurting anyone I couldn't care less.  I really couldn't.  Even if I tried.  Because of this, they are trying to force Christian fundamentalism into our laws, which is nonsense.

5.  There is a lot of racism that is feeding into the rallies.  It is said that it is just a fringe part of the group, but it is clearly not.  There are enough of racist and xenophobic people at these rallies and in the conversation that it is damaging the overall message.

6.  The misconception that Christians are being persecuted.  There has been 0 complaints about churches being built, Christian billboards or places selling only Christian products.  However, if Athiests decide they want to make a billboard it is deemd provocation and a 'finger in the eye?'  No, this is not the way things work in America.  There is a lot of talk about what you can do but shouldn't.  There has even been comparisons between building the community center (because it is not ACTUALLY A MOSQUE!) and burning the Quran and that they are equal.  Because doing something good for a community to try and bring peace between a nation and a religion is the same as burning a holy book of a religion. I  can bet you dollars to doughnuts that the moment a pile of bibles are burned at a Mosque shots will be fired.

7.  This focus on anyone who is not one of them is not a true American.  We are all Americans, we are all in the same boat and we are all trying to swim instead of sink in this current economic state.  This us or them mentality is the reason why congress is not getting anything done.  Instead of looking after us, they are looking out for themselves and that is selfish.  They don't care if we suffer.  They get PAID regardless if you do better or not.  I won't pretend I agree with the tea party.

It seems like the fringe is becoming main stream as well.  With a number of Tea Party members winning the recent primaries in a few states, it could cause a tide of Tea Party members reaching Congress or the House.  Now it is interesting to see how the Republicans in those states react to someone associated with this party running for office.

*part of this was removed due to a very good point made by a commenter.  Removed section: ( own any major industries and ))