I don’t intend to question every statement that comes out of the Branding Iron, and I would hate to be the one to question someone as important as a “Features Editor” –perhaps other readers may wonder why I wouldn’t take the time to question why every argument made in the BI about gay marriage in Wyoming involves the question “aren’t we called the Equality State?” (Kayla Bish’s January 15th article as an example of the most recent) wow, great point –but my intent here is to actually question Meredith Vincent and her report of the Tea Party.
Being one who aligns with the Tea Party I was interested to find out that I am actually “muddling the search for solutions,” and that I am a bully. Well, I don’t know how convincing I will be, but I do promise to follow Vincent’s example by trying my best “not to judge others too harshly”, but I won’t be able to copy Vincent in referring to an entire group of people, differing in my opinion, by calling them the name of a perverse sexual act.
Vincent appears to live with a diluted view of the world, where Progressives have been at the apparent forefront of every major change to ever come about in the history of the United States. While progress may be a synonym used with the actions taken in the events she noted, Progressivism, when referred to by someone like Vincent’s “staunch military Republican” friend, is actually referring to the political movement of the early 20th century. It is a movement that is questioned by bullies like me because it over regulates and gives too much power to the bureaucratic government. By bureaucratic government I mean those unelected people in Washington (many of whom are surely seeking progress, and may even be Progressives), making up the government agencies who helped write the more than 80,000 pages of new rules and regulations. The following picture, provided by Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) on Facebook, displays all those new rules. Lee, who aligned himself with the Tea Party in his successful 2010 election, points out that the small stack of papers on the top of the book shelf are the only new rules and regulations actually passed by elected members of Congress.
I agree with Vincent that it is “important to have opposing views and competition” and that the world is not black and white. I would add that the Tea Party is fulfilling her very desires – they may not do it in a way that she agrees with, but just like the Progressives took over the Democratic Party, it is my hope the Tea Party, and all their bullies, take over the Republicans.
Mike S. Fontano
