The Tea Party and Socialism

I've always had a feeling that the Tea Party was really created by the politicians, to appear as a grass roots movement of the so called conservative Americans who are against this country's progression toward socialism.  I've continued to be amazed at the number of Tea Party members who no longer work, but have an income due to the very thing they stand against . . . "social" security.  Yet, I digress.  The Tea Party and the Progressives have at least one very strong commonality.  Both groups are quite vocal against the traditional republicans . . . thus my suspicion of just where this Tea Party actually originated.

The fact that it is called the Tea Party seemed a dead give away from the beginning.  The Boston Tea Party rebels were colonists dressed as Indians throwing tea overboard in rebellion against taxation, but . . .  in their "bold stand" they were actually in disguise.  When I first came across Wild Bill for America, although he spoke of G-d and country and grassroots, he just so often pointed his viewers to dependence on the system and working within the establishment.  He says he was in law enforcement for 20 years.  It was easy to see by his demeanor, the blurred line between confidence and arrogance, and he makes no bones about it.  I don't actually know if he really is a representative of the Tea Party or just a self-proclaimed spokesman.  He name drops frequently, and well, here I am dropping his name, without ever having met him.  He speaks with a great deal of authority on a number of topics, but there is always a ring of "programming" to his version of his proclaimed truth.

Wearing his "trademark" cowboy hat while defaming LaVoy Finicum was the confirmation for me.  Wild Bill vacillated for a couple of videos then progressed to get down right ugly, claiming it to be truth.  You know, even if what he said was truth and none of us really know what happened that day, in Oregon; as there is an ongoing investigation, but a true social conservative simply does not speak ill of the dead.  I'm fairly certain, I will not believe the "official report."  How long have the voices of the "right" been crying and whining about the Constitution being destroyed, yet did nothing to get behind these ranchers?  Wild Bill may be a voice for the Tea Party, but he made the exact same comments the liberals whom he professes to despise, were saying about the situation.  I've made no bones about where I stand with the men and women who work the land, and in every conversation, the liberal comments perfectly align with Wild Bill's.

As far as I'm concerned having a donate button on a website is just another kind of socialism.  A donate button is hardly a grassroots foundation, nor is it boot strappy at all.  If someone is proclaiming the truth, the honest truth, I believe provision will be made without begging,  Now that both parties have embraced their version of faith into their politics, and pretty well beaten down any third party options the only solution seems obvious.  Create an offshoot of the existing party.  We've had the Tea Party still spouting the (R) for a few years.  Now, with Bernie Sanders, we'll have the socialist party under the covering of the (D).   Both seem the antithesis of true grass roots or revolution.  

The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.  a Proverb of Holy Scripture

Labels Shmabels

I've had the dubious honor of being labeled my entire life, but not for inclusion into any special clubs or groups, it's always been for exclusionary purposes.  The interesting fact is, the labels have varied through the years, but the purpose has seemed consistent.  The reason I mention this at all is to address the two videos I ran last week in the Goshen Gazette.  One, by a pretty famous gentleman who claims to be both liberal and an atheist and the other video by a self-proclaimed Tea Party spokesman . . ."G-d and Country" kind of guy.  I don't agree with either of these men's politics or religion, but we all three, agree on Israel, and so I ran their videos on that specific subject.  It did something for me that I can't really articulate, but it was quite illuminating.  How much do we miss by our preconceived notions due to labels?

My labeled life began early, by my mom, but I won't go into those.  I'd like to address and debunk a few of the social stigmas, political preconceptions, and religious ruckuses that keep us from hearing others who just might agree on some issues, but take their stand in a "different camp."  Due to Bill Maher's outspoken disrespect and professed disbelief of a Creator, I wouldn't have guessed him to be such a well researched proponent of Israel!  I'm so glad I looked past his own self-professed claims.  As for Wild Bill for America, I don't think our political, religious, or racial thinking aligns much, but in a circle graph, there would be areas of overlap.  He's one of those guys whom I'd love to hear share how he comes to express the perspective he does.

These men, tout their labels and belong to their various groups of shared perspective.  I'm going to mention the other end of that continuum, because I know I'm not the only one . . . When I began school, I remember myself and one boy being called to the teacher's desk.  We had to turn in our silver, pointed scissors, for green handled rounded tip scissors.  We were the "lefties." I was also ahead of the desegregation of civil rights, so I was the darkest child at school.  Back then non-whites were referred to as "colored."  Ah the labels begin so early, and truly they serve more to divide than bring acceptance.

Democrats or progressives tend to refer to me as a conservative, because I oppose big government on religious grounds.  Republicans refer to me as liberal, because I believe one must be Torah observant to enforce Torah laws, in the areas of punishment and war.  Most Christians refer to me as legalistic or a Judaizer.  Just last week, I was even called a pretender by a good Christian man and openly lied to, in an attempt for an individual to use a thread as a platform or soapbox against my beliefs.  The Jewish folk aren't usually name callers, but oy vey, the Torah proselytes from Christianity have labels for everyone who disagrees.

In my years of social media, I've been outspoken enough in my beliefs to be slammed, unfriended, and shunned by the religious, but never by unbelievers, except family . . . All of my "friends" or associates have access to the same posts, I presume . . .  Although I refer to myself as a Follower of Messiah, I've had a great many more labels by the folks claiming the same.  We're not all going to agree on everything.  Nobody has everything right.  Torah tells us, and Messiah reiterated; there are four kinds of folk in the world.

Atheists may have never tasted the goodness of our Creator.  Those who put G-d and country on the same level, may not realize this tradition is idolatry.  I'm so glad I looked beyond both of these men's "labels" and heard their message.  It's not up to me to label and discard human beings!  My job is to speak the truth and pray.  I'm so thankful the Creator of the universe looked beyond all my labels, both deserved and undeserved . . . and labeled me "Forgiven and Chosen."

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light:  Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of YHWH: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. ~ the Apostle Peter