Tea Party Dilemma

What to do? What to do??? The masses forming the Tea Party movement are coming to a crossroads. Do they play hardball and try to form a new third party to take on the dinosaur parties or do they try to reform the Republican party from within?

If they try to form a new party, they run the risk of a massive failure ensuring the Democrats' consolidation of power. How much power do the Tea Party folks really weld? There's no denying a massive disconnect between the politicians and 'everyday' people. However, how this translates into action will depend on how pervasive the anger (yes, real anger) has percolated throughout the heartland. If they overreach and try to form a new political party without sustained support, it'll be doomed to failure. We already know they'll get no love (nor respect) from the Mainstream Media and without a modicum of support or fair reporting, then the 'non-informed masses' will vote as they always have (if they even bother to vote...).

If this happens, the Democrats will be the winners even in an expected down year and the momentum will have been lost. This will leave us as serfs to the politicians and lobbyists to pay of years of debt.

On the other hand, if the Tea Party tries to reform the Republican party from within, will this run the risk of alienating the hard core believers? Will it or can it truly reform such a corrupt monstrosity? With power and money entrenched, it'll be hard to replace or reform people so used to suckling at the teat of the taxpayer.

As a Libertarian, I've watched the two parties from afar for some time. With the Tea Party bringing a wild card to the table, it'll be interesting to see how this plays out. We've already seen some Republicans trying to jump on the band wagon and hijack the movement.

Michael Munger, at Reason.com, takes on this topic. He too is not sure how it will play out. But it will make for a good political bloodbath.

With the nation on the precipice of a massive debt collapse, I just wish the government would just rein in all the spending. We are leaving our children nothing but a mess...

Peace