On the Tea Party Downgrade

by Tom Wise

First, we always take the premise of our adversary. Fine... the Tea Party is to blame for the Standard & Poors (S&P) downgrade of America's credit rating.

Second, we extrapolate the logic. The Tea Party is to blame because their seven months in office have caused a situation so grievous and urgent that credit agencies are forced to warn those who might lend to the United States.

What did the Tea Party do in seven months? They spoke up. In other words, silence is being golden.

What else did the Tea Party do? They offered a balanced budget and an amendment to go with it. Naturally, living within means scares some people - those who like to live large. But it never frightens a bank to know that your spending doesn't exceed a certain percentage of your income+ credit.

What else did the Tea Party do? They stood fast to principles they articulated while they campaigned. So now integrity is the reason that S&P downgraded the US? Why didn't they caution the Tea Party on election night?

Who is the Tea Party? For the purposes of political finger-pointing, it's older white people who want to deprive people of color and the young from their just slice of a peach pie. In political reality, the Tea Party is Michelle Bachmann, Ron Paul, Herman Cain, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh. Blame the downgrade on them. Simply, re-elect Obama and other Democrats or else... Armageddon.

Third, we question their premise. How do we know S&P blames the Tea Party? Did S&P say such a thing? They wrote that "brinksmanship" was partially driving their decision. Whose brinksmanship? Did Obama and the Democrats not threaten default every day? Did they not say that if the debt ceiling weren't raised checks would not go out?

The term "Tea Party Downgrade" indicates that AA+ is a grade given by S&P to the political leanings of a certain group of Americans. In other words, because the Tea Party is in power they are dangerous. In fact, because they have a voice they endanger America. Further, those opinions are, according to John Kerry and other such, "absurd" and should not be aired on radio or TV.

Right... S&P used its considerable clout and puts its credibility on the line (some might say "again") to make a political statement, basically turning their attention from sovereign debt and creditworthiness to report cards for "unruly" (and new!) members of the House of Representatives.

The handy and catchy phrase "Tea Party Downgrade" is therefore meant to accomplish three things:

(1) Take the focus off the problem, which is long-term addiction. Addicts often blame circumstances and messengers. The victim mentality.

(2) Take the focus off the addict. As long as we focus on someone else, the addict can continue to pump the toxin. The addict is a master at this kind of passive-aggressive behavior, turning violent if you get too close to his security blanket.

(3) Remove an impediment. The Tea Party is the driving force in the Republican and Conservative arenas. This is recognized. The Tea Party is poised to gain ground by being consistent, worthy, and honorable. That they are human and make mistakes does not discredit them. This is not a case of "take the beam from your own eye." It is not moral relativism to say that America is sinking into degrading and destructive debt - it's true.

The only counter is that Keynesian economics dictates otherwise. Spend! Tax! Those who subscribe to this philosophy will not be convinced until we are all eating cat food from the hands of our oppressors. And even then they'll blame the Tea Party.