It’s nearly tax day. That means that Tea Party activists are gearing up for a series of protests across the country, including a massive gathering in D.C. on April 15. Despite all the movement’s race-tinged rhetoric and attacks on Obama’s alleged socialism, it’s easy to forget that it originally based itself in an opposition to taxes. That’s bunk, because the tea party movement could have been truly progressive. Not to mention totally fabulous.
Tax laws are labyrinthine. Among the countless stipulations and clauses, the Government Accountability Office has identified 59 provisions where marriage matters. Though there are some bonuses for unmarried couples – like if marriage couples make the same salary, they may have to pay more – there are also just as many benefits for the espoused. The vast majority of gay people, who can only marry in five states and Washington DC, are forbidden from reaping the tax benefits afforded married Americans.
It’s a safe bet to say that most progressives support marriage equality. Some straight, presumably progressive couples, like celebrities Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, say they won’t marry until gay people have the same rights. Why can the same not be done with the anti-tax movement? Why can’t progressives join up with the tea party to assail an irregular tax system? Gays already love “T Dances,” so it’s a natural fit!
By taking up the contemporary tea party movement’s founding cause – the protest of unjust taxes – progressives can kill two birds with one stone. First, they raise awareness and perhaps change minds about the economic inequality inherent in marriage segregation. Second, a progressive hijack would gouge the tea party’s right wing roots. I’m sure the movement’s ultra-unbalance activists, like those who called Barney Frank a “faggot” during the fractious health care debate, wouldn’t be too keen on having homos and their allies join the tea party’s ranks.
April 12, 2010 at 5:31 pm, Robert Kahmann said:
“Could have been progressive” ??? That’s exactly what the “Tea Parties” are opposed to. We would like a return to Constitutional limited government and spending reductions until the debt can begin to be repaid. $127 TRILLION in debt and unfunded liabilities will bring this country to it’s end if it’s not dealt with SOON. Progressives seems to prefer socialism and an expansion of bloated government when common sense dictates government IS the problem, NOT the solution.
April 13, 2010 at 12:23 am, Jonathan said:
I believe that what he meant was that the tea party could have been someone that others would look up to. And wait for it…
Maybe even a viable challenged against Obama.
Sadly you guys are just looking like fools. Stick with the program and focus on the taxes only. I would encourage you to skip the birthers, christian fundies and any of the other nuts out there. If you truly wanted a movement, I encourage you to ignore them completely.
On your current form you guys are even detrimental to your natural ally, the republicans.
April 13, 2010 at 11:55 am, Rev JDSpears said:
“Progressives seems to prefer socialism and an expansion of bloated government when common sense dictates government IS the problem, NOT the solution.”
Sadly this is spoken by someone that has no idea what Progressives are about. No the government is not the problem, the problem is mismanagement and to much religious intrusion into government. Progressives attempt ti embody the teachings of Jesus, who held that we are our brother’s keeper. Many government programs have been attempted to address that but to often the Conservatives, not only believing that government is the problem and get elected to prove that, hijack, distort and attempt to kill such support systems.
If Conservatives would work with, and not against, Progressives then efficency would improve and government bloat reduced.
April 14, 2010 at 10:31 am, Andrew Belonsky said:
Hello readers! I thought I would wade into these comment waters. First, Robert, I don’t believe the government’s such a problem. It’s the management of the government, perhaps, but certainly you would agree that we need a government. I hope you would agree, at least. And, Jonathan, you’re basically right: the Tea Party could be more than what it is now, but it could also be used as an inspiration for other forms of activism. There has been a resurgence of sit-ins and the such coming from the gay rights movement. Even if progressives don’t want to hijack the Tea Party or create a parallel structure, I hope they do begin to investigate ways in which they can get their opinions heard, rather than letting the right-wing suck the air out of the room. If the TPM keeps growing, it will become more of a political force than vocal progressives, who will then be left out in the cold, and certainly not invited to the bargaining table.
April 13, 2011 at 6:59 pm, NoBigGovDuh said:
NO, I don’t want Gay people that dumb running around, sorry.