Jackson Free Press

I call myself a moderate for a reason. I find myself shying away from the lunacy that lurks on the outer fringes of both parties. I'm neither a Democrat nor a Republican, liberal or conservative. Honestly, I think everyone should do themselves a favor and listen to all opinions, no matter how crazy they may be, and then make a decision—whether it's about candidate, a bill, a resolution, whatever. It simply isn't wise to vote along a party, race or ideological line without listening to all sides.

I've watched the health-care debate with great interest. I've heard the talk about Obama's stimulus plan, and listened to the socialism and communism debates on all the news channels. I've seen the rise of tea parties all over the country. I've even seen Glenn Beck gather a room full of black conservatives to prove they do, indeed, exist.

Because I have no problem giving credit where it's due, I must give a word of friendly advice to Dems and liberals everywhere: Don't take the tea-party surge lightly. It could prove your undoing. Sure, you may think they are a vocal minority. You may say it's just sour grapes. Some of them may indeed be racist. However, don't dismiss them so quickly.

The fact of the matter is, even if the numbers are trumped up, even if FOX News "accidentally" shows the same clip twice for two different tea-party rallies, these gatherings show something that I haven't seen since Obama's campaign from some Democrats and liberals: passion. I don't agree with a lot of what I hear at these tea parties. To me, they reveal the "selfish America" that some of our neighboring countries see us as—the America where we step on and over our fellow man in need.

I can say, though, that at least to the untrained eye, these are organized efforts from folks who believe strongly in their convictions. They don't care if your feelings are hurt. They may not care if you're offended. Decorum be damned: If it means interrupting a town-hall meeting or marching outside the White House, they will be heard.

Either Dems are complacent or they're just oblivious to the fact that there is dissent afoot. It was only after this wave of protest started that I saw folks sent to town halls to shout down the shouters. Only recently have I seen public efforts to gather supporters of health-care reform in their own rallies, even though they knew folks on the right were waiting to launch attacks at President Obama from day one. It would be good to occasionally see a gathering of 10,000 folks on the mall in Washington chanting reasons we should support Obama's health-care plan or a stimulus.

At least make it interesting. Form a party to foil the tea parties. When is Rachel Maddow going to say something as wild as Rush Limbaugh and make some conservatives mad?

Show. Me. Some. Passion.

You have independents and moderates like me who are waiting to hear facts. Truth is, the real solution lies somewhere in the middle, a mix between what the right and the left want. The middle is where the most common-sense thinkers are, in my opinion. The middle is where a real health-care solution can be found. Right now, I only see one side pushing.

And that's the truth … sho-nuff.

Previous Comments

ID

153499

Comment

Great column, Kamikaze.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2009-11-19T15:17:25-06:00

ID

153517

Comment

Those flea-baggers (sorry, meant tea-baggers) are a bunch of damn nuts. Anybody can see that. I don't have any respect at all for their crazy asses. Nor do I for Glen Beck or his ilk, no more than I would respect Hitler or what he stood for. I would build up an arsenal of weapons so that I could kill his crazy butt if I had to, though. But this doesn't mean I respect or give lunacy a name other than lunacy or raise lunacy from the depths of lunacy. After all, lunacy is still lunacy to those who can see clearly. As far as passion is concerned, gnats, flies, termites, bollweevils and republicans have passion. Doesn't mean any of them is worth a crap though. The jury is finished deliberating on this issue and the verdict is in. The Democrats are doing just fine by ignoring as much of the the bullcrap they can from these people. If you sleep with and act like dogs, you soon get fleas and becomes one of them too, even if you're a different animal. The Dems are the voice of reason and they bring a change we can live with. Kaze, he who rides the fence too long, gets scraped or mangled nuts! Sometimes they even get cut off. LOL.

Author

Walt

Date

2009-11-19T18:11:43-06:00

ID

153529

Comment

Not riding the fence sir Walt. Im standing completely on the platform of common sense. Directly in the middle where most assuredly the true answers lie IMO. I dont disagree with you that some of the bile coming from repubs and conservatives is reprehensible but saying nothing at least in my opinion makes the other side no more right. In fact, in a country filled with some fence-straddlers, methinks they should be stating their case. Hitler was mad, Nazi's were insane, but managed to create a whole nation that rose up and invaded other countries before we stamped them out. So thus my point. I disagree with a lot of repub/conservative policies and attitudes but likewise its some loonies on the far far left as well. And Id like to keep my distance from them too. Im content listening to all opinions and forming my stance from that. I will not ever, blindly follow behind any ideal, or party just because.

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2009-11-20T10:40:51-06:00

ID

153533

Comment

LOL ... No one can froth at the mouth like Walt. Yea!! Screw them tea party people. They only pay the taxes to fund Walt's precious social programs. Why should they be upset that the Dems want more and more of their money and make it harder and harder to do business? So what if they go out of business? They will have the safety net of the Democratic platform of cradle to grave gubmint care. Because everyone knows that self sufficiency is at odds with their own interests. Those interests being, how much can I get from the government too. Don't worry!! The government cares and if you don't believe it, why, you must be racist or a Hitler clone like Glenn Beck. LOL !! What a Maroon!

Author

WMartin

Date

2009-11-20T11:43:48-06:00

ID

153577

Comment

Wmartin, "I like it when you call me big Papa." Thanks for the compliment.I know I'm doing well when I can make people like yourself resort to calling me just names. Are you in town for the rally at Oxford? Did you really have to use such big words and everthang to try to diss me. I mean are froth and maroon the best words you can come up with to describe me. I happen to know what a moron is, and further know you're quite familiar with the term because you see one each time you look in a mirror. I'm so tired of light up stairs/self-annointed people like yourself trying to tell us, especially me, that you and your kind are the backbone of this country, and that I and others unlike you, more or less, owe you or your kind something. I don't owe you, your kind or your ancestors jack. I pay lots of taxes and prefer they go toward helping the poor than fighting unnecessary wars. Yes, I'm black WMartin and only we Blacks believe in social programs. The new deal did a lots of wonderful things for Black folks, you know. Welfare keeps us alive. We blacks couldn't make it without social programs. I know you know this. Thank you for being so caring. Speaking of the government, clearly the Bush Administration didn't do anything for big business, corporate America or the republican agenda. Nall, they gave all the country's resources to the Democrats or sat idly by as the Democrats spent all the money on Blacks and other poor folks, too. There is some poor white folks too, but surely you could never admit to this. This recession/depression is the Democrats' fault and it didn't happen until Obama and other Blacks got a little power we didn't know how to handle. Don't let a Democrat try to fix the present matter. Unless he applies the Bush/Cheney or republican-like sure to fix policies he becomes a socialist, communist, racist, fascist or some other inapplicable name. We've had enough of you, Bush and republican policies. They did so much for us. How can I think you? WMartin, you certainly believe in self-interest for sure. How else can you justify slavery, genocide of the Native Americans, those 2 unnecessary wars, republican rule for 8 sorry years and so many other things we're trying to fix. You and your tea-baggers can go to hell. Don't stay away so long this time. I miss you. Cheers.

Author

Walt

Date

2009-11-22T20:00:39-06:00

ID

153591

Comment

LOL. Wow... I couldn't have asked for a better example of frothing at the yap hole. Only a real left wing loony gets from Tea(Taxed Enough Already)Parties to justifying slavery and genocide. It would be hilarious if it wasn't so sad how you always orbit back to race as if it makes some sort of difference that you are black. Any color and your same mindset would still make you wrong.

Author

WMartin

Date

2009-11-23T14:47:07-06:00

ID

153592

Comment

OK, Walt and WMartin, I don't have time to teach kindergarten this week. Discuss respectfully without personal attacks, or don't discuss here. Easy choice.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2009-11-23T15:58:18-06:00

ID

153728

Comment

Kamikaze, if more people chose to "ride the fence" our country would be a better place. Walt, all I can say is I hope you are right! I hope the Dems are ignoring the "flea baggers" so it will turn around and bit them in the rear!

Author

js1976

Date

2009-11-30T12:32:35-06:00