US Elections

Angry Birds

By Sean Macken in Sydney, Australia

4 November 2011

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Conventional American politics seems about to be torn asunder by two equally angry political movements. On the right wing stands the Tea Party; an unashamedly conservative movement, populated disproportionately by the over fifties and desperately trying to constrain a bloated and overweening government. On the left stands the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement; a decidedly liberal grouping, populated by under-thirties and desperate for the government to do something, anything, to fix the financial, corporate and banking systems. As their respective placards show, both regard each other with horror and they diverge widely on what should be done.

For all their differences, however, there are a lot of similarities between the Tea Party Movement and OWS. Both have a blurred and obscure log of claims. The OWS cite generalities and slogans; roughly approximating an appeal for more social equality and a rage against corporate greed. The Tea Party, being anti-tax, anti Government and pro-liberty — whatever that means — is only slightly more coherent.

Both seem to be drawing from the same wellspring of bitterness that has engulfed post-Lehmann Brothers America. Tea Partiers have seen their retirement savings eroded and their house prices collapse, while Government largesse has been lavished on stimulus-packaged white elephants. Occupy Wall Streeter’s have seen their job opportunities vanish and value of education eroded, while Government allows bankers to pay bonuses out of tax payer funded bailouts. Both sides are feeling the pinch and both are angry.

What is most interesting to me is that their respective resolutions to the problems reflect two long traditions in American politics. On the one side, government can, and should, provide solutions to society’s problems. On the other side Government is the problem.

The impact each of these movements will have on the wider body politic is as yet unclear. The Tea Party is influencing GOP policies and positions and may yet be, as Sarah Palin said, “the cleansing … the Republican Party needs.” Similarly Al Gore’s description of OWS as the “primal scream of democracy” means Democrats are taking notice too. The result may be more political gridlock with Democrats and Republicans’ locking in behind each camp. Or perhaps, with such a nebulous agenda, the main parties will struggle to meet each group’s needs. Perhaps they’ll just have to stay angry and stay on the wing.

Tags: Guest Post, Occupy Wall Street, The Tea Party

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