Is it fair to refer to the Tea Party as the American Taliban?

1. 90

   crankaliciousposted 11 years ago

   Is it fair to refer to the Tea Party as the American Taliban?
   
   I think I saw a bumper sticker that said this. Obviously, this would be a very liberal position, but are there any actual similarities? Is this a statement you would support or oppose?

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2. 93

   Robephilesposted 11 years ago

   No, that is not a fair analogy.  Though, they do share some similarities.

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   1. 52

      Robert Wiseposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      What similarities, Robephiles? Be specific.

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3. 73

   d.williamposted 11 years ago

   It is as fair as referring to our president as a fascist, socialist, muslim, or any other negative  and inappropriate names.  The Tea Party has been holding our economy hostage for the past two years to try and get what they want.  So, yes, this is a fair analogy of the Tea Party, and being kind at that.  They would sooner destroy the American economy and democracy than help it.

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   1. 52

      Robert Wiseposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      D.william, your comment is completely inconsistent with fact. While the TP members have put the brakes on more immoral debt spending, the president has found a way to add trillions to our immoral deficit.

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   2. 73

      d.williamposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      RW: thanx 4 ur 'inteligent' comments. The typical response from the T.P. is 2 attack & call names when they have no idea what they R talking about.  U, sir R 1 of them.  The T.P. 's in DC are the obstructionists, & a major factor in our probl

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   3. 52

      Robert Wiseposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      D.william, I called no names. merely stated fact. Refute my facts, which you cannot. You and I both agree; the TP members have stopped further debt spending and increased taxes. You evidently don't like that; I prefer it.

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   4. 68

      LandmarkWealthposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, obstuctionist to fiscal irresponsibility.

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   5. 73

      d.williamposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      you have no idea what you are talking about.

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   6. 68

      LandmarkWealthposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      The clock referenced below is the gov't precise calculation of UNFUNDED liability.All Defined Benefit plans have a future liability in actuarial terms which is either funded or unfunded.The fact that the congress has invasive powermeans nosegregation

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   7. 73

      d.williamposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihUoRD4pYzI  did you actually look at Ronald Reagan's video?  Or is he off base too?

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   8. 68

      LandmarkWealthposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Yes he is way off base...That is not evem close to accurate. The totality of entitlement spending makes up nearly 2/3rds of todays current budget.  More than 780 billion 3.5 trillion is SS alone. Without SS & medicare we have a 400 billion surplu

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4. 0

   Billie Paglioloposted 11 years ago

   That bumper sticker is totally toxic and offensive.  I am a very left-leaning liberal and can assure you that this is not a liberal position just as destructive comments on the right are not Republican positions. You can expect that, on the bell curve of Republicans, Democrats, and any other party, there will always be those on the malicious extreme (I judge that percentage to be 1%).  I would vehemently oppose this statement.  Tea Party advocates view the world differently than I do - that's all.

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   1. 73

      d.williamposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      your kindness, generosity and naivety is commendable albeit misguided.

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   2. 0

      Billie Paglioloposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      d. - Glad you wrote because it gave me a chance to view your profile - we're of very-like mind, but like the comment in your profile,  I too... "try to combat discrimination in all of its forms."  You'd like my rap "Women My Age"  under Kelpin(?)

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   3. 73

      d.williamposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Billie: i am disappointed you have no hubs to read.  But i do like your profile.

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   4. 78

      wba108@yahoo.composted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I'm a very right leaning conservative and appreciate your civility and don't believe its naive at all to give those of opposing ideas the benifit of the doubt!

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5. 80

   brblogposted 11 years ago

   No . . . they are not even remotely similar (or polar opposites either).  I do believe, however, that their ranks are full of folks who have very little real understanding of their own countries history.

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6. 68

   LandmarkWealthposted 11 years ago

   I guess if the Taliban is primarly focused on balanced budgets, sound money, fiscal solvency, private property rights, the principals of limited gov't, individual liberty and protecting the sovereignty of the United States then it would be a fair statement.  That is the position of the tea party.  To date I have yet to see a member of the Taliban speak out on behalf of any of these positions.

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   1. 78

      wba108@yahoo.composted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Well said my friend!

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   2. 52

      Robert Wiseposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you for the truth, landmark. We need more.

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   3. 73

      d.williamposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      LMW: Ur 'truths' could not B further from the T.P. agenda by the way they R acting in Congress as obstructionists.  As usual U talk great, but offer little of substance.

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   4. 52

      Robert Wiseposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      d.william repeatedly cites 'obstructionism.'  The question: what specifically have the TP members obstructed. Specifics please.

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   5. 73

      d.williamposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      RW. If U need to ask, U have not been following politics 4 the past 4 yrs.

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   6. 52

      Robert Wiseposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      d.william, thanks for validating my presumption that your rationale is as deep as the media talking points you repeatedly spew. As the rest of us know, you cannot cite 'obstruction' without admitting that the TP stopped additional deficit spending.

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   7. 73

      d.williamposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      RW:can you give an example of how the TP stopped additional spending?  Sounds great, but just not true

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   8. 68

      LandmarkWealthposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      how about the fact the non defense discretionary was up 24% Obama's first 2 years, the last two years it has been the slowest in decades.

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7. 78

   Mr. Happyposted 11 years ago

   Both groups are quite fanatically extreme - that is where there is a similarity. They are both out-dated and searching for a way back to the past - I am sure everyone is aware of the: "I want my America back" cry ... and nobody can argue that the Taliban are not quite backward themselves.
   
   It is mind-boggling how people such as Mr. Landmarkwealth cannot see the comparison and has given such a silly answer, to say the least.
   
   It's the extremes! That is where the similarity exists, not that they both like private property ownership - it's their backwards mentality, struggling to hold on to the past ... geez ... who flushed critical thinking down the toilet?

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   1. 52

      Robert Wiseposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, struggling to hold onto outdated ideas like balanced budgets, the immorality of deficit spending, small government, limited government reach, low taxes, fed duties consistent with the Constitution. And you don't want these because....?

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   2. 73

      d.williamposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      RW: to adequately address your comments would take volumes 2 even try to get U 2 C ur misgivings.  Attitudes create problems - not fix them.

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   3. 52

      Robert Wiseposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      TP= Small gov't, limited fed powers, state's rights, low taxation, strict  Constitutional constructionism, etc. Save your '2 volumes' of liberal slant. That liberal slant got us what we have today. It doesn't work.

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   4. 73

      d.williamposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      RW: thank goodness the majority of americans disagree with your philosophy as indicated by the recent elections.  There is hope for us after all.

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   5. 68

      LandmarkWealthposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Actually the exit polls favored smaller gov't by the majority.  They just didn't trust Romney to deliver, nor was he good at communicating a message.

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8. 0

   ahorsebackposted 11 years ago

   This statement is moronic ! And its so transparently typical of the not so far  left ! Sure the far right makes idiotic statements too but  this type of comparison is demonstrative of just how far divided a nation America is .-----

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9. 0

   Justsilvieposted 11 years ago

   I am not VERY liberal I am liberal leaning center like a millions of other Liberals.
   
   Actual similarities
   
   Want to rule by theocracy!
   Control our civil liberties!
   Want to send women back to Kuche aund Kirche (kitchen and church)
   Thinks homosexuality will go away if they forbid it! 
   Warmongering bullies who are clueless that you can also fix problems with diplomacy and compromise.
   
   Just a few similarities but the biggest is refusing to allow the legally elected head of this country to govern by encouraging their followers to attack, harass and threaten with behavior that is bordering on sedition and treason.
   
   Yes! There are elements within that are just as extreme and scary so they have earned the name.

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   1. 52

      Robert Wiseposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Your comments might be interesting for purposes of discussion if they were based in fact but they are not. I thought Hubpages was for purpose of inteligent dialogue. Evidently that is not the case.

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   2. 0

      Justsilvieposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Trolls rarely contribute anything intelligent  to the dialogue... and some can't even spell the word.

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   3. 64

      maddotposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Just checked out Robert Wises' profile page..no hubs, not following anyone, no activity.........not so wise afterall..

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10. 68

    CrescentSkiesposted 11 years ago

    Eh, I'd refer to them as a bunch of mindless idiots who will be the first against the wall when the revolution comes.

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    1. 52

       Robert Wiseposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Your comment is frightening.

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    2. 68

       LandmarkWealthposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Robert, it's just another open minded liberal who wants to line people up against the wall who disagree...What's wrong with that ??? Don't you know the Gov't knows best who should be iradicated.

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    3. 78

       Mr. Happyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       "Your comment is frightening" lol What was that quote about "can't handle the truth", or something? Haha ...
       Here's something to think about: when the pendulum swings to one extreme, it will inevitably and eventually also swing to the other extreme.

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    4. 52

       Robert Wiseposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Mr. Happy, are you saying that the anti-TP forces (liberals) will actually execute their opposition? Your laughter at this horrendous idea is macabre and hollow. Have you not studied history? Nothing funny about it all.

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    5. 78

       Mr. Happyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Mr. Wise, Macabre is the way we run our societies ... macabre is the way we exploit our animal cousins, Mother Earth and all its inhabitants. If people continue to kill each other over ideals, that is stupidity in my mind - we get what we deserve.

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    6. 68

       CrescentSkiesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I'm more depressed that none of the five people who replied to this got the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy reference...

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11. 85

    krillcoposted 11 years ago

    Name calling is never fair, is it? Reductionist thinking has a high percentage chance of being in total error.

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12. 52

    Robert Wiseposted 11 years ago

    The TP and the Taliban are nothing alike. The TP believes the government should be small, restrained and should not trample on our constitutional rights. They believe the problem with our immoral deficit spending has little to do with inadequate taxation and everything to do with uncontrolled spending and government over-reach.  Where the Taliban believes in theocratic control of government, the TP believes in the pure exercise of the limited powers articulated in our Constitution. The TP believes in state's rights and the rights of the individual. That is not at all what the Taliban practices and believes.     
    
    The better question to ask would be whether or not there are similarities between the president ruling unilaterally by executive order and the Taliban's unilateral authoritarian rule, and whether the president's extra-constitutional mandates are legal.

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    1. 73

       d.williamposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       And yet they fight for controlling women's rights, 2 increase discrimination against gays, dismantle social security, turn our gov into a corporate run entity, turn our gov into a theocracy, mandate morality &  more more...?  Way to go T.P.

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    2. 52

       Robert Wiseposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       d.william, your arguments are silly and untrue. They are media talking points for consumption by the unthinking and ignorant. Ironically, some of these silly simplifications could be just as easily overlaid onto democrat platforms.

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    3. 73

       d.williamposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       media talking points? Ex: in the year 2011 alone the House introduced 1500+ pieces of legislature that adversely affected women's rights alone. R U paying attention, or just repeating Fox new rhetoric?

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    4. 52

       Robert Wiseposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       d.william, your statement that the House intro'd '1500+ pieces of legislation' in any year is ludicrous on its face. Adding the leftist anti-woman lie to it again validates that you have no fact nor clue about what is truth. 1500 pieces indeed!

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    5. 68

       LandmarkWealthposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       No not womens rights...Lawyers rights to add to our already overly litigious society. Dismantle Social Security ??? Dismantle an unfunded liability of 16 trillion in an economy that is only 15.4 trillion in GDP. No reform needed there...briliant

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    6. 73

       d.williamposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       my last comment. U 2 are grossly misinformed.  1. Go 2 the House of Rep site & view all bills introduced for 2010-11.  2. S.S. is not a liability, it is funded by payroll tax ded.  http://youtu.be/ihUoRD4pYzI view and learn something

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    7. 68

       LandmarkWealthposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I am afraid you are the one who is misinformed, that is a statment about a different demographic period.  And there is no segregatedSS trust fund anymore. It's all one budget now. Read the last line of UNFUNDED liability...http://www.usdebtclock.org/

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    8. 73

       d.williamposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Ur debt clock video is not valid.  It has nothing to do with S.S. funding. It is still a separate entity.   Go to So.. Sec. web site & learn about what it is, & how it works.  Congress has tapped into it, & as usual screwed up the total a

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    9. 68

       LandmarkWealthposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       It is not MY clock.It is a direct feed from the US treasury and the Federal Reserve.That is the actuarial value of liabilities. All due respect I run an investment firm specializing in these types of projections.You don't seem to understand the topic

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    10. 78

        Mr. Happyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

        Arguing over scraps I see, Mr. Financial Investment Adviser:
        "Only after the last tree has been cut down,
        Only after the last river has been poisoned,
        Only after the last fish has been caught, 
        Only then will You see that money cannot be eaten."

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    11. 68

        LandmarkWealthposted 11 years agoin reply to this

        Money is simply a representation of Capital.  Captial investment creates things like fire breakers that prevent forrest fires, developed by "for profit" lumber companies who preserve land, not destory it, because its in their best interest.

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    12. 78

        Mr. Happyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

        Corporations preserving lands is like saying the mouse is going to watch over the block of cheese. You do not have to sit and read my entire article but just look at the photos. Is this preserving lol: http://mrhappy.hubpages.com/hub/Northern-Ontario

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    13. 73

        d.williamposted 11 years agoin reply to this

        LW: U sure live on a different planet than the rest of us. Ur clock has nothing to do with S.S. don't twist my words to suit ur mindset.  i understand logic, U understand ur own venue w/o logic.  Even the madman convinces himself of his own logic

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    14. 68

        LandmarkWealthposted 11 years agoin reply to this

        When was the last time you heard of a lumber company having a forrest fire. Thats what happens on public land.  Or for that matter running out of trees.  They use land the way a farmer uses a crop. If they deplete the land their out of business.

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    15. 78

        Mr. Happyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

        If they deplete the land their out of business. - Mr. Landmark, that is a myth. Once a corporation is done extracting the resources in a specific area, they move to a different area. We can talk about mining and DeBeers, or we can talk about BP ...

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    16. 68

        LandmarkWealthposted 11 years agoin reply to this

        Really is that what farmers do, pick the corn and never regrow it.  The logging industry developed fire breakers to harvest one area while they regrow another which also reduced forrest fires.  Unlike public parks in CA where they burn out of control

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13. 73

    someonewhoknowsposted 11 years ago

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    The state of the American economy to some is no accident. There have been many key factors
    
    that have taken place to bring the American economy to where it is today. According to
    
    Donald Goldmacher, co-producer for the documentary Heist, it all started falling apart with
    
    a deliberate dismantling of middle-class prosperity, ramped deregulation and jobs being
    
    outsourced. Goldmacher joins us and gives us his take on who stole the American dream.
    
    ROBERT REICH - 7 LIES
    
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mM5Ep9fS … re=related
    
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    Robert Reich reveals the 7 biggest lies about the economy.

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14. 60

    Civil War Bobposted 11 years ago

    Of course it is...all's fair in love, war, and politics!!  And, yes, I just added that last item to the age old saying because it's true!!  Actually, love, war and politics are all aspects of every human relationship whatsoever, from one on one to a whole lot on a whole lot!

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15. 71

    stanwshuraposted 11 years ago

    No.  As a northeast, full-blooded, 99.999% liberal (pro-life lest mom's life is in ≥50% danger), I do not like the Tea Party.  I think their positions are dangerous, unfair and ignorant.  But to compare them to the taliban is just as dangerous, unfair and ignorant.  As whole-heartedly and full-throatedly as I disagree with them, they are *not* terrorists.  Subversive of America's founding values and detrimental to the (democratic - small 'd') American dream as I find their voice and potential influence, they are not violent, "kamakazi"-ish enemies of our country.  They are utilizing, and are damned well entitled, as much as I cringe to write it, to the protections and rights promised in the Constitution, and binding above and beyond any and all individual state's rights and law, said American (Federal) pillars including...ugh...the First Amendment, as any American.

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16. 60

    jg555posted 11 years ago

    Many people believe that the Tea Party's ideas would be bad for the country if put into place, however, the Taliban funds terrorist organizations and has done evil things in the middle east.

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17. 72

    lone77starposted 11 years ago

    I don't know much about the Tea Party, per se, but one person often associated with the Tea Party -- Dr. Ron Paul -- makes more sense than nearly every other politician put together.
    
    * Government not interfering in our lives
    * Small government without almost no bureaucracy
    * No income taxes (abolish the IRS and private Fed)
    * A return to the Constitution instead of governing by presidential Executive Order
    * A return of our personal liberties and let the older laws against crimes handle those who break them. We don't need new, tyrannical laws to "protect us."
    
    When our current, sitting president signs into law things like,
    * NDAA (2012) -- indefinite detention for American citizens
    * HR 347 -- now it's a felony to protest what the government does
    
    ...and creates a "Kill List" which includes Americans, and goes to war without Congressional declaration, we have a president who says he will defend the Constitution, but then shreds it. Sounds like treason to me.
    
    But it looks like both the Demopublicans and Republicrats have become two halves of the Corporate Party. And now, voting and Roberts Rules of Order are dead in our presidential conventions (at least in both halves of the Corporate Party).
    
    RNC Scripted:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2O248VaDpA
    
    DNC Scripted:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxNg3u70FnY
    
    The original Tea Party was a protest against far less tyrannical things than we suffer in today's America. A 3% tax! How much do Americans pay in all the taxes they pay in our currently bankrupt nation? Isn't it something like 40-50% in income taxes, social security many may never see, sales taxes, etc?
    
    With our government spending like drunk pirates with a stolen credit card, we now have $16.3 Trillion in debt and ACCELERATING! First a little under Bush ($5-10T in 8 years), and then a lot under Obama ($10-16.3 in 4 years).
    
    Tea Party? Hell yeah! I'd say boycott every company that has lobbyists in Washington.
    
    The way their paid politicians are shredding the Constitution, there won't be an America by the end of Obama's term. Just in time to move in the New World Order that Bush Sr. gushed about on 9/11/1990 -- 11 years before their big day.

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18. 51

    JonesyoftheWoodsposted 11 years ago

    Lets see. The Tea Party is for:
    
    FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY means not overspending, and not burdening our children and grandchildren with our bills.
    
    In the words of Thomas Jefferson: “the principle of spending money to be paid by posterity [is] swindling futurity on a large scale.” A more fiscally responsible government will take fewer taxes from our paychecks.
    
    CONSTITUTIONALLY LIMITED GOVERNMENT means power resides with the people and not with the government. Governing should be done at the most local level possible where it can be held accountable.
    
    America’s founders believed that government power should be limited, enumerated, and constrained by our Constitution. Tea Party Patriots agree. The American people make this country great, not our government.
    
    FREE MARKET ECONOMICS made America an economic superpower that for at least two centuries provided subsequent generations of Americans more opportunities and higher standards of living. An erosion of our free markets through government intervention is at the heart of America’s current economic decline, stagnating jobs, and spiraling debt and deficits. Failures in government programs and government-controlled financial markets helped spark the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Further government interventions and takeovers have made this Great Recession longer and deeper. A renewed focus on free markets will lead to a more vibrant economy creating jobs and higher standards of living for future generations.
    
    I can see where a liberal would have a problem with the Tea Party. This American happens to agree with what the Tea Party stands for although I'm not a member.
    
    I would be more inclined to equate the Dems/Liberals/Progressives with the Taliban - fanatical and misguided. Yep, I'd say that fits.

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