Movements like the tea party depend on hard times

The newly formed tea party has been getting much publicity both nationally and in Minnesota. What motivates people to join this new party?

Ostensibly, the members of the tea party are opposed to government spending and control of our lives. Minnesota's own Rep. Michelle Bachman, R, described this sentiment in a recent New York City rally declaring, "We're on to them; we're on to this gangster government."

The causes of this new party are both predictable and surprising. History suggests that times of national economic stress promote the creation of conservative fringe parties. Times are tough, and it is easy to blame the government.

One issue the tea party points to is the purported bailout of financial companies in 2008 and 2009. It is easy to be against the bailouts in hindsight -- why did we spend all that money, when the economy would have improved anyhow? However, we will never know what might have happened to the world economy if nations across the globe had not stepped in with money to bolster the banks and stabilize the financial markets.

Both conservative and liberal economists saw the stabilization of the banks as critical to resolving the economic crisis. If the stabilization of the banks had not occurred, and nation were in a deep depression today, would the tea party have a place on the national stage?

The economy is improving, thanks to those elected officials across the globe who had the courage to do the politically tough thing of stabilizing the financial markets. Note that the effort was originally led by President George W. Bush, a conservative, and other conservative and liberal leaders internationally.

Another tea party view has been simplified by one radio talk-show host as "sending money to Washington and not getting it back." More than most states, Minnesota sends more than it gets back. But taxes are not user fees. Peoples don't pay only for the services they use. General taxation is used to provide services that can benefit everyone.

One tea party member said she worries every time she thinks about her 6-year-old grandson and the burden she believes he will face from excessive government spending and high taxes. While we need to bring down the national deficit, we also need to ensure that there are sufficient dollars to educate our children.

A surprising aspect of the tea party is its membership and the attitudes among that membership. According to a recent survey, the typical member tends to be "Republican, white, married, and older than 45." Overall, members are more likely than other Americans to be better off.

Tea partiers want to cut spending on domestic programs and waste, but they want to keep spending on Social Security and Medicare. Not surprisingly, they are or will be benefiting from these programs. In other words, they favor cutting the spending that benefits someone other than themselves.

Doesn't the American community have a responsibility to help those with greater needs?

In Minnesota, the tea party has aligned itself with the "no new taxes" idea. We have one conservative Republican gubernatorial candidate pledging "no new taxes" if elected this November, and another saying that he also opposes all new taxes but thinks signing the pledge is unnecessary.

With the next governor of Minnesota facing a $5 billion to $7 billion deficit (between 15 and 21 percent of revenues), we need someone to step forward with the courage to increase taxes as needed AND lower expenditures where possible so that middle- and lower-class kids and families have a chance of success. We need an anti-tea party governor ... someone who believes in efficient and productive government that can create a better Minnesota.

The good news at the federal level is that the deficit is starting to recede as the economy grows. There also is some good news from the tea party survey. A plurality of the tea party faithful doesn't believe Sarah Palin is qualified to be president of the United States.

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Jay Kiedrowski is a senior fellow at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute. He served as finance commissioner for Gov. Rudy Perpich.

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