- Nationalism: Well, this is a slippery one. Every nation must have some kind of pride - or else why live there or fight for that nation? However, there is a point where it becomes too much. Is the Tea Party at that point? I don't think so. Are certain elements which have joined to/with the Tea Party guilty of this? Perhaps. Was the Nazi party at that point? YES. It (as a party) was at that point - not just certain elements which had joined to it.
- Social Darwinism: What is meant by that? The term certainly carries some baggage and has some emotional weight to it. If the Tea Party's opposition to government-directed income redistribution and also opposition to various government programs to ostensibly aid the poor is meant here, it is a cheap and easy shot. The Tea Party is convinced that income redistribution and welfare programs of various types are not properly the role of the civil government - especially that of the federal government. This is the principle-based reason. It has nothing to do with social Darwinism, but everything to do with limited government powers (as defined by the constitution) and maintaining individual liberty. The Tea Party would say that private charity, family, and church more properly fit the role of welfare and aid-givers. This way, help is personal and close-to-home; personal liberty is also maintained. That is, a person can use their own money how they like, and they have the freedom to rise as high as they'd like. Another reason (the pragmatic reason) for the Tea Party's aversion to income redistribution and welfare-type programs is that they demonstrably don't work. The statistics have shown that the very problems the programs are supposed to alleviate actually become worse.
- Indoctrination: Another emotion-laden term. If we simply mean teaching, then yes, guilty. However, we'd all be guilty. If we mean the systematic teaching of a certain set of values, then certainly most of us would be "guilty" at a personal and family level, but at a national level the Nazi Party would FAR surpass the Tea Party. The Nazi Party pushed for National Socialism to be taught as CORRECT in the state-funded schools. The teachers could not waver - or else. This was a state (i.e. government) endeavor. The Nazi Party frowned on private schooling and especially home-schooling. (See ya later, educational freedom!) - but the Tea Party is different. The Tea Party advocates less government control of schools and education and it militates for more personal liberty regarding educational choices. The Tea Party tends to be the homeschooler's friend. This is definitely NOT the Nazi way.
- Propaganda: Perhaps. But wouldn't our two main political parties be guilty of the same thing? This one requires more explanation. Surely the Nazi Party and the Tea Party can't be singled out with this charge...
- Anti-Intellectualism: Explain. Does this mean that if I don't agree with you or the people you agree with I'm guilty of anti-intellectualism? Or maybe this charge has to do with the fact that those in the upper echelons of academia tend to be Leftist and tend NOT to be supporters of the Tea Party. Still, this would not provide enough evidence for the charge. There is a certain distaste voiced sometimes for those in the upper echelons of the academic world and institutions. There is a good reason for this distaste. In the early and mid parts of the 20th century , and especially in the 1960's, the communists, socialists, and those of a generally Leftist ideology were very wise and forward thinking: They knew that if they could get into the educational establishment and eventually control it, they could steer the next generation(s) and thus steer the culture - and the nation to embracing the goals they wanted realized. They understood this would be a multi-generational endeavor, and were patient. Well, we (and they) are there. The universities (in general) and even schools at the lower level (in general) are controlled by those embracing a Leftist, or socialist, or communist ideology. Teachers/professors with a differing view have a rough time, and they have to be careful of what they say. Naturally, because of the turn of events, Tea Party people might have a suspicion of "intellectuals" and/or the universities. Some might even be guilty of real, actual, anti-intellectualism and learning. However, that charge could not rightfully be made of the Tea Party itself.
- Militarism: This doesn't carry much weight because every nation should want a strong national defense. This is not the same as "militarism." If this charge can be made of the Tea Party and Nazi Party together, then it can also be made of the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. As a whole though, the Nazi Party had institutionalized militarism to an extent that the other parties I mentioned have not. The Tea Party ESPECIALLY should not be charged with this - seen as there is so much of a Libertarian element to the Tea Party.
- Anti-Communism: Both the Tea Party and the Nazi Party are guilty as charged. Does this make them two peas in a pod though? Communism is a sub-type of Socialism. The Nazis were against Communism but FOR Socialism (i.e. National Socialism.) The Tea Party is against both. And I might add that if the Tea Party is to be totally consistent it must be openly against Social Security, state-run Education, and Medicare as well - though some don't want to make the connection...
There are more alleged similarities which between the two movements which I have left out of this brief analysis. I will only add this: If you want to show respect to the opposition - and to those who are trying to determine which side to embrace - go beyond the skin-deep.
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