Are There People Who Dislike Both the Tea Party and Occupy Movements?

As a progressive Democrat with leanings towards European Social Democracy, I have personal opinions on both the Tea Party and Occupy movements. While I understand the complexities and motivations behind each movement, there are significant reasons why one might dislike both.

Personal Stance on the Tea Party and Occupy Movements

Personally, I find the Tea Party movement’s ideas odious, its leadership vile, and most of the rank-and-file adherents not much better. On the other hand, I thought the Occupy movement was disorganized, unfocused, and counterproductive. While it didn't ultimately harm its goals or the progressive movement in any major or lasting way, it certainly did not help either.

Understanding the Motivations Behind the Movements

It is important to understand the motivations behind the two movements. The Taxed Enough Already (Tea Party) movement advocates for smaller government with less intrusion in their lives. In contrast, Occupy Wall Street has been less clear on its goals but generally seeks more handouts and government programs, which is counterproductive to the Tea Party's ideals.

While these two movements share some common ground in their opposition to specific government programs and financial support, it is rare for someone to support both at the same time. The Tea Party is generally in favor of less government intervention, whereas Occupy is fundamentally more aligned with more government programs, even though Occupy itself has a socialist undercurrent.

Shared Antithesis to the Establishment

Both the Tea Party and Occupy movements stand against the establishment or what some might call the ‘belletrists’ – the established political elite, media, Wall Street, and lobbyists. This includes figures like Hillary Clinton, who belongs to five of these groups, and Donald Trump, who belongs to six.

While the establishmentarians are targets of both movements, they were anti-establishment in nature. Both movements had significant overlap in their opposition to certain government policies, such as TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program) and bank bailouts. They also shared a common stance on simplifying tax policies.

It is noteworthy that both movements were fundamentally anti-corruption and libertarian in their views, despite their outwardly opposing stances on government size and scope. The media often portrayed them as polar opposites for dramatic effect, but their underlying goals and views on corruption and government freedom were quite similar.

Understanding the motivations and common ground between these movements can provide a clearer picture of the political landscape and help us navigate the complex web of political ideologies.

Keywords: Tea Party, Occupy Movement, Political Views