Tea Party Demographics

On to the image. I have no idea why so many liberals have it in their heads the teabaggers are simply “rednecks” or “white trash” (to use two more problematic labels.) This old, just above middle class, white male conservative demographic is one I’m familiar with. It’s the base of the Republican party. The “core” if you will. I think when people witness the absurdity, the bigotry, the racism, homophobia etc. the thought is to assume it must be from uneducated people. The idea that educated people can’t be racist is one of the great lies we have in this country. It is very comfortable to point a finger at a poor uneducated racist– less easy to realize that you may have gone to college with some of these folks (I know I did)
I have a theory about these folks. Most of them have worked pretty hard, and they are doing “ok” becuase of it, they are also doing “ok” because of white privilege, male privilege- but I would not wait around for them to recognize *that* –the point is, they did pay their dues, to some extent, and they believe in the American dream (you see those flags) but what they can’t understand is why they aren’t millionaires yet– A upper-middle class liberal like myself can recognize the vast divide– the classism that makes it very difficult for me to go from “well off” to millionaire. I don’t take “the American dream” at face value. I work hard, but I’m under no illusions that through hard work alone the sky is the limit– I recognize my luck, my privilege, and I don’t really think I’m fundamntally dfferent or better than most poor people.
These people *know* they are better than the poor. They think their work should have limitless rewards. They have started to hit the ceiling– since even for a straight white male from a middle class background there are *still* ceilings– you are not the child of warren buffet. He won’t ever ask you over for diner. But, I think they assume that what’s holding them back are the successes of “undeserving” minorities like myself. These are the folks who *assume* I’m getting help from Affirmative Action– when, in fact, I had to work harder than they did to get to the same goddamed place.
OK. that’s enough of a rant.

No Future, that’s not enough. That is so insightful and true and eloquent, I need more. I’m looking for your blog right now!

Deb, I don’t understand why you say this to Dennis?

Wonderful discussion and insights! I went to a Tea Party in my district and my Congressperson had quite a line up of experts on healthcare to answer any questions the audience asked. But who came? Folks from Orange County with girls in slinky dresses and Obama Nazi signs. They even dressed their little girls in the same outfits! UGH! Then I met someone who eventually spoke for the group… He came from Ventura County (my Congressperson is from LA County) and had a lot to say about healthcare. Then I learned that many in the crowd were employees of Blue Cross from an article in the paper. Then again… the headquarters of Blue Cross is in Ventura County, Thousand Oaks.
Now, I am not saying that all of the crowds that populate Tea Parties are employees of healthcare insurance companies… but that day they were. With a few crazy Republicans thrown in for good measure. My point is that to be a progressive you have to embrace an ideology. To be a Cracker you also have an ideology. But the Tea Baggers seem to be a one or two item group which does not co-mingle well with their other ideals. It is as if they are just following orders and not thinking. So WHO are they doing this for?