Extremist?

The word extremist has been thrown around frequently in the last week. One way to use the word extremist is as an adjective. This refers to opinions or actions that are “far beyond the norm.”1 According to Rasmussen Reports, 51% of Americans view the Tea Parties favorably.2 Even with negative media coverage, half of the Americans surveyed viewed the Tea Parties favorably. If people knew the Tea Parties were about securing the future of our nation, fighting growing debt that will be left for children, and keeping the government from controlling our lives, more people would have viewed these Tea Parties favorably. Only 13% of the political class viewed the Tea Parties even somewhat favorably.2  Who is “far beyond the norm?” At the Tea Party here in Clarksburg, WV, I met a woman who remembers her mother looking at ration books during the Great Depression, by the light of an oil lamp. I met grandparents worried about the dept our country is leaving for their grandchildren. These are regular people, who have lived through hard times. They believe in this country and want their children and grandchildren to inherit a strong nation.  Who are the extremist, the responsible people who are simply asking their government officials to be responsible, too? Could it be the young family, who struggles to get ahead, but every time they do get ahead, they find themselves in a higher tax bracket and just continue the struggle for just enough? Whose opinions are “far beyond the norm?” It is time the politicians listen to the people. It is the people who make this nation great. We have a message for the “extremist” in the political class, “Stop spending and start listening!”

 

 

1.    "extremist." WordNet® 3.0. Princeton University. 21 Apr. 2009. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/extremist>.

2.    “51% View Tea Parties Favorably, Political Class Strongly Disagrees.” Rasmussen Reports. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics2/51_view_tea_parties_favorably_political_class_strongly_disagrees