Originally Posted By: Sini
Why is Tea Party successful influencing GOP while Occupy movement failed to influence Democrats? They almost share platforms. I think this is because the original TP withered and what left is now an astroturfing mechanism used by a few tycoons. Viewed through this lens, current GOP turmoil is one group of oligarch trying to push out another group of establishment cronies so they can get into the trough. No good guys to be found anywhere.



Leaving the Dems aside for now, just to avoid tangents -

I think there is something to what you are saying. But also think that quite a few people are ideologically inclined. I think this includes some rich folks.

But still, I think a major difference is regardless of anything else the TP movement came with a large strain of citizen governing. In the GOP, major strategies of the genuine grassroots were to grab party positions even at the county and State level for example.

The apparatus was actually infiltrated. The anger towards the elite oligarchs abusing process to shut out the grassroots voice and try and force their agendas on everyone is real.

The manner in which it manifests at times can be ugly, when it crops up over wedge issues. But I consider it blowback, which is why I was laughing so hard earlier in the thread. The issues like abortion that were initially manufactured by the elite apparatus to keep everyone distracted have become monsters in their own right and threaten to consume them.

For who could be free when every other man's humour might domineer over him? - John Locke (2nd Treatise, sect 57)