Great leaders are skilled in strategy and compromise that achieves underlying goals, according to “Lincoln” screenwriter Tony Kushner. Which explains why there will never be any great tea party politicians, whose only strategy is to storm off in a huff if they don’t get their way.
But the secession petition Florida rightwingers recently sent to the White House points up another problem for the tea party: many of these folks are not bright.
Was there really no one on the petition writing squad who made an A in English?
We the people of the great state of Florida, (sic) do see that in today’s world the Federal Government has not led our citizens justly and with honor. We therefore as free men and women of our great state do believe that it is time to take matter (sic) upon ourselves to ensure our continued freedom, and to enact our own laws and here buy (sic) govern ourselves without the federal government’s involvement in our internal matters from this day forward.
Even those with enough on the ball to think that secession is a childish response to losing an election are…kind of stupid.
Kathy Jones, chairperson of the Lee County Patriots, calls the idea of secession a “terrible” one, even though she shares the petition-writers’ pessimism.
“We have to stay united and make our voices heard,” she said, pointing out the need to scrutinize the laws and executive orders coming out of Washington.
Besides, she asked, how could Florida afford to withdraw from the nation?
“How can you structure it?” she said. “We don’t even have a sales tax in Florida. How are they going to pay for everything if we secede? It just doesn’t make any sense to me.”
In fact, Florida has a statewide 6% sales tax, although some counties add to that for specific voter-approved projects. What Ms. Tea probably meant was that Florida has no state income tax. For the chairperson of a political activist group to not know such a basic fact showcases the problem, and explains why things “just don’t make any sense” to her.
I’m not deriding these people because it’s so easy to point out their cluelessness. I’m pointing out their cluelessness because the people behind the scenes, the Dick Armeys and Koch Brothers and all the other fat cats pulling the tea baggers’ strings, are well aware of it and use it to their advantage.
And for that, I almost feel sorry for the idiot foot soldiers in the billionaires’ wars.
Have they said when and how they will re-locate our military bases to another state, or how they willmake up for the medicaid
etc they receive from the federal gov. Will they re-imburse for the federal funds spent on on infrastructure in that state and I am assuming they will no longer need FEMA in their state.
They will of course not need any federal assistance for security of the airports. Will they be issueing passports, and will we let them come back to visit if the have the proper documentation, after all they will be illegals.
Good points, J. And as I like to point out — in second Civil War, the Union will have nukes.