Dear Mr. Teapartier

(I say Mr. because a New York Times survey suggests that most Tea Party supporters are male. This letter could just as easily be addressed to a Mrs.)
    Mr. Teapartier, I’m a little upset, and I’m sure you are too. Our country’s in a bit of a pickle if you ask me, though I’m guessing we think so for different reasons. You think the government is overstepping its boundaries. I think you lack the perspective to make such a claim. The government needs to take a more active role in assessing the problems of the poor and marginalized in our society. The poverty gap widens every year and those at bottom are stuck. You need to realize that you can’t be a grassroots movement because are actually in the wealthy, educated upper class. You need to stop focusing on your wants and pay attention to the needs of the lowliest.
    I hope I don’t come off too strong, but take a good look at yourself; according to CBS as well as the New York Times you’re wealthier and better educated than most of the country. It is well cited by Raymond Johansen as well as NPR that your movement is funded by corporate billionaires to serve their personal political agenda. On your website you claim to be “the voice of the true owners of the United States, we the people.” but by definition a grassroots movement starts from the bottom of the community: the poor, marginalized, working class Americans struggling in a system built against their favor. You represent the well off. Mr. Tea party, you are the high stem or even flowers of the American prairie grass, not the root.
    NPR’s Michel Mitchel does a good job of addressing your paradox. You are upset with the American political system, and you have every right to be. But instead of solving problems, you imply that the marginalized should be grateful they’re lives aren’t worse. I don’t think you have the perspective to suggest you know what’s best when it comes to social change. In the American system, you are extremely well off. As according to Mitchel, change should start from a vision for how the world ought to be, not simply gratitude for our current system. Especially when our current system is flawed.
    I don’t mean to assume, but statistically you just don’t have the same background as American poor. Without this you can’t realize those people stuck within the bottom socioeconomic rung of the ladder have little chance of moving up.  Public schools in troubled areas barely graduate their students, let alone prepare them for continued education. Drop outs struggle at a barely livable minimum wage job hardly earning enough to live, let alone move up in social class. One way this system could be fixed is taxes, which could go towards making a more effective education system, or increase welfare for those with minimum wage jobs so they may have a chance of escaping their chains of poverty.
    We can’t cut taxes when so much more money is necessary to support our fellow Americans. There are people who make nine digit salaries while there are those who barely make five, and those are lucky to have a job. I challenge you to look beyond your current perspective and regard your moral obligation to those people. You did work for the money you earned, but should feel a pride in knowing you are helping those who are struggling by paying taxes. Step outside your current opinions and look at the other side. Be aware of the implications of your actions for everyone, beyond your own personal wants to those all around.
Hope you take this well. I mean the best, really.
                                   
Most Sincerely, Michael Enich