“Their political reactions,” Hofstadter concluded, “express … a profound if largely unconscious hatred of our society and its ways.”
That's Richard Hofstadter reacting to the rise of the John Birch Society in the '50's. The Birch Society and the Tea Party are both associated with America's radical right The comment applies nicely to our contemporary Birchers.
It comes from one of a series of reactions to the New York Times/CBS poll this morning which underlined, among other things, the discontent of the old, white, male and middle-class American who's losing what he regards as his birthright: a guaranteed place of preeminence as a white man in America. The trouble is, they have not only a distorted view of their own country but of the history which formed that country. That's simply unforgivable in a society which guarantees education. We need to think about what we mean by "education" or we'll be in even worse trouble -- or in mental institutions.
Political scientist Andrew Wolfe pretty much sums up the Tea Party with this:
... These people have lost all perspective. They know how to kvetch. They know nothing about what makes their country great. Instead of watching Glenn Beck, I would urge them to learn more about their country’s history — or to go and see a shrink.
For a dozen or more reactions to the poll -- from right and left -- go to "Room for Debate" at the Times.
