I haven't written anything about the tea party protests here at Unreligious Right. Given that they were a hot topic throughout the blogosphere, especially on the right, some might wonder why I didn't even bother to put up a single post about them until now. The reason is that I think they are basically useless, like most protests, even if I agree with some of the principles behind them. The following will make me sound like an elitist -- which is not surprising since I am an elitist--but rightly or wrongly, it is how I look at protests.
As long as I can remember, large scale protests have been mainly a phenomenon of the left. They've always been something to look down on, idiots carrying signs, chanting stupid slogans, and often engaging in disruptive behavior or even violence. And there are always morons who bring their young children as props, even though they obviously have no grasp on the issues involved. Protests of any type seem to attract radical extremists, people fanatically fixated on single issues, and other irrational elements. Whenever I see a protest I automatically think, what's wrong with these people? Don't they have anything better to do? Why would anyone actually want to stand in the street or wherever, scream about things, and listen to nutcase speakers? Do they think anyone is convinced by their silly symbolic gestures and obnoxious rhetoric?
When I see right-wingers launching mass protests of their own, I find it embarrassing to our side. I don't like seeing people on the right act like a pack of leftists. Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems we could find better ways to influence the political process.
