While Tea Partiers rallied at the Denver capitol April 15 (see the video), a few critics wandered the crowd. I interviewed Ali Mickelson from the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute and Ray Harlan of the Coffee Party.
Viewers may notice that Mickelson dodged my question about the problem of deficit spending. She also inappropriately conflated tax cuts with tax subsidies; the two things obviously are fundamentally different.
Harlan insisted that the movement he supports is about process, not particular issues. However, a process apart from an end goal or standard is meaningless. He tipped his hand when he proclaimed that he wants government to implement the “will of the people;” i.e., the majority running over the rights of the minority at whim. Obviously I think his approach is fundamentally wrong. The purpose of government is to protect the rights of every individual, not bestow upon whomever proclaims to be “the people” the power to dictate to others how to live their lives.