Today marks the fifth anniversary of the Santinelli Rant on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, which spawned the infamous Tea Party (Taxed Enough Already?). Even if you heard it then, it’s definitely worthwhile listening to once more:
The first Tea Party protests subsequently followed on February 27th to protest the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) stimulus bill signed by President Barack Obama on February 17th, 2009.
There is raging debate about whether or not the Tea Party still holds the influence it did during the 2010 Congressional elections as well as whether or not ARRA helped our economy recovery.
“Five years later, the U.S. economy is undoubtedly in a stronger position, thanks to the grit and determination of our nation’s workers and businesses. The economy has now grown for 11 straight quarters, and businesses have added 8.5 million jobs since early 2010. While far more work remains to ensure that the economy provides opportunity for every American, there can be no question that President Obama’s actions to date have laid the groundwork for stronger, more sustainable economic growth in the years ahead.”
At the same time, Obama has more than doubled the public debt. CNS News reported that “the marketable debt of the U.S. government has more than doubled–climbing by 106 percent–while President Barack Obama has been in office, increasing from $5,749,916,000,000 at the end of January 2009 to $11,825,322,000,000 at the end of January 2014”
Well, isn’t this cozy. The Occupy movement, which began in September, has occupied several universities this spring. USA Today highlights a course being taught at Roosevelt University in Chicago (surprise?) called “Occupy Everywhere”. Similar classes on the history and/or significance of the Occupy cause are being offered at Brown University, USC-San Diego, and New York University. While Columbia could not get approval for such a class in time, it did offer college credit for participation in OWS.
This seems like the perfect opportunity to infiltrate academia just in time for the 2012 election. Don’t forget, the college vote overwhelmingly supported Obama in 2008. There’s even an occupycolleges.org website.
I wonder how many classes are being offered regarding a movement that will celebrate its 3rd birthday in a few days? Sparked by the Rick Santelli “rant” on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange on February 19, the first Tea Party protests were organized on February 27, 2009. In contrast to the months-long Occupy movement — well noted for filth and crime — the Tea Party significantly impacted the 2010 Congressional elections merely a year later, and has continued to grow as an organized, grassroots group.
The desperation on the Left here is astounding, since most Americans have moved on from the Occupy Movement. At the ivory towers, however, I suppose the closest we could get to a Tea Party class is a course on the Constitution. If they offer one.
