# What has the Tea Party done for the "Little guy"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 4, 2016, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-tea-party-done-for-the-little-guy/747948 "2016-03-04T19:09:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2016, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-tea-party-done-for-the-little-guy/747948/61 "2016-03-06T23:15:05Z")
They have saved taxpayers $1.2 trillion, that’s not nothing. That’s the difference between Obama’s budget requests and what they actually gave him over the last six years. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2016, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-tea-party-done-for-the-little-guy/747948/62 "2016-03-06T23:30:55Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > They have saved taxpayers $1.2 trillion, that’s not nothing. That’s the difference between Obama’s budget requests and what they actually gave him over the last six years. Meanwhile, the infrastructure is still crumbling. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2016, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-tea-party-done-for-the-little-guy/747948/63 "2016-03-06T23:32:01Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > They have saved taxpayers $1.2 trillion, that’s not nothing. That’s the difference between Obama’s budget requests and what they actually gave him over the last six years. Nonsense. There’s always a battle between Congress and the Admin, and often the budget is cut. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2016, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-tea-party-done-for-the-little-guy/747948/64 "2016-03-06T23:34:41Z")
Spending control under Republicans since 2011 has actually been better than normal. The budget has only increased from $3.45 trillion to $3.6 trillion over six years. Fear Itself, your criticism is legit and infrastructure will have to be dealt with. The problem is that we don’t think the administration can be trusted to not use it as a political slush fund. The next President might be more trusted. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2016, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-tea-party-done-for-the-little-guy/747948/65 "2016-03-06T23:37:57Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Spending control under Republicans since 2011 has actually been better than normal. The budget has only increased from $3.45 trillion to $3.6 trillion over six years. The GOP has been in favor of more spending, not less. What was the cost of the Iraq war? GWB got us into the budget problem, not Obama. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2016, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-tea-party-done-for-the-little-guy/747948/66 "2016-03-06T23:39:03Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Fear Itself, your criticism is legit and infrastructure will have to be dealt with. The problem is that we don’t think the administration can be trusted to not use it as a political slush fund. The next President might be more trusted. Hillary will be pleased to hear that. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2016, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-tea-party-done-for-the-little-guy/747948/67 "2016-03-06T23:40:10Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Spending control under Republicans since 2011 has actually been better than normal. The budget has only increased from $3.45 trillion to $3.6 trillion over six years. > > Fear Itself, your criticism is legit and infrastructure will have to be dealt with. The problem is that we don’t think the administration can be trusted to not use it as a political slush fund. **The next President might be more trusted.** _snicker_ ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2016, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-tea-party-done-for-the-little-guy/747948/68 "2016-03-06T23:43:47Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > They have saved taxpayers $1.2 trillion, that’s not nothing. That’s the difference between Obama’s budget requests and what they actually gave him over the last six years. Also, can you show the the TeaParty wing of the GOP is responsible for this, as opposed to the GOP as a whole? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2016, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-tea-party-done-for-the-little-guy/747948/69 "2016-03-06T23:45:33Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Hillary will be pleased to hear that. My opinion has always been that we can do business with the Clintons. Plus while they have their ethical issues, the Chicago style political machine tactics are not part of their repertoire. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2016, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-tea-party-done-for-the-little-guy/747948/70 "2016-03-06T23:46:44Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Also, can you show the the TeaParty wing of the GOP is responsible for this, as opposed to the GOP as a whole? Oh, the Tea Party is definitely responsible. The latest budget deal that busts the spending caps is opposed by the Tea Party and will represent the first major increase in spending since the GOP won the House. Ryan really wanted a deal to show he could get things done and gave away too much. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2016, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-tea-party-done-for-the-little-guy/747948/71 "2016-03-06T23:53:38Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > They claim all sorts of stuff, but what have they actually done to help the taxpayers? > > I can’t see anything they have done so far, but be obstructionist. Now, sure if they obstruct bad things, that’s something, sure. But have they done anything positive? Fair question. As a movement they failed, so nothing. By the same token, I’m not sure the Occupy movement could make any stronger claim other than make a number of over-educated white folks feel good about themselves and feel like they’re sticking it to “the man”. Of course they don’t say “the man” anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2016, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-tea-party-done-for-the-little-guy/747948/72 "2016-03-07T00:11:56Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > [Taps mike again] > > Maybe it is off. 🙂 > > Generally speaking not much on their delivery but then I do think that one should be fair and should acknowledge at least a few things that they do right. Because on some issues we all really do need to make a concerted effort. Hmmmm. Have you considered the possibility that you might be a dead spirit posting, and nobody can hear you but me, like the sixth sense? Go into the light. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2016, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-tea-party-done-for-the-little-guy/747948/73 "2016-03-07T02:07:22Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > They have saved taxpayers $1.2 trillion, that’s not nothing. That’s the difference between Obama’s budget requests and what they actually gave him over the last six years. I still don’t get why the assumption is that the Tea Party accomplished that. What sign is there that, without the Tea Party, the GOP would have let Obama’s budget through? Seems to me that, if you’re going to come up with a number, it needs to be based on what both the Republicans and the Democrats were willing to agree with if it weren’t for the Tea Party. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2016, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-tea-party-done-for-the-little-guy/747948/74 "2016-03-07T02:30:37Z")
We do have an example. This year’s budget numbers, which were worked out primarily by Ryan and the Democrats, rather than between factions of the GOP majority. I don’t blame Ryan, as the Tea Party has still not learned the art of getting things done. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2016, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-tea-party-done-for-the-little-guy/747948/75 "2016-03-07T04:46:19Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > When you say “elderly,” should I be thinking “primarily within fifteen years of retirement,” or “primarily retired?” Dusk of working years to full retired. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2016, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-tea-party-done-for-the-little-guy/747948/76 "2016-03-07T11:36:01Z")
Typical SDMBer: “the Tea Party has obstructed Obama’s program. He hasn’t been able to implement his agenda since 2011, when the racists took over the House.” He continues:" The Obama recovery has been incredible and beats Saint Ronnie’s by a mile." In all seriousness, one thing the Tea Party did that was good was the budget sequester(before they pretty much reversed it). Keynesians were claiming the end to civilization as we know it if the minuscule cuts were implemented. What happened was increased job growth, and the same Keynesians lauded the “Obama recovery”. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2016, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-tea-party-done-for-the-little-guy/747948/77 "2016-03-07T13:02:54Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > In all seriousness, one thing the Tea Party did that was good was the budget sequester(before they pretty much reversed it). Keynesians were claiming the end to civilization as we know it if the minuscule cuts were implemented. What happened was increased job growth, and the same Keynesians lauded the “Obama recovery”. Did the recovery accelerate after they reversed the sequester? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2016, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-tea-party-done-for-the-little-guy/747948/78 "2016-03-07T15:11:32Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > We do have an example. This year’s budget numbers, which were worked out primarily by Ryan and the Democrats, rather than between factions of the GOP majority. > > I don’t blame Ryan, as the Tea Party has still not learned the art of getting things done. Quite possibly because they don’t care about getting things done. They don’t care about getting anything done, primarily because they lack the sentience to do so. Their command of language doesn’t go much beyond “Ugh- Democrat bad! Republican good!” They exist to carry the water for the Koch Brothers. As we can see in Kansas, a Teahadist government is by definition a complete failure. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2016, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-tea-party-done-for-the-little-guy/747948/79 "2016-03-07T15:28:41Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > When looking at the clean energy issue there is the surprising fact that many Tea Partiers are in favor of solar power, it is one of the few items were environmentalists that usually come from the left and tea partiers from the right agree. They have helped fight for the right of home owners and some renters against old fossil fuel generated power regional monopolies in several states. > > Those Tea party groups do think that the old energy regional monopolies are establishment powers that do dislike seeing people becoming energy independent. > > [Oklahoma SB 1456: Why the Tea Party is fighting for solar power.](http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2014/04/oklahoma_sb_1456_why_the_tea_party_is_fighting_for_solar_power.html) Thanks for that. Nice to know that some actual conservatives still walk the Earth. > [@Scylla](#): > > It’s a real shame that the left is nowhere near as effective at scrutinizing right wing leaders. Don’t you think somebody really needs to go after Trump’s history? Shhh! The Left is waiting until the Republicans are saddled with Trump before they put a bit into Trumps mouth and _ride_ that ass. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2016, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-tea-party-done-for-the-little-guy/747948/80 "2016-03-07T15:55:13Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Quite possibly because they don’t care about getting things done. They don’t care about getting anything done, primarily because they lack the sentience to do so. Their command of language doesn’t go much beyond “Ugh- Democrat bad! Republican good!” They exist to carry the water for the Koch Brothers. As we can see in Kansas, a Teahadist government is by definition a complete failure. I think it’s more that they are absolutist about their principles and they’d rather see spending go up 10% and have had nothing to do with it, rather than see it go up 3% with their fingerprints on it. They care more about their moral purity than getting things done. Plus I don’t think they know how to make deals. They do actually have some principles that are different from the corporatist GOP and where they’ve sided with some of the harder progressives. The Tea Party and Bernie Sanders banded together to kill the Export Import Bank. The Tea Party and most hard left progressives oppose bailouts. The Tea Party and a lot of progressives teamed up to kill the 2nd F-35 engine, which was unnecssary and a clear example of defense pork. But even there, those things only happened because the far left and far right just agreed. More useful would be if the Tea Party learned how to actually talk to the power brokers in Congress, or better yet, to President Obama. Even if you’re going to be a total dick, there are ways to use your leverage to get what you want and the Tea Partiers are very clumsy about it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-tea-party-done-for-the-little-guy/747948.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-the-tea-party-done-for-the-little-guy/747948.md?page=5)