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In 2009, an American revolution was born. Out of the shambles of a crumbling economy, a soaring national deficit and an overreaching federal government came about a political grassroots movement unlike any other of its kind in recent American history.

The T.E.A. Party movement, also known as the Taxed Enough Already movement, first gained national attention in April of 2009 when thousands of Americans from diverse political, social and ethnic backgrounds united together for one single purpose; to exercise their constitutional citizenship rights and make their voices heard for the sake of America’s financial future.

 

Over that past year, the tea party movement has been growing both in size and political influence, and is continuing to extend its prominence in 2010. Julia Hayden, media relations representative from the San Antonio Tea Party (SA Tea Party) explained their goals for 2010 election season. “Our main mission as we have always looked at it is to put people into office that are fiscally responsible, strict constitutionalist, and responsive to the people who have voted for them… who will seek what is best for their constituents and best the country rather than what is strictly best for them getting re-elected,” said Hayden.

She also emphasized that the purpose of the SA tea party is to educate people of their inalienable rights as American citizens. “What we are trying to be a kind of league of women voters providing education on the issues and on the candidates and to let the people know what their duties actually are as responsible citizens, something that seems to be left out of civics classes in the last fifteen to twenty years,” said Hayden.

In light of the SA Tea Party’s main mission, Hayden also stated some of the reforms that the SA tea party like to see take place this coming year. “I would like our politicians in our state to actually read the laws that they are passing, not just serve as a rubber stamp. I would like them to live within their budget. Like I have to live within a budget,” said Hayden. In addition, Hayden emphasized that government positions aren’t just reserved for “an elite class”. Instead, everyday people should seize the opportunities to serve in higher office. “I would like to see people take the time to be legislators serving one or two terms then returning back to their normal jobs afterwards instead of them [the legislators] running term after term after term then finally passing off their seat to their political offspring,” said Hayden. “We do not and should not have an aristocratic class. We should not have dynasties of families. I want to get us beyond that and go on and become citizen legislatures again,” said Hayden.

Hayden continued, “We support that people citizens have duties as citizens. We really have slacked off just a bit in the past twenty or thirty years. It’s time to get involved again and remember what our duties and responsibilities of citizenship are… to take it as seriously as they did 150 yrs ago when everyone turned out when everyone was involved and Election Day was like a holiday,” said Hayden.

Concerning the possibility of a “Populist” (People’s) party Hayden believes that any kind of additional party would be detrimental to the Tea party’s grass roots movement. “The Third party is a kiss of death. It usually doesn’t have any legs. We’re better off taking over from the inside,” said Hayden. Hayden also stated other potential consequences, if indeed a third party is formed in 2010. In addition, Hayden believes that a third party could have some devastating consequences for the Republican Party. “It might drain away support for one party. I think that why people are kind of wary of a third party because in the past it did not work out to well. It split an existing base and handed a victory to someone else. I really don’t see a third party being really viable.” Despite the challenges that the 2010 election cycle may bring, Hayden is confident that the SA tea party has the tools and support necessary to bring meaningful change to our federal government. “We’re gonna give it our best. I think we do [have the tools and support necessary], but I don’t know for sure. It’s always a gamble this sort of thing Politics is always a gamble, history is always a gamble. But there are people that are passionately concerned,” said Hayden.
Some of these passionately concerned people are in fact young people that are eager to become more involved in the political process. Jeanne Hayden, college student and daughter of Julia Hayden is just one out of many young people affiliated with the tea party movement. “In my own opinion the tea party makes it easier for us to be interested in politics. Our culture is so focused on youth and politics is becoming a final frontier for young people,” said Jeanne. She also added that the older generation depends on young people for new ideas, especially when affiliated with the realm of technology. “We kind of bring a certain way of thinking about things that others [the older generation] would not have thought off,” said Jeanne.
Though Hayden has great anticipation for what this year has in store, she admits that the impact the SA tea party movement will have on 2010 elections is too far away to be determined.” Honestly, at this point I don’t know, there will be some kind of impact. I do not have a one hundred percent infallible crystal ball. I do think there will be an impact, how great it will be I just can’t say,” said Hayden. “Yes there will be an impact, it may be just a perk in the political cosmos or it may hit like a tsunami. Frankly, I’m hoping that it hits like a tsunami. I’m getting a feeling that there will be an anti incumbent backlash forming. How will it play out, we’ll check back in six months and in eleven months… it will be interesting anyway.”