Occupy Wall Street vs. Tea Party

Much comparison has been made between the Occupy Wall Street protestors and the tea party movement. The commentary is that even as the tea partiers are a grassroots movement espousing a varied, but generally conservative agenda, so the OWS crew is the left wing equivalent. The laundry list of desired policies from the Occupiers runs the gamut, from calls to intensively regulate the capital markets, to a push for some sort of government jobs program that will put large numbers of the unemployed back to work.

But I see far more structural and philosophical distinctions than similarities between the tea party and OWS, even taking their policy differences into account.

The tea party protests were geographically far flung, and were most effective by working within the democratic system. At literally hundreds of town hall meetings, all across the country, citizens came forward to meet with their elected representatives and express displeasure over government’s increasing reach. The same groups that showed up to protest went on to push for candidates who believed in limited government, and helped get a number elected.

The Occupy Wall Street protests are (so far) an exclusively urban phenomena, and do not seem to be spreading beyond a handful of cities. New York, Washington, Boston, Seattle and Chicago are the one’s I have heard of. No Occupy San Diego, or Occupy Indianapolis has made the news yet.

Also, while both Occupiers and tea partiers are activated by a sense that the government is no longer working for their interests, on the tea party side the theme is generally for a smaller government, and particularly an opposition to tax increases. Of course, many tea partiers are drawing plenty of government benefits already. A more nuanced statement of their position would be that the government is just big enough. Any benefit cuts should come out of programs they don’t use. The real desire is to oppose tax increases.

In a hyper-partisan political environment, saying no to taxes seems to be a strategy that is winning.

The Occupiers want a bigger government, or at least a government that is just enough bigger to give them something. Taken collectively, there would be quite a smorgasbord of increased spending to make all of them happy. To pay for their increased benefits, they want somebody else to foot the bill.

When the Federal government is already running a 40% deficit, expansion doesn’t seem like a good idea, even if you do get to soak the rich to help.

So you’ve got one movement that is geographically diverse, is focused on a primary objective, and is meeting the lawmakers in their districts. You’ve got another movement that is geographically restricted, wants lawmakers to come to them, and has a laundry list of demands.

Advantage, tea party.