Coffee Party Movement: A Tea Party Alternative

Washington Post:

Furious at the tempest over the Tea Party -- the scattershot citizen uprising against big government and wild spending -- Annabel Park did what any American does when she feels her voice has been drowned out: She squeezed her anger into a Facebook status update.

let's start a coffee party . . . smoothie party. red bull party. anything but tea. geez. ooh how about cappuccino party? that would really piss 'em off bec it sounds elitist . . . let's get together and drink cappuccino and have real political dialogue with substance and compassion.

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[Dan Dushane]

08:13 AM on 03/23/2010

This is for anyone who is interested in lowering the cost of government, is for the voters of each state to pass an amendment to their constitution that no elected official will get any type of insurance with their pay. This could save cities, counties , states , federal, and save the states millions of dollars each year. If each state did this, then maybe the federal government could be changed so that the senators and reps will get the message that they are no better than the working class people.

Dan of Sebring Florida

[wacurtin]

11:04 AM on 03/17/2010

http://wacurtin.blogspot.com/

Dear Mr. Geithner,

I have encountered significant problems with various banks, including PNC Bank and Bank of America in regard to deficiencies on first and second home mortgage positions. Both banks have an iron clad rule that they will hold the borrower to the full amount of the deficiency owed less of course the amount paid through the short sale. After the taxpayers’ generous bailouts of these companies, which have only survived because of the tax payers; it is abundantly harsh and unreasonable for these banks not to settle with the borrowers for the proceeds of the sale when the borrower has no other assets and no other means of recovery.

It is my opinion that this was not the intent of the Federal Reserve Banks, neither The Treasure Department nor the Obama administration to have millions of families lose everything and have the lenders follow them for the rest of their lives for the deficiencies after the tax payers bailed them out. With a lien or judgment against an individual they will be unable to recover from this economic calamity brought on by the same banks which now refuse to help. In most cases they have gone through all their savings, cashed in retirement accounts to try to hold on to their homes and property, still the banks want blood.

Very truly yours,

Warren Curtin

http://www.google.com/profiles/wacurtin

[coach-1640280]

08:32 AM on 03/15/2010

Letter to coffeepartyusa.com:

A new democracy.

Ancient Greek democracy selected government officials by sortition. An elaborate “Las Vegas” style system of lottery was used to choose government office holders randomly from the general population.

Sortition political assignment assures scientific and mathematically equal representation in government of all political fault-lines. That is, it scientifically and mathematically guarantees equal representation of gender, ethnic, economic, religious, and political viewpoints.

A current existing example of political movement towards sortition in government is the Newid party of Wales in Britain.

http://www.newidmeanschange.org

A sortitioned democracy is simple, scientific, and guarantees grass root governance. All more complex systems risk potential skew in government representation.

A simple sortition democracy has two governing branches, the sortitioned branch and the elected branch. Each government branch has equal power of decision. Policy requires the majority approval of both branches.

The size of the sortitioned and elected chambers are set by the most practical and mathematically proportioned sampling of current citizenry. Sortition and election districts are independently drawn by best statistical fit apportionment. An independent committee maintains accurate scientific and mathematically correct district lines. (not political, by state, or gerrymander)

The Coffee Party might consider a sortitioned chamber along with an elected chamber when establishing party organization. The Coffee Party can then claim the uniqueness of being the first party to guarantee 50% pure grass roots participation in its government.

coach-1640280
http://coach-1640280.newsvine.com/

[Cathleen Shaffer]

03:39 PM on 03/14/2010

I.m for any party that could ride in on a white horse, or white truck or whatever and turn our politicians into smart, wise, level headed and fair human beings. Wake me up when it happens. www.newsy1.wordpress.com

[Doohbearsblog]

06:37 PM on 03/19/2010

Hi Cathleen-

Sooo... "...turn our politicians into smart, wise, level headed and fair human beings" ...You say? I'd like that too... and "wake you up" when it happens? ...Sadly... most... are subsisting on a "The S.A.D...." [The Standard American Diet!]

...And what we really need is The "Salad Party Movement" where we can be Actually Nourished by Actual Nutrition... I'm saying this as someone who actually went to a "Coffee Party meeting" and have been quite disillusioned by the whole "Coffee Party" experience... http://okwoodyharrelsoniwillgofurtherthemovie.org/BearBlog/2010/03/15/disillusioned-by-coffee-party/

I implore of You, Cathleen, and all other reasonable people:
Please Love YourSelf and Eat Salad - Share a Salad - And Celebrate Salad!

Love, Dancing Bear, Missionary for Nutrition! ❀

☙✿♡❦❧

[IslandGyal]

01:16 PM on 03/14/2010

Did anyone attend a Coffee Party in their area yesterday? I attended on in DC. It was great. People were civil and intelligent, and even when we disagreed, no voices were raised. Also, I sat at a table with Whites, Asians, gays and the disabled was also there. It was a proud moment to be part of the American people.

[DudleyDoesRight]

02:37 PM on 03/14/2010

I think it's great that you met with several concerned citizens at a coffee house and discussed your concerns in a civil manner. I commend you. However, I would think twice before thinking the "Coffee Party" is an honest movement of diverse concerned citizens, who are working to bring justice, freedom and liberty to individuals.
http://frontpagemag.com/2010/03/13/cnn%E2%80%99s-taste-for-instant-coffee-and-the-left/

[IslandGyal]

03:55 PM on 03/14/2010

Please go try to sell your bull s-hyt to FAUX news Teabag Nation folks, since I ain't buying!

[DudleyDoesRight]

11:52 AM on 03/14/2010

Jeez. I wish these establishment movements, like the "co-opted" tea party and the coffee party would actually understand why these things ring such a cord. But than they wouldn't be formed the way they are, I guess. Anyhow, please consider joining the Beer Party and let freedom ring.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aN3yNCGQlE0

[NeoConsAreFinished]

03:39 AM on 03/14/2010

Why isnt the media giving the same attention to the coffee party that they gave the teatraitors?
Im not seeing reports of millions of people at coffee shops across the US.

[IslandGyal]

01:21 PM on 03/14/2010

Because no one is screaming and showing racist signs. There isn't enough confrontation for their cameras to report on.

[federalist1]

02:40 PM on 03/13/2010

Tea Baggers claim that Obama is destroying the country and the American way of life . This notion is dishonest. Who put this country on this path of decline? The Republican Party. The largest transfer of wealth occured under the Bush administration, while destroying municipalities and state budgets, shrinking the middle-class, and giving power to business interests. The Republican Party failed to man-up and apologize to the American people. They have purposefully endeavored to make public institutions enept. Without strong public institutions America will decline because of lack of regulation in Wall Street . America will become a dog-eat-dog world with the policies that the Republican party want to promote and implement. Yet, Tea Baggers fail to see that the same political leaders that support them are the same individuals who brought this mess to America and are undermining their own cause. Unbelievable, seriously! By the way, I am a Republican. I want to make tons of money, be free from govenment intervention in my life, and not be overtaxed. However, there is value in being an American by meeting your obligations to this country. There is a price to pay to participate in any nation; it is called taxes. I am so disappointed with the path that the Republican Partry has taken. The teabaggers, sad to say, are being taken to town. It is the Republican Party that bringing this country to decline and ruining the American way of life.

[ajwriter]

12:38 AM on 03/14/2010

Thank you! I am so glad to hear a Republican talking like this. If more did, I would be one, too, because I agree, I want to be free to make money, free of bureaucratic government burdens, free of burdensome taxes. But I also recognize that certain investments in society, such as public education, public works and infrastructure, public health, defense, etc., are most economically done -- for the country -- by our government. (By well functioning government -- isn't that what democracy is all about?) I'm very happy that some people can pay more and get the very best of all those things if they want, but we don't, for example, see really rich people building highways to share with everyone else (or even for themselves) because their usage of the roads for their businesses is so heavy. This country was founded because we wanted to be free of tyranny, not because we wanted anarchy. These people trying to destroy or co-opt our democratic government are subjecting us to the tyranny of concentrations of wealth and power -- the very thing the real tea parties in Boston were against.

[hoseb1]

02:06 PM on 03/14/2010

Federalist1 I have to agree with you but this could not have been accomplished without our own elected Democrat officials, you see it takes two to tango. I remember reading about a German industrialist I will not name that said give me control of the currency I care not who controls the government. Now you see what we are up against ? Also I read two weeks ago on MSN a poll conducted that the findings were astonishing. Fifty five percent of people polled could not add two items on a menu and add a ten percent gratuity. What is amazing, one item was $ 1.95 the second item was .55 cents and they could not do the math!!!!. I was Republican I switched to Democrat I'm now Independent. I wish I could just be plain GOOD OLD AMERICAN !!! For that to happen I feel we first have to pinpoint good D's and R's from bad D's and R's replace them if possible with good C's (Coffee) and T's (Tea) when possible if possible, reduce the terms of service from four to two years with four terms limit hold elections all at once for all elected positions apointees aproved through referendum. As for The Supreme Court I would create a Supreme Court of Elders (retired) which would replace the Chief Justice maintain the eight Associate Justices with term limits admitance to the Supreme Court of Elders after their terms expire. Do you think this would pass their smell test

[IndependentInColorado]

10:23 AM on 03/13/2010

As I watch in horror as the right edges ever closer to true fascism, I am heartened to see others who share my belief that our current two-party system has dissolved into mindless adherence to the R or D in front of a speaker's name instead of giving thought to the ideas being spoken.
I still believe the best solution would be to eliminate parties altogether and force everyone to think beyond the level of sound-bytes and bumper-stickers.

[James M Harmon]

01:00 AM on 03/01/2010

I appreciate the sentiment, but--correct me if I'm wrong--but, isn't this just the anti-Tea Party?

[yweston]

05:22 AM on 03/01/2010

Definietly Not. The Tea Party is not our focus. They are welcome to join our us. The aspirations of the Coffee Party Movement are to transform the political culture of our country, to restore participatory democracy, and engage all interested citizens to work together towards real solutions. It is not enough to cast our vote every few years. We have to work at making our government work for us

[Rowdytroute]

11:00 AM on 03/01/2010

Then you are not serious about a different political movement. This will be just like the Republican Congress!!!!!!!!!!. Nothing will happen to restore democracy or engage real Govt reform. The Easter Bunnie will be here soon too!!!!!!!!!!

[uglygnome]

05:02 PM on 03/02/2010

We have two diametrically opposed parties in this country because they represent two diametrically opposed political philosophies. I do not want to find common ground with conservative America but rather promote the humanistic ideals of a progressive America. Your efforts are admirable, but misguided. Just ask President Obama.

[Rowdytroute]

12:33 AM on 03/01/2010

Well, well it seems the tea drinkers today are every bit bit as disloyal to America as they were in the late 1700's
Lord knows we need some folks that are clear thinking and want to help our great country, the teabaggers never will.
I still remember a teabagger holding a sign saying KEEP YOUR GOVERNMENT HANDS OFF MY MEDICARE/MEDICAID. Scary & Unbelievable.
GO!!!!!!!!!!! Coffe Party!!!!!!!!!!!! It sure can't hurt the country anymore that the Republican's and teabaggers have.

[Guy Incognito]

11:13 PM on 02/28/2010

Canada has a Coffee Party - Tim Horton's...

[Jay Seven]

07:59 PM on 02/28/2010

This movement is interesting. They are using geek tools to get a message out there. That is not unique but it is awesome. They're using social networking (Facebook), they have forums on their web site, they even have a live IRC chat on Freenode. This is the present and future of political involvement. No matter what my position is on the issues it's fascinating to watch!

[awake108]

12:31 AM on 03/06/2010

Many of these young media savy young people are going to unemployed for a long time. For their own future they need to get involved in the po[itical process. They are smart and well educated. If any one can do the job they can and after all there future depend on it. Ii wish them good luck.

[JillianKaye]

07:18 PM on 02/28/2010

The Tea Party are lunatics bordering on terrorists. It would be a strategic mistake if progressives equated ourselves on any level with that.

[gs-425]

08:43 PM on 02/28/2010

meme, meme and meme.

[1will]

06:44 AM on 03/01/2010

Over react much?

[Rooster Coburn]

04:52 PM on 02/28/2010

Here's a coffee party movement we can all support . . . Open carry at Starbucks.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dennis-a-henigan/starbucks-sticks-to-its-g_b_478974.html?show_comment_id=41218029#comment_41218029

[gs-425]

06:06 PM on 02/28/2010

I have become a fan of the Mocha frappachino since.

[James Leo]

11:03 PM on 02/28/2010

How right you are!

[Melycooks]

12:40 AM on 03/15/2010

Right on!