I am the leader of several voluntary organizations. There is one thing that is fearsome, it is apathy. The worst thing that can happen to an organization is for nobody to care. When no one “gives a damn” then the organization is doomed. It’s terminal date has been written by the lack of involvement of its (nominal) members.
America is in trouble. But often organizations do their very best when they are challenged. The pressures of a crisis can cause an apathetic membership to shake off the stupor and rally to the cause.
The Tea party is a grass roots effort at rally. The people involved are not “kooks” or as the Brits accuse, “right wing nutters”. Rather, they are good citizens, working and retired Americans who care about their nation, see it floundering, and want to do their best to help. And the venue they choose is Political organization.
Why? Because they realize that public rally and political pressure are their only means of making a difference. And all of that is very good for America. I really don’t know the actual quote but it goes something like this, All that is needed for a free people to become enslaved is for them to do nothing.