I think perhaps a retrospective is in order. My "elevator story" is that I went from the "Old Soldier in the cabin" to the Coffee Party's National Spokesperson giving interviews in Television, Radio, and print to the cynical critic that I am today. My history with the Coffee Party is covered several places on this blog if you care to look so I won't "re-plow that ground".
I didn't know Annabel Park when she first approached me to join and help organize the Coffee Party. For those who are familiar with her role in Prince William County, Virginia's immigration issue I wasn't "on her team". I didn't seek her out, she rather persistently recruited me to join and help lead the Coffee Party. I was attracted to the Idea, but dubious about the name. In retrospect, I share my opinion on a few issues below.
1. Don't disagree with Annabel. This is a top down, one woman show. Early suggestions to perhaps change the group's name, establish a board of directors, or perhaps find a CEO with experience leading a non-profit were met with the most derisive responses implying that perhaps I (a Charter Founding Member, initial organizer, and National Spokesperson) lacked the "standing" to make such suggestions. I was struck by the recurring line in Coffee Party blogs and forums, "Annabel says...". I now realize that Annabel needed an "old white Libertarian" to give the appearance of diversity. (Corey, I'm sorry I ever doubted you).
2. Don't disagree with Annabel's friends. It was my decision to go to a Tea Party to hear what they had to say. The "Progressive claws" came out and the Coffee Party's true nature came out of the woodwork. The abuse to which I was subjected for simply wanting to hear alternate points of view were beyond the pale. Most notably, Annabel watched like an observer at cock fight. I will give Eric Baylor credit for coming to the defense of the idea of exploring new ideas and me personally; however, he's but a footnote in Annabel's show.
3. The Coffee Party has distilled into a hard core extreme left Progressive organization espousing extreme, marginal positions on issues that would make and socialist proud. While I could give several examples, my favorite is the DC event the Coffee Party hosted to explore Citizens United, or Corporate Personhood. This was a typical propiganda-fest of the extreme left's position of the Supreme Court Decision. There was absolutely no representation for an alternate point of view, or the First Amendment Free Speech issue was at the heart of the Supreme Court's decision.
4. The Coffee Party has made American Corporations a target of special scorn with no regard for the fact that "we" own these Companies or they are part of just about every public retirement system or mutual fund. I am particularly amused at their current criticism of companies like GE avoiding taxes when the choice is to either retain this money to share as dividends or increase shareholder value or to give it to the Government to waste on pork barrel projects or wars. I "hand salute" any citizen or American Company who legally avoids giving "our money" to the Government to waste as it sees fit.
I could go on. Let me just say that I have personally transformed from a Coffee Party supporter looking for that place where people of good will could explore issues of mutual interest in a "safe environment" to a critic of a movement that I consider a threat to national security. As the man who created the idea of a "Civility Pledge" (suggested the idea at my cabin video session and given full credit by Eric Bylor), I am "not amused" by references to "class warfare", "class bating", emphasis on "class distinction", etc. on the Coffee Party USA website.
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