Here we go again...

The following letter was published in today's "Your View" column of the Arizona Daily Sun:

To the editor: I couldn't have described the Tea Party movement any better than Joe Richards did when he railed against progressives who have taken over the federal government (progressives meaning people moving forward, somebody who believes in the progress of human society -- actually quite a compliment, though unintended, for the Obama administration).

If the Republican Tea Party is anti-progression, then it must be pro-regression (meaning moving backwards, regressing), which would describe them to a T. Nothing portrays the regressive mentality of Republicans better than their constant opposition to any proposals put forth by a president who is trying to move this country forward and improve the living standards of all Americans.
Instead of progressing into the 21st century, they focus their entire energy on turning back the clock on women's rights, medical research, science in schools, gun control and so forth. Could that be the reason why all these hate groups and religious extremists tend to gravitate towards the Republican Party?
Thank God for a progressive administration that will move us forward, not an easy task with the Republicans' gear stuck in reverse.

I could not let the opportunity pass to respond. Here is my reply:

It’s obvious that the author has never been to a Tea Party function or she might understand that we are fighting to retain the values this country was founded on: hard work, faith, honesty, accountability, personal responsibility, charity, freedom. We will not stand by and watch ‘Progressives’ take us down the slippery slope to Socialized government. There are other countries in the world that have tried Socialism and found it wanting. We do not wish to be the next casualty to an ideology that advocates redistribution of wealth, government take-over of private industry, laws banning private ownership of property, exorbitant taxation coupled with runaway spending resulting in deficits that will never be paid off. Our values are the ones that have stood this nation in good stead for over 200 years, and we will continue to fight for them! If that makes us ‘Regressive’ in the eyes of the 'Progressives', so be it.
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I'm grateful to this woman and other like her... their words allow others to see exactly what they feel and think, and they give us the opportunity to clarify what we stand for... go "Progressives"!