The full length documentary "The Billionaire's Tea Party" was finally released to youtube in August of this year. For months, we had been treated to the trailers for this film. Now you can view the entire film for free.
As the film points out early, middle class Americans were seduced into thinking the Tea Party began with Rick Santelli's rant on CNBC on February 9, 2009, not even a month after President Barack Obama was sworn into office.
You will learn how the Tea Party really got its start back in the 80s when the Koch Brothers started their fight for a privatized America which would close down any government agency or social safety nets so that Oligarchs, such as themselves, could reap the rewards of doing business without any regulations or fines, or so they could make a business out of something once done more equitably and better by government- all for a higher price to Americans and for fatter profit margins for Vulture Capitalists on the inside track.
The Koch Brothers, David and Charles, are prominent figures in the Tea Party because it is their money which has funded a 3 decades war against the government inaugurating so-called grassroot campaigns around the country, giving to the lexicon a new word for that which it is not: astro-turf campaigns.
In the 80s, the Kochs preached government is a monster, crippling our Economy, devouring our personal liberties. Their screeds against government and for privatization read like much of the tinfoil hat conspiracy literature which their father, the founder of the John Birch Society, put forth in the 50s and 60s when there were Communists hiding behind every tree in America.
David Koch even went so far as to run as the 1980 Vice-Presidential Candidate for the Libertarian Party with a poster titled "A Monster Is Loose Upon the Land", which was a screed against Government and for Big Business without regulation.
The 1980 Policy Platform for the Libertarian Party as seen on this poster declares:
To Be Abolished:
Department of Energy (DOE)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA)
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Federal Reserve
Social Security
Welfare
Public Schools
Taxation
After reading that list, ask yourself which party, Republican or Democratic, has been captured by the Billionaires who are responsible for the Tea Party?
Without further adieu, here's your history lesson on how the Tea Party captured over 30% of Congressional seats in the 2010 elections. Prepare to learn why this was an astro-turf organization from Day 1 and who is really bankrolling "front" organizations which co-opted the early anger of Middle Class Americans about Too Big To Fail bank bailouts and switched it to a pro-Big Business stance on everything from Climate Change to Taxation.
It's a brilliant look at public suasion using tactics Edward Bernays would have been proud of.
Here it is, the entire documentary. "The Billionaire's Tea Party" runs 54:43 in its entire length. It is directed and produced by independent Australian film-maker, Taki Oldham.
Enjoy!
p.s. A quick addendum. Here's a quote to add to this blog:
"If billionaires were allowed to influence the results of American Idol instead of American elections, there would be rioting in the streets."
- David Borowitz
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