Letter: Tea party defense unclear

In his June 25 letter, Trumon Cooper tried to correct misconceptions about the tea party. He proceeded to tell us the tea party wants to get America, "(B)ack on the track for freedom, justice and liberty for all." He subsequently laid out the party's priorities; which he states are fiscal responsibility and adherence to the Constitution and our founding fathers.

In his mission statement for his party, Mr. Cooper repeats these same, as he calls them, "core values. However at no point in his letter does he give us examples of where the country is failing. How have we strayed from the "track for freedom, justice and liberty for all?" Who has been fiscally irresponsible? And in what way is the Constitution not being adhered to, and who is responsible?

If Mr. Cooper wants people to think about the values of his party, he must give us something to think about and reflect on. He must be specific about what and about whom he is complaining. His comments are akin to announcing he doesn't like the weather. Fine, but what is it he doesn't like?

On the back of tea party T-shirts is the phrase, "Take back America." I ask: take back from whom or what?

G. Michael Paine

Marysville