Never the twain shall meet

It was a fleeting comment made several years ago during a discussion.  “Political parties should no longer be separated as being liberal and conservative,” I said to my fellow conversant.  “Instead, they should be organized into the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots.’”

The comment was largely ignored and drew no response.  The other person was interested in asserting their side of the traditional partisan political argument, and did not want to be sidetracked by any random thoughts.

That comment had been forgotten until recently.  It came back to mind when thinking about the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street movements, which, despite traditionally being viewed as being at opposite ends of the political spectrum, are joined at their core by a similarity of beliefs.

Both movements are comprised of people who feel as if they are bearing the brunt of society’s disregard for their situations.  They draw from different segments of society.  Because of that, they are seen as rival movements.  Tea Party supporters are viewed as more rural and conservative, while their Occupy Wall Street cohorts are seen as more urbane and formally-educated.

Yet they share a core belief.  In fact, the same belief drives both movements.  They see government and big business running amok, using dollars derived from the masses to fill the pockets of business and governmental leaders who, in the end, are truly acting only for themselves.

Perhaps it is the business/government divide in focus that also divides the two movements.  Tea Parties decry the government that Occupy Wall Street adores, and Occupy Wall Street decries business, with which the Tea Party has no problem.  To them, business is private and should remain that way.

The truth is that there is a melding of the two, especially as far as the United States is concerned.  

Business and government, regardless of party, have entered into a symbiotic relationship.  It benefits both sides, to the detriment of the general population, which is footing the bill on both counts.

Taxpayers are being taxed, often to their wonderment as to why, and consumers are being charged for virtually every service they seek, including ones that once were absorbed by companies as a routine cost of “doing business.”

In the end, it matters not which entity is exacting the cost.  Whether it is government or business, the average American is paying the bill.  Worst of all, the cost is now often being paid to both, exacting more of a total cost than in the past.

An acceptance of justified cost has been shown, over the years, as a bill the American public has been willing to pay.  Now, however, the cost is often seen as unjustified.   Whether the protest comes from a Tea Partier or an Occupy Wall Street supporter, the complaint is actually the same.

As long as the two movements are kept fragmented, little progress will be made by either.  If they ever join together, however, there stands a chance of true changes someday being achieved.