They’re not French

The Economist ‘s “Lexington” correspondent offers a cheer or two to the Tea Party movement. It starts snidely: “They are not French.” Snarky, but it has a serious point: For all the frothing attacks on the Tea Party from Democrats, none of them have barricaded streets or set fires in DC. They’re not French.

More importantly: Instead of demonstrating on behalf of shorter working hours and more extensive benefits, the Tea Party wants less from the federal government. As Lexington says, “in how many other countries would a powerful populist movement demand less government, rather than endlessly and expensively more? . . . If that is what the tea party movement is for, more power to its elbow.”