The idea simply going back to what we ran away from last time would solve our problems this time may not exactly be the best way to go about getting giant changes or movements in polar opposite directions. There was a lot of talk about a movement that would usher in great changes, but the fact is less than twelve new Tea Party faces came into Washington this time around, yet it seemed that was all we heard about. Sure there were people who had been around for a while suddenly claiming to be members of the Tea Party, but they had been around for some time, and with all their seeking of stimulus and omnibus dollars back home, they weren’t exactly towing the line.

The outcome itself has been lauded as a shock to the system and a surprise for Washington and the establishment. But, the outcome had been predicted for three months with confidence and regularity by most major news outlets. Since August, at least, we’ve been deluged with nothing but the latest revolution sponsored by corporate America, because after all who else would be looking out for the interests of you and me than those cut from the same cloth as the folks responsible for the actions which led to the need for a bailout, the squandering of those dollars on retreats and bonuses and the persistent refusal to give out loans to individuals or small business owners.

It was those corporate big spenders, or at least some of their kind supporting the Tea Party movement. They poured millions into it, and in the end the impact in terms of new people in seats was not as large as the year long commercial would’ve had us believe. There were scandals regarding what people said, scandals about their contradictions and even scandals about people not saying anything at all.

Now that it’s all over, it sort of comes across as though it was all another great drama in the continuing saga of the maintenance of the status quo. A bunch of twist turns, that inevitably ended us up in a very familiar spot. Republicans took the House, and Democrats held the Senate. It isn’t exactly unfamiliar territory. It isn’t even the repeat of 1994 pundits kept talking about – not by a long shot.

The idea the nation sent a huge rebuke to the Democrats is false. Were that the case things would be very different now. Both chambers would have gone to the GOP. The message was we are angry, yes, but not stupid. In fact, the nation put both parties on alert. The message was we voted one out last time, we are voting the other this time. The message was we are getting tired of the games.

The message was, though the Tea Party may or may not have turned out to be just another gimmick to get people to vote one way, it did awaken the notion we can do more. It did awaken in us the idea that through the votes of many, we can elect to find different paths towards legislation which works in our favor, not just that of the wealthy 1%. The message was that we realize there are options.

We glimpsed what it could be like to move away from or expand the two party system, we realized our lives would not be upended. We realized change could come and it could come with a single vote multiplied many times over. In a very small way, a very small number of folks from our nation helped a tiny fissure form. Beyond it was possibility. Things are not over. In many ways, they’re just starting.

To read about my inspiration for this article go to www.lawsuitagainstuconn.com.