A few months ago, the Montana Tea Party organized a rally on the steps of the Montana Capitol, for patriots to take back America. Organizers encouraged people to bring their guns with them. The rally drew about 20 or so angry men and women (minus some teeth) and one or two rifles. And that was it. Little has been seen or heard of the Montana Tea Party since.
Last Friday, working folks from around Montana tried their hand at a Capitol rally (without guns). They drew about 1500 people. It was a festive and positive day, and a stark comparison to the theater that has played out in Midwestern states where union bashing is lately all the rage. In Helena, there was folk music and constant chanting of the mantra âcourage, not cuts. The crowd comprised firefighters, policemen, teachers, health-care workers, home-care workers, state workers, and others who make very a modest living (a starting teacher makes about $17K in rural Montana) but do important work for society.