I wonder if it's time to trade in our tea cups for coffee mugs.

Here is a video explaining how the Coffee Party Movement started:

In an espresso shot, this is the Coffee Party's mission:

MISSION: The Coffee Party Movement gives voice to Americans who want to see cooperation in government. We recognize that the federal government is not the enemy of the people, but the expression of our collective will, and that we must participate in the democratic process in order to address the challenges that we face as Americans. As voters and grassroots volunteers, we will support leaders who work toward positive solutions, and hold accountable those who obstruct them.

Instead of disrespect for others, the Coffee Party even has a pledge: Civility Pledge: As a member or guest of the Coffee Party, I pledge to conduct myself in a way that is civil, honest, and respectful toward people with whom I disagree. I value people from different cultures, I value people with different ideas, and I value and cherish the democratic process.

Wouldn't that be something? We could drink our coffee and tea together, recognizing that we can all be patriots and agree to disagree. In a respectful discussion, we can find our common ground. Who wins? We all win in our arenas of common ground -- lower taxes, accountable (and smaller) government, eliminate waste and special interests. We all love America and at least deep down, we wish we had public officials we could trust to be accountable to us.

I also think if more of them could remember to keep their pants zipped up and consider the People more important than prostitutes and other temptations that seem to find them in the political realm, that would be great. Fewer tearful apologies means more work done in Washington.

That's not an official tenet of the Coffee Party, it's just a preference of mine. I would prefer not to know this information about the personal lives of people who are supposed to uphold certain values, and what I'm most annoyed with is the fact that, thanks to the politicians' peccadilloes and the media's thrill of the scandal, my ability to pay attention to government affairs that affect me and my family has been tainted by the "Ewww!" factor.

With that out of the way, there is a historical root to the Coffee Party. After dumping tea into the harbor, they declared coffee the national drink. So, coffee represents the hard work the Revolution had to accomplish after the Boston Tea Party. Tea got their attention; coffee got it done.

A new revolution is beginning. What the Coffee and Tea parties have in common is that we want real representation of our needs, and we won't be ignored any longer. Quite simply, the Coffee Party Movement is a call to action for people to wake up and take control of the future, demanding representation. To take a stand and speak up.

It's not a liberal thing or a conservative thing. It's a human thing. A freedom thing. An American thing. We won't be a free society as long as our government is beholden to interests that enrich only a few.

The two-party system is an extremely outdated system that is creating only chaos and discord. In his farewell address, George Washington warned us that the two party system would prove a destructive, divisive force. What if we stripped the labels and actually elected the _person_ who would represent our interests? Officials couldn't stay in office because, "That district always goes Republican."

Democracy should start with the sense that we're a community, we share common goals and values, and that there's such a thing as a common good that we're all working towards.

Our leaders should be accountable for the common good and we the people should have the power to fire them if all they do is posture and serve not people, but corporations.

Does the dream of actually having once again a government of, for and by The People inject a little caffeine into your day?