The coloring books are supposedly for children from age 2 - 10. The book is overall a testament to the beliefs and ideologies of the coloring book, however this pleasant (seemingly) propaganda is also filled with statements that will make false impressions of government for children: "When taxes are too high, the high tax takes away jobs and freedom." These statements will confuse some children and some critics say it's inappropriate. I don't know, would you (at age 2 - 10) want this coloring book??? What happened to coloring books on dinosaurs and superheroes and ponies? But it is way too out there to death threaten these people too!
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I find this very confusing because why would a political party advertise themselves to kids. I can not fathom how strange this is due to kids aren't the ones who vote but instead their parents. Yeah the children's parents are the ones who are voting but making a coloring book won't help a child's parents make a decision on why that political party should chosen. I am getting the impression that the Tea Party is pushing their beliefs on children and when children, say, use these coloring books they will show them to their parents resulting in the parents seeing the political parties beliefs. I still don't understand this way of campaigning and i find it a very stupid way to campaign; however; i don't think people should be sending death threats due to these though.
When I read the title of this post, I was honestly surprised. Now the Tea Party is making coloring books to give to kids so that they can promote their beliefs? That is kind of over the top. I don't think that parents would even buy the coloring book for their children unless they consider themselves a part of the Tea Party. Even if a child somehow received the coloring book, like Christian said, it would have no impact on the child or his/her parents. Not really a smart move on the Tea Party's side.
What would you color? Most of the people that go to the rally's are white . I guess they would make Sarah Palin the new "Santa Claus"
This could end up being a pretty genious strategy for the Tea Party - but it's a frightening one. The brains of children are like sponges, soaking up every piece of information they see and hear. 2-10 are critical ages in the development of a child. The strongest influence on political socialization is family because children often follow what their parents believe, what they are taught at home. With the coloring book, supporters of the Tea Party can drill the party's ideas into their children's heads while associating the party with the fun hobby of coloring. I think it's ridiculous that a party has sunk so low to gain future supporters. They are just creating lemmings. Regardless of what the party stands for, I think it is unacceptable for any party to target young children, who know little to nothing about politics and are not mentally developed enough to analyze and question the information placed in front of them.
-Jessia Hoffman
Interesting strategy. However, remember that they have the right to say whatever they want by the 1st Amendment, even if it is towards children. If the party published a book for children on their ideology, doesn't it work the same way? We can't really rob them of their rights. Anyway, parents will probably notice the propaganda, so I doubt it would work very well. Children barely even know what taxes are, and parents probably already know what the Tea Party stands for.
Okay, now why are they doing this? When people belief so fervently in a transient political ideology so as to indoctrinate children, that cannot be good for the political climate or for the country in general.
thaught After reading this post, I chuckled to myself!! Really a political coloring book for kids?? That just doesn't make sense. This post made me think back to when I was between the ages of 2-10. Looking back, I don't think it would have been the first coloring book I would have grabbed if it was on the store shelf. That being said, I think some minor parties are so driven to receive attention, that they will get there hands on anything that will give them recognition.
~Emily Zelter
I agree with most everyone else here that the Tea Party's newest strategy is totally inappropriate. Most kids at those ages don't even know enough American history to know what the name of the Tea Party itself is referencing itself to. Jessia is right that this could be smart to target children, especially to ensure that the Tea Party actually lasts for a long time and doesn't just die out after this election.
The thing I find most ridiculous, however, is the fact that their attempts to raise kids into Tea Party members are miserable. "The Guardian reports that the coloring book includes educational tid-bits such as "the Tea Party calls upon our representatives to limit the government's role in everyday life, and to support people and businesses, but not demand from, control or over tax the people or businesses," alongside images of flags for children to color."
(http://newsfeed.time.com/2010/10/02/because-its-never-too-early-to-indoctrinate-your-kids-tea-party-coloring-books/#ixzz11FowiQ3r)
My best guess is that most children at age 2-10 won't even understand the political complexities of these phrases. So much for "educational."
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