Beer and Bacon Party Shirt

 "The drink which has come to supply the place of beer has, in general, been tea. It is notorious that tea has no useful strength in it; that it contains nothing nutritious; that it, besides being good for nothing, has badness in it, because it is well known to produce want of sleep in many cases, and in all cases, to shake and weaken the nerves. It is, in fact, a weaker kind of laudanum, which enlivens for the moment and deadens afterwards." - William Cobbett

If we want a symbol of an independent, strong America, the Tea Party is a rather sorry symbol. Independence was the production of real substance by our forefathers for themselves, as documented by William Cobbett, who enthusiastically praised the qualities of beer and bacon - home brewed and home grown - for the common man. Cobbett was himself an inspiration to G.K. Chesterton's philosophy of Distributism.

Cobbett's philosophy of thrift and DIY culture  has remained throughout the 20th Century, but without political representation. With the symbols of strength, Beer and Bacon Party offers Americans a great deal more substance than tea. 

Now, if only we had a candidate.