When Purple was a boy, over 900 moons ago, he had a friend with a streak of insightful humor, who often responded to human reactions to difficulty by repeating this old saw: "When in danger or in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout." It took the American Tea Party folks little time to come up with the same prescription for the nation's many problems. The Tea Party hasn't solved anything yet, and it probably won't, but following their line seems to win Republican nominations, judging by the results of June's primaries.

Lewis Carroll, an early analyst, described this political phenomenon in scientific depth in "Jaberwocky," writing as follows:

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wade; All mimsy were the borogoves, And the mome raths outgrabe. "Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch! Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun The frumious Bandersnatch!"

I assume Carroll wrote those admonitions after his experiences with Alice in Wonderland, where he met the Red Queen, the Mad Hatter and the March Hare. Now Wonderland and Washington may have similarities beyond both being ten letter words starting with "W", but they also have differences. Wonderland amuses us and especially our children; Washington has responsibility for our nation's future, and its inaction threatens those children.

Assuming Washington was Wonderland, the Tooth Fairy would solve deficit and debt problems without raising taxes. Unregulated financial institutions and oil companies would act in the public interest, rather than their own. Illegal immigrants would go home happily. One could wish away climate change and aging national demographics. Afghan war lords would embrace democracy. Politicians would look beyond the next election, investing in basic research, infrastructure and education to give our children a better life, even if it cost the Tooth Fairy more. And all this would happen with almost no government.

Come to think of it, there is yet another similarity between the two locales, beyond "W" and ten letters – Alice enjoyed a Tea Party in Wonderland, too. Carroll describes it:

"There was a table set out under a tree in front of the house, and the March Hare and the Hatter were having tea at it; a Dormouse was sitting between them, fast asleep, and the other two were using it as a cushion, resting their elbows on it, and talking over its head. 'Very uncomfortable for the Dormouse,' thought Alice; 'only, as it's asleep, I suppose it doesn't mind.'" …… at this point, Purple also dozed off into a dream. A political survey had arrived in the mail, asking Alice whether she preferred the Wonderland Tea Party experience to the American Tea Party, with Rush Limbaugh and Sarah Palin using the Republican party as a cushion, resting their elbows on it, and talking nonsense over its head.

Alice's answer: "Where's the difference?"