Revolution? Be Careful What You Wish For
I've heard (or read) a lot on the web from people that want to "take our country back". From the right AND the left. Some want to take to the streets, some want armed insurrection, some want to impeach the president. There are environmentalists, lefties, communists, fascists, religious fundamentalists, libertarians, corporatists, anti-immigrants, pro-immigrants, for and against Sharia law, whatever cause or paranoia floats your boat at any given time.
We have a system that allows, or, in fact, demands that we have a revolution constantly. We vote, we argue, we use our free speech rights. There is no doubt that there are abuses in that system. Citizens United comes to mind. Fox News and talk radio. Pulpits. The Teabag Party. Liars and manipulators with an agenda other than what they claim, and not in the national interest.
We need to point these out in the strongest possible rational and ethical and moral terms.
But to have a violent uprising, or to use the law to subvert the collective will of the people has been tried too many times.
And in a country as Balkanized as our own, the results of any major uprising should just scare the living crap out of you. A lot of people would like us to become a Christian theocracy. Some would like to have a one dollar/one vote system. Some would like the death penalty to be given out for whatever cause they feel angry enough about, and to have it streamlined to avoid pesky trials and appeals. Some would curtail human rights for race, sex, sexual orientation, or religion. And on and on. Do you really want to roll the dice on those odds? What happens if your vision loses?
Do you think that your particular vision of "what America stands for", is going to be the result after a chaotic national uprising? How well did that work out in Russia? Iran? How about the good ole' American Confederacy? Or a thousand other examples from history?
We have the examples in front of us, in the news every day. Countries in turmoil with no tradition of peaceful, democratic revolution. Caracas, Kiev, Damascus, and others. Is that what we want?
Is your vision of America the same as Rush Limbaugh's? This guy's? (He had the gun, and was ready to go to war for his ideals. Or at least make a show of it.) How about Charles Manson? He wanted to roll the dice on chaos. That was his whole reason for what he did.
Yes. We need a revolution in this country. Constantly. And we're structured to allow them. It's our duty. But beware of the demagogues for violence. And those espousing ignorance. Know who they are, what they are, and why they're dangerous. And treasonous. And speak up.
I just discovered this guy, and I like what he has to say on a lot of topics. This post goes to what I'm trying to say, just much better. Too many crazies in this country. We're screwing the pooch. Here's a few ways to unscrew it:
http://www.stonekettle.com/2013/11/take-back-your-government-part-1.html
Here's what I'm talking about. These guys pop up all the time. More often now that the guy in the White House is...um...liberal? No, that's not it. We've had liberals before, and he's not even all that liberal. Must be something else...:
http://www.dcclothesline.com/2013/11/27/militia-leader-publicly-threatens-president-now-authority-shoot-obama/
The comments section is particularly chilling.
Anna Salerno says:
The point is, I'm all for radical change. I think we're long overdue for it. And it's coming, piece by piece. But what I may want, and what you may want as far as that change goes, may well be two entirely different things.
I have a bit of an exchange developing in the comments. (Why do I bother?)
Alex McDowell says:
Thom says:
We have a system that allows, or, in fact, demands that we have a revolution constantly. We vote, we argue, we use our free speech rights. There is no doubt that there are abuses in that system. Citizens United comes to mind. Fox News and talk radio. Pulpits. The Teabag Party. Liars and manipulators with an agenda other than what they claim, and not in the national interest.
We need to point these out in the strongest possible rational and ethical and moral terms.
But to have a violent uprising, or to use the law to subvert the collective will of the people has been tried too many times.
And in a country as Balkanized as our own, the results of any major uprising should just scare the living crap out of you. A lot of people would like us to become a Christian theocracy. Some would like to have a one dollar/one vote system. Some would like the death penalty to be given out for whatever cause they feel angry enough about, and to have it streamlined to avoid pesky trials and appeals. Some would curtail human rights for race, sex, sexual orientation, or religion. And on and on. Do you really want to roll the dice on those odds? What happens if your vision loses?
Do you think that your particular vision of "what America stands for", is going to be the result after a chaotic national uprising? How well did that work out in Russia? Iran? How about the good ole' American Confederacy? Or a thousand other examples from history?
We have the examples in front of us, in the news every day. Countries in turmoil with no tradition of peaceful, democratic revolution. Caracas, Kiev, Damascus, and others. Is that what we want?
Is your vision of America the same as Rush Limbaugh's? This guy's? (He had the gun, and was ready to go to war for his ideals. Or at least make a show of it.) How about Charles Manson? He wanted to roll the dice on chaos. That was his whole reason for what he did.
Yes. We need a revolution in this country. Constantly. And we're structured to allow them. It's our duty. But beware of the demagogues for violence. And those espousing ignorance. Know who they are, what they are, and why they're dangerous. And treasonous. And speak up.
I just discovered this guy, and I like what he has to say on a lot of topics. This post goes to what I'm trying to say, just much better. Too many crazies in this country. We're screwing the pooch. Here's a few ways to unscrew it:
http://www.stonekettle.com/2013/11/take-back-your-government-part-1.html
Here's what I'm talking about. These guys pop up all the time. More often now that the guy in the White House is...um...liberal? No, that's not it. We've had liberals before, and he's not even all that liberal. Must be something else...:
http://www.dcclothesline.com/2013/11/27/militia-leader-publicly-threatens-president-now-authority-shoot-obama/
The comments section is particularly chilling.
Anna Salerno says:
"I wish it would happen soon. The country
cannot take too much more from this despicable Muslim fag! He deserves
to be shot in his knees so he’ll NEVER be able to play golf again! I
hate this fag and his racist “beard” mooch! They have raped this
country, laughed at us and robbed us all the while rubbing our noses in
the hatred they feel for us!"
And a lot more where that came from.
I voted for President Obama. I like him. When these guys make accusations of treason and threaten his life, yeah, there's treason being done. Yes, there's the will of the people being undermined. The people that overwhelmingly voted for Obama twice.And a lot more where that came from.
The point is, I'm all for radical change. I think we're long overdue for it. And it's coming, piece by piece. But what I may want, and what you may want as far as that change goes, may well be two entirely different things.
I have a bit of an exchange developing in the comments. (Why do I bother?)
Alex McDowell says:
“Treason is punishable by death this is a
fact and a law. ” From where I sit, the guys with the guns and the
threats to assassinate and subvert my vote for my president are
treasonous.
-
Thom says:
You don’t have have a president, you have a dictator. He just hasn’t officially announced it yet thus, leaving you dim witted in the dark! -
Thom, if you TRULY believe that, then you believe the next POTUS election cycle will be revoked by the President to make himself leader for life? If so, if you TRULY believe that, then we should get together and set up a bet. Name the stakes. I say we go on as always, with the election run on schedule. You bet that the “dictator” will not allow them. If we have an election in November ’16, you lose, I win. If not, it’s your win, I lose.
What kind of odds do you need?
Put up, or shut up.
Thom says:
The fact that you think the next
election cycle is questionable says enough. 62 percent of the people of
this country think he is a sandbagging asshole.
If THAT’S your take-away from my post, you need to be heavily medicated. That’s not what I said at all. Put your money up.
