How Far Before Armed Revolution?

[xDarc]

I was reading some of the nuttier threads over at abovetopsecret recently. It's a site that revolves around all manner of conspiracies and/or the unexplained. I like reading about UFOs. : )

Anyhow- this is simply a question. How much shit will the American people take before they rise up in violent resistance? I honestly gave this some thought.

The original founders went to war over unfair taxes basically. Ha! I'm pretty sure they would call today's Americans a bunch of pus****.

Since then the American government has been implicated in countless scandals, the questionable legality of the IRS itself, the patriot act, the 2000 presidential elections decided in the courtroom, starting illegal wars, etc ad infinitum.

What will we respond too?

Some of the things suggested on AboveTopSecret as referenced in something called "Operation Blackjack."

-unlimited prison terms for failing to produce documents (id cards with biometric chips)
-licensing journalists. Only journalists approved by the government may work/publish.
-Merging with other countries fully and creating a common currency, the Amero.
-Suspension of assembly rights. All protests become illegal. Police employ violence to disband.
-rules against unpatriotic speech

You get the idea.

When I actually considered all of these things, this is the sad part, I could see the resounding majority of the people just take it. As long as they still have a job, they'll still show up to work every day and try and put a smile on things. Live in their own little bubble, I know because I do it too.

I mentioned this to a group of kids at a diner and they just sort of stared at me, expressionless. One girl just nodded and shrugged like yeah, as long as I still had a job.

And maybe it's not just about a job or means of survival, but people will try so hard not to upset the small comforts in their lives that they'll compartmentalize and adapt those comforts in the face of extreme change, rather than risk it all in conflict.

It's made a soft people out of Americans.

I don't like prompts, but if you need one... What do you think the breaking point would be?

 

[DarkHourPrince]

The "Amero" definitely isn't happening, we learned about that in my government class this past semester. Thanks to sitting back and watching European countries falter and fail with the European Union (Iceland and especially Greece), we've seen the catastrophe it causes with one currency among so many different countries. The talks of a North American Union have declined significantly thanks to someone else showing what kind of decline it can cause and with the economy how it is, no one's going to be in any hurry to endanger it further. And, economically, the US would suffer the hardest blow from one currency, we would lose more than gain.

 

[Kryzantine]

The original founders went to war because the British didn't allow us to have direct representation in Parliament, forced us to pay debts for the French-Indian war, housed their soldiers in American homes, overtaxed the population and closed Boston harbor. We didn't revolt only because of some stupid taxes.

 

[Chester41585]

One of the Founders said we're supposed to have a revolution every ten years or something. We're pretty overdue, if that's the truth.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

The original founders went to war because the British didn't allow us to have direct representation in Parliament, forced us to pay debts for the French-Indian war, housed their soldiers in American homes, overtaxed the population and closed Boston harbor. We didn't revolt only because of some stupid taxes.

That and the heavy handed reply to the Boston Tea Party (an act many colonists protested against until the British responded)

OT: As soon as they try to make sports illegal, that is when the revolution happens.

Seriously OT: I think the revolution will occur when the full, real truth about the governments secret activities are made clear. For the most part, they've only revealed or been forced to confirm what I figure is 1/10th of the truth. When they begin to march troops towards universities that have opposing views to the state, I think that is when the public should act.

I'm Canadian btw so when you have your civil war, don't share it with us.

 

[2fish]

Sorry there will not be a revolution, the people have too much to lose. We are based on property rights. Those with property do not want to lose it. Those without will have a hard time acquiring the resources for an uprising. If you want an uprising you must push the middle class into a state of fear that those above them (see upper class and government) are out to take the middle/lower class's property.

I can see many empty threats and pointless events, but the status quo will be upheld. After all rising up against those in power is rising up against capitalism, freedom, liberty and that makes you a communist. If there is one major irrational fear in our country it is those pinko commies.... they are everywhere and they are out to get us... (other code words can be socialist, big government and social programs).

 

[Irridium]

I doubt there will be. Even though it is the American people's constitutional right to change the government if it becomes incapable of running the nation well. Most don't even know that.

Honestly, I doubt it will happen. Most U.S. citizens these days just don't care, which really makes me sad.

Well except maybe the South. If anyone's gonna revolt, it'll be them.

 

[manythings]

If people think tomorrow will be the same as yesterday chances are they will take what they have to to ensure it. If 51% of the population will put up with all the shit then the other 49% won't be able to find enough help to so something about it.

The original founders went to war because the British didn't allow us to have direct representation in Parliament, forced us to pay debts for the French-Indian war, housed their soldiers in American homes, overtaxed the population and closed Boston harbor. We didn't revolt only because of some stupid taxes.

Absolutely. The kept screwing everyone over till they wouldn't take it anymore you're just lucky it was only about 200(?) years of the bastards, we had 800 and everything they did there they did ten times harder here.

If you want to know what cause open revolt the here are search topics;
The Penal Laws
The Black and Tans
Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England (If I could I would spit)
The Famine 1845-1850 (In the english version it is called the potato famine and gloss over the fact that the english military actively siezed the food that wasn't damaged because potatoes were the only thing Irish people could afford to buy)
The 1798 Rebellion
There are plenty more.

One of the Founders said we're supposed to have a revolution every ten years or something. We're pretty overdue, if that's the truth.

The tree of liberty is nourished by the blood of patriots and tyrants both. I think it was Benjamin Franklin.

Patriotism is a trait of the vicious. Oliver Wilde. (The Rock is a great movie)

 

[xDarc]

Sorry there will not be a revolution, the people have too much to lose. We are based on property rights. Those with property do not want to lose it.

In a nutshell, yes.

People would put up with government completely controlling media, biometric id chips, big brother everywhere, etc. as long as they got to keep their stuff.

Imagine living in that world and seeing no one around you doing anything about it. It seems much more feasible than people actually doing anything about it.

 

[xDarc]

The original founders went to war because the British didn't allow us to have direct representation in Parliament, forced us to pay debts for the French-Indian war, housed their soldiers in American homes, overtaxed the population and closed Boston harbor. We didn't revolt only because of some stupid taxes.

I see a lot of this stuff as pretty petty in comparison to what is happening today.

So I say, basically, unfair taxes.

 

[xDarc]

OT: As soon as they try to make sports illegal, that is when the revolution happens.

Actually that's the best answer to the question the thread frames so far. What's America's breaking point? Do we even have one? As long as they let the majority have property will everyone sit on their hands?

 

[funksobeefy]

As soon as they take away my freedom of speech Im going to war!

 

[Quaxar]

Sorry there will not be a revolution, the people have too much to lose. We are based on property rights. Those with property do not want to lose it. Those without will have a hard time acquiring the resources for an uprising. If you want an uprising you must push the middle class into a state of fear that those above them (see upper class and government) are out to take the middle/lower class's property.

Not to forget all the forced patriotism. Pledge of Allegiance every morning? Singing the hymn at every school-league basketball game? I guess that's also worth something.

One of the Founders said we're supposed to have a revolution every ten years or something. We're pretty overdue, if that's the truth.

That sounds more like Leo Trotzki, then again I have no idea what the founders said other than "Hey, remember this one time when Georgie chopped down that tree?".

 

[xDarc]

As soon as they take away my freedom of speech Im going to war!

That's endearing but you'll probably be an army of one.

 

[HT_Black]

With any luck, it won't be too long now; but the American people as a whole are too timid and selfish to stand up, no matter how far the government goes.

There won't be a revolution.

There'll be a stand.

 

[Kryzantine]

The original founders went to war because the British didn't allow us to have direct representation in Parliament, forced us to pay debts for the French-Indian war, housed their soldiers in American homes, overtaxed the population and closed Boston harbor. We didn't revolt only because of some stupid taxes.

I see a lot of this stuff as pretty petty in comparison to what is happening today.

So I say, basically, unfair taxes.

So violation of the natural human rights to free speech, free assembly, and free religion; violation of the protection of habeas corpus rights, quartering acts, unnecessary debts, external taxes; telling your colonists what they can and can't build, who they deal with, where they expand; all of this is "petty" compared to some fucking stamps?

 

[Uncreation]

Patriotism is a trait of the vicious. Oliver Wilde. (The Rock is a great movie)

I think the quote is actually:

"Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious." And it is by Oscar Wilde. As far as i know anyway.

 

[manythings]

Patriotism is a trait of the vicious. Oliver Wilde. (The Rock is a great movie)

I think the quote is actually:

"Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious." And it is by Oscar Wilde. As far as i know anyway.

He's Irish and one of my favourite authors and I called him Oliver, some days I think there is no hope for me.

 

[2fish]

As soon as they take away my freedom of speech Im going to war!

I cannot disagree with that idea, how shall we take on the armed forces? I vote for deception. Me: "No one here but us loyal mindless idiots"... You: "Get them!"

I do stand by my original argument that it would take a large threat real or otherwise to make people stand up to the status quo, and sadly the sports idea could be the reason for it.

 

[dmase]

What form of government do you go to after a democracy? Probably a communist society but that doesn't seem possible at this point, no urge from the populace.

How about just overthrowing the current administration, well the way we have our politics split the person that took office or took control of congress would soon be ousted by the angry opposing party. It would be a cycle that would put a tyrant and possibly a purely capitalistic society where the barons of production rule the country.

I see asking for a president's resignation for completely crazy actions but no overthrow. Change in our current democracy can only be brought about internally, such as through congress.

Edit: and a common currency wouldn't be so bad, +1 trade routes for all our cities we should do it