The businessman's plot very nearly resulted in a Fascist take over in the US in 1933. Surely the Wall Street of today is composed of trustworthy and competent individuals who would never let such a crisis occur again....
Interesting bit of history, many household names signed on for a Fascist dictatorship in the US. Thankfully, the man who was chosen to lead the coup changed his views and blew the whistle on everything.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_Plot
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smedley_Butler
Under the right conditions (economic depression for example) even highly democratic states can turn tyrannical very quickly, even the USA, Canada, UK ,France, etc, etc. The notion that it can never happen here is just Western arrogance IMO.
An armed citzenry is a fundamentally good idea. That said, better education on firearms safety is needed, in Canada it is WAY more of a hassle to legally drive than it is to legally own a firearm, that should probably change.
And though I have no doubt exceptions can be brought forward, I think the following rule would be found generally true: that ages in which the dominant weapon is expensive or difficult to make will tend to be ages of despotism, whereas when the dominant weapon is cheap and simple, the common people have a chance. Thus, for example, tanks, battleships, and bombing planes are inherently tyrannical weapons, while rifles, muskets, longbows, and hand grenades are inherently democratic weapons. A complex weapon makes the strong stronger, while a simple weapon?so long as there is no answer to it?gives claws to the weak.
? George Orwell, ?You and the Atomic Bomb?
George Orwell - "That rifle on the wall of the labourer's cottage or working class flat is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there."
