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  • What would spark a revolution?

       November 11, 2008

    I was talking to BVBigBro a few weeks ago and he remarked that he thought that the rumored proposal to confiscate 401Ks and IRAs would result in revolution. I disagree, but it got to me to wondering what government actions would actually cause Americans to rise up.

    To be honest, I'm not sure that anything would cause a revolution anymore. We're all so willing to let our government take away our rights and property little bit by little bit:

    Oh sure, we might get worked up about some of those things, but not enough people actually want to do anything about it. If it doesn't personally hurt us or people like us, we don't really care all that much. We look at the benefits specific situations of government intrusion (protecting kids from wacky parents or roads from drunk drivers) without worrying about the reach of government itself.

    So, to get back to the original question, what would it take to spark a revolution? The only thing I can think of is a draft. It would touch enough people and cause enough pain that we might get fed up. Maybe.

    What do you think? Am I underestimating or overestimating the complacency of the American people?


    Posted by at November 11, 2008 06:56 PM

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    Comments

    #  November 12th, 2008 5:51 PM      themandownthehall
    Revolutions are not started with some grand cataclysmic event. Revolutions begin when people have finally had it. Straws pile on until that last one, no matter how small, breaks the camels back. It could be anything from that group of liberals who attacked a church in East Lansing over the weekend: http://www.rightmichigan.com/story/2008/11/10/13335/904 to a simple government takeover of a private school that teaches something the government doesn't like. I agree with BVBigBro, that 401k idea may just do it.  
     
    #  November 12th, 2008 8:42 PM      kris
    Hmmm, maybe the California cupcake ban will be that straw.  
     
    #  November 13th, 2008 12:10 AM      TheUnabrewer
    A massive gun-grab attempt would almost certainly start one, which is why a massive grab will never happen.  
     
    #  November 14th, 2008 12:04 PM      cornedbeef
    frog in the pot...

    As long as they take away rights slowly, they will get away with it. In order to cause a revolution, it would have to be something big enough to affect the majority of americans, liberals and conservatives. Obama is too smart to take away too much for too many at once.  
     
    #  November 15th, 2008 10:13 PM      random10
    The revolution will occur when a significant percentage of the population comes to believe that our government is responsible for their suffering. I know, vague, but it should focus the question on what government could do to cause widespread suffering. I believe the most likely danger comes from mishandling of energy policy in a way that either brings traffic to a halt for lack of fuel, or a widespread and persistent collapse of the electrical grid. Cold, dark, trapped and angry has the potential for mob mentality to go looking for a scapegoat.  
     

     

     


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