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April 19, 2006
We Revolted Once, Could It Ever Happen Again?
Do you think it's possible to have another revolution in America and if so, what would cause it?
I thought this was an interesting question when it came up on the Michael Savage talk show. Savage, presented a scenario that went something like this: He said, let's say we have a suitcase nuke that goes off in a major American city and we find out that it was thanks to terrorists walking across the southern border, the outrage would be off the charts and anything could happen. Savage rationalizes the government would be rightly blamed for failing to protect the border as has been long demanded by the people! There would then be zero confidence in the President's ability to govern and the military would likely come forward as a last resort to restore order and save the country from anarchy.
Ok, an extreme act of terrorism is one scenario, but I'm sure there are many, many more trigger points (no pun intended). How much fleecing of American taxpayers would it take to push us all over the edge? Certainly their exists some point of burden at which even the most loyal taxpayer will say enough? Would that come at say 60% or 70% taxation or even more? Studies say when taxes hit around 70% governments generally come tumbling down, then again a fair number of socialist countries from Sweden to France are getting really close to that number and no grumbling is heard from them.
This government spends at the rate of about a million bucks every 3.5 seconds, but our GDP is such that we still only pay about 22% tax on average. So we have it pretty good by comparison to the socialists countries. However, a sudden leap to 70% taxation might be shocking enough to kindle something, but if it comes in a long slow boil to 70% I don't know.
Here's another thought. If liberals had not championed gun control and set the example by disarming themselves, I think they would have started a revolt about 10 minutes after Bush was re-elected. I say that because the mere praising of "W", in a crowd of liberals would draw more fire than a Hatfield in a red suit at a McCoy bar-b-que.
Now remember, this is just a theoretical exercise, nobody is advocating anything, we're just talking, ok? It a case of looking at cause and effect and every day hot button issues. Your turn, any thoughts?
Posted by Post Scripts at April 19, 2006 06:51 AM
Comments
The "how" part is something I will leave up to you, but it could be any or all of those things you mention with the exception of refusal to accept statutes, that probably wouldn't qualify as a revolution.
It would have to be an act that results in a new government, where the old politicians are tossed out for new.
Posted by: Jack Lee at April 19, 2006 12:13 PM
If there was a nuclear attack on the US by terrorists, I would guess that martial law would be imposed (evidence: suspension of constitutional rights in the wake of 9-11; a nuclear bomb would make 9-11 look like child's play). With the wrong president in office (a Nixon, for example), I could see the administration and the military disbanding/ignoring/not protecting the Congress and Supreme Court. Bush leans this way when he attaches addendums to bills passed by Congress and signed by himself, addendums stating that he has the right to not obey these same laws.
I doubt a revolution of the people would occur so long as we remain an open democracy with free speech.....because, the revolutionary energies get channeled into legitimate political efforts* (this is the beauty of democracies, they have a pressure release valve). By contrast, tyrannies need to be overthrown by popular revolt.
*such as blogs
Posted by: Michael Jones at April 19, 2006 12:29 PM
Sometimes I wonder how many of our members of the US Armed Forces (officer and enlisted) actually THINK about the oath they take, an oath that has no "ending date" (it's really for life).
To protect the constitution (not the government) from all enemies foreign ~and domestic~. With all three branches of the government in violation of the 2nd amendment - just who IS the enemy of the constitution ?
Just a question you understand..............
Posted by: dave at April 25, 2006 06:35 PM