Column: No, we don't need a revolution

[LuckyTheDog]

There are a lot of good reasons to own a gun, but fighting a revolution is among the most far-fetched. Unfortunately, a recent poll finds that much of the public thinks otherwise. That means we have some serious work to do.

In a national survey of registered voters by PublicMind, 29 percent said they think a revolution “might be necessary in the next few years.” Forty-four percent of Republicans, 27 percent of independents and 18 percent of Democrats held that view.

This is troubling for a number of reasons.

First of all, the leaders of any “revolution” would likely come from the patriot movement, which is dominated by conspiracy theorists, cranks, racists and wannabe martyrs. That means our “liberators” would be less like George Washington and more like the misguided, hateful and power-hungry leaders of the Confederacy. They might even be worse.

More here: http://blogs.detroitnews.com/politics/2013/05/06/we-dont-need-a-revolution/

On edit: This is my latest contribution to the Detroit News Politics Blog. I write for it about once a week.

[redstatebluegirl]

1. A few months ago I asked a question on DU

regarding whether or not there would be another civil war. I was slammed by the majority of people here, treated like a troll and a nut. I am neither, I do live in a state where I hear people talk about "taking back their country" and are heavily armed. Can they do it, of course not, I still believe if they become serious the rest of the country will fight back.

This is becoming more and more frightening for a lot of us. Not sure if the internet makes it seem like there are more nuts than normal out there but having a black President has certainly brought them out of the woodwork.

Most of the people who want to "take back their country" could not survive without the government in their lives. Our state would be in terrible shape without federal assistance.

I think we need to take some of these people seriously....

[LuckyTheDog]

2. I was taken aback by that poll

I mean... 44 percent of Republicans? Really?

[redstatebluegirl]

3. I think it depends on where you live.

When we lived in a more progressive area I didn't see it as much as I do since moving here. Granted there are nuts there as well. I would say the number of Republicans here who feel that way is higher than 44.

[el_bryanto]

4. and nearly 1 in 5 democrats n/t

[OneGrassRoot]

5. I agree about taking some of them seriously. n/t

[Proud Liberal Dem]

6. Excellent and well-written piece!

it's creepy what's out there in terms of rhetoric and the kind of attitudes it is apparently spawning.

[LuckyTheDog]

7. Thanks, but...

As you might notice, the Detroit News readers (mostly conservatives) used words like "steaming pile of crap" to describe the column. Gotta love 'em.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

8. I didn't read the comments

Public boards/comments tend to be pretty vile and disgusting........... I think that such a negative reaction sort of proves your point about the kind of people whom would actually seriously think about launching a revolution. Fortunately, I don't think that they would engender much sympathy/support.

[Cha]

9. You rightfully call them stupid. I on the other hand..

liked your column.

Good job, Lucky

[davidn3600]

10. I think the bigger issue is why suddenly we have 30% of the country thinking we need a revolution

Keep in mind that 30% number is not entirely Republicans. I believe something like 15% of Democrats agreed that we need revolution.

I think we are starting to see a deepening political divide in this country. Both sides are becoming increasingly polarized. There is an element of hatred involved now. Extreme negativity has gripped not only Washington, but the populace on all sides. Most people think the country is going the wrong way. Most people dont think the country will survive the century. There is not a whole lot of optimism in America right now. There is no dialogue between the various political factions. Right now each side is most concerned about grabbing power and jamming their agenda by force down the throats of the political opposition. No one wants compromises anymore. No one wants a consensus. No one is willing to give an inch of their position or even consider the opposing views. This is leading to a political breakdown because democratic systems rely on compromise. Everyone needs to be happy for a policy to fully succeed and be effective.

Every time Obama even talks to Republicans, people on this site trash him. However everyone here is forgetting the fact that the GOP controls the House of Representatives. Obama is not a dictator. He cannot run the government by himself. If the GOP does not agree with something, nothing will get accomplished. And apparently many would rather nothing get accomplished than a compromise. And yes, the conservatives are equally to blame because they are also refusing to compromise.

Has it really gotten worse? Yes it has. In the 1960s (a pretty politically difficult period in American history), Democrats and Republicans voted along party lines 2/3rds of the time. Today, the two parties vote on party lines 90% of the time! And whenever a politician crosses the aisle, he/she gets totally ROASTED.

I dont think the solution is revolution. That would certainly make everything infinitely worse. But something needs to give. We can't continue to hate each other this way and expect America to succeed.

[freshwest]

13. Well said, thanks.

[LuckyTheDog]

16. I agree (nt)

[Douglas Carpenter]

11. in an atmosphere where Obamacare and background checks are denounced at totalitarian socialism

several times a day on the highest rated cable TV network in America - when outlandish conspiracy theorist are keynote speakers at national conferences of organizations that are considered well within the American mainstream - When some of the highest rated TV and radio shows blast nonstop extremist crazy talk across the national airways several times a day - When even the modest and business-friendly liberal reforms are "exposed" and denounced by national figures as some kind of left-wing plot - and this diet of lunacy is fed to large sections of the American people several times a day - Is it any wonder?

[murray hill farm]

12. When I hear talk of revolution, I always wonder...

how the revolutionary movement would occur. Would they organize and declare that they will fight to take control of the government? Would they make a suprise attack? Would they blow up a federal bldg? When our military came to take control, would they fight them with guns and assault weapons? Would they shoot to kill the young, uniformed men and women who have shown up to defend their country? Would they think, by some chance that those who they are attacking would not fight back with more assault weapon power than they could ever, ever collect for their revolution? Do they think they and their ilk have underground bunkers that will stand the military assault that would occur? Do they not think that their actions would be declared a terror attack and treated as such! There probably will be some gun nuts here and there that will take local action as a result of this growing hatred, but it won't be revolution.

[freshwest]

14. Agree, thanks for posting. We should keep up with this. Not panic, but be aware.

It would be a reactionary revolution, not what some expect. Look who is the heaviest armed, has the most money as individuals, the greater land mass and is full of hatred.

That is the right, constantly working for more control. They have been dehumanizing liberals, progressives, Democrats and minorities for decades now. Their message is we have no right to live, that we should be swept away for their nation, which they do not agree is ours as well, without mercy as 'demons' and 'rats.'

We find ourselves in the uncomfortable position of being called statists and defenders of the status quo and the rich or corporations. But we must as they are defenders of a past status quo we fought for years to overcome, with slavery, discrmination, etc.

We have something precious to save but they have talked many of us into saying it's all over, to surrender to the inevitable - to their version of America.

I say No...

[TheKentuckian]

15. I'm not going to be a statist, defend a rotten status quo or prop up the wealthy to fake repel a

radically regressive party because you still end up with a less whacked out and churchy version of the same thing.

Under the conditions you describe there is nothing precious to defend but a bunch of high sounding rhetoric papering over poverty, imperialism, and a loss of the rights of citizenship under a more openly diverse oligarchy.

No fucking way, whatever minuscule baby there is can go down the drain with the sewage like bathwater or the socially liberal people that want to continue along the path to fascism can change your tune.

All or nothing motherfuckers, that is what we on the non-Reagan wing are told so SAME TO YA!
Get your abortions where poor folks have to find opportunity and where our civil liberties are you bunch of overly comfortable assholes thinking the system is working.