Someone on DU began talking about the inevitability of revolution. Why not revolution? [View all]

[JDPriestly]

Because. Look at the history of revolutions. Especially revolutions and revolts due to extreme poverty. French history is replete with these events. Peasant revolts. Marches.

Most of the aristocracy, the landowners, the wealthy survived the violent episodes intact. A few actually succumbed. The "French Revolution" changed things -- for a while. But then came Napoleon, military losses and, and . . . . In general, revolutions mean that the rich suffer setbacks only to return and rule again.

Revolutions do happen. But they are really horrible affairs. And usually pretty ineffective when it comes to achieving justice.

Repeating the lament that things are bad and people are bound to rise up is just as ineffective, sorry to say. (Although I have said it myself and they may.)

We have a voice. Americans have not yet lost the right to vote. Our current state of injustice in the world could lead to revolution. True. But revolution is unlikely to change much.

What is needed is people who understand what is going on getting out and peacefully talking to voters one by one. We have to explain to people that they are voting against their interests. We have to be the rational ones.

Occupy was good because it attracted attention to injustice and united like-minded people. But real progress is not made by just sitting and commiserating among ourselves. Real progress is made when wise people find good candidates to run for office and then work like the dickens to persuade people to vote for their interests.

We can have real change without violence or revolution. And change without violence or revolution is the only kind of change that really improves people's lives.

One thing that is forgotten about the American Revolution is that it occurred in a country in which most of the land was not farmed or developed and in which there was almost no industry. Ours was truly a land of infinite possibilities and no aristocracy at that time. That is no longer the case. Yet Americans are made to feel like losers because they can't just go out and homestead and make it without much social and infrastructure support.

Nowadays, nobody makes it without social and infrastructure support. Steve Jobs didn't. Bill Gates didn't. William Randolph Hearst didn't. (He did OK with his newspapers, but that his not how he became rich. His father invested in gold mines. Way to go.) They got a boost from friends and/or family. We all need that. We all need to help each other.

The great danger today is that we are gradually forming an aristocracy. We had the Bush presidencies -- father and son. A very bad omen. Now we hear of having another Clinton presidency. Leaving aside whether Hillary Clinton would make a good president or not, the idea of developing even the hint of dynasty in the White House should be repugnant to every American.

We need a people's government and a people's president. That does not mean socialism. It means electing representatives and a president who are strong enough to stand up against the very wealthy as well as the crazy, extremist, self-styled but mistaken reformers. We need people who will dare to move to implement new ideas and require the wealthy to obey the laws that everyone else obeys.

It's that simple.

If you read the history of wealthy men in America, you will note that many of them cheated, bought politicians and undercut their competition in order to create monopolies that harmed our economy. Many, maybe most of them obtained (bought) special favors from the government (or the governments of other countries. Think of the railroad barons who were given generous land grants. There is nothing new about corruption or bribery.) Those who became wealthy really because they were smarter, wiser than others without some cheating or taking unfair advantage are rare.

Some of the wealthiest Americans in history used law enforcement to protect their wealth and harmed others in the process. The list of wrongs that created wealth is very, very long. Just study the building of the railroads, the history of mining, the story of the steel industry. Cut-throat, ruthless competition was not unusual. And as a result a lot of ordinary people suffered.

But violent uprisings only very rarely improved things. Quiet cooperation and wisdom can save the day.

We who post on DU and others like us who see the great need for real change have insight into what could be done differently. We have the power to change the world in the gentle, firm way that it needs to be changed without useless violent revolution.

Just talk to your neighbors. Don't argue. Inform yourself. Learn the facts. Study history. Study the present. Then just state what you believe and why. Let it sink in. Don't excite the defenses in people. Just speak to their common sense. We all have to do this.

Extremism works for a while and then fails. But acquiescence to injustice is dangerous.

At the same time, let's admit that sometimes we are wrong. The wonderful thing about democracy is that through the lens of diverse thought and expression, freedom of speech, freedom of communication, bad ideas can be held up and criticized (we all have them once in a while) and good ideas can rise to the top. But we have to do our part by holding reasoned conversations with each other and with our families and friends, neighbors and acquaintances. We need to do it in a spirit of good will, however and not from one of despondency or anger.

Sorry for the long rant. I don't expect very many people to read to the end. And, in closing, I wish I could always follow my own advice. If you catch me violating it, let me know. Speak up. That's the only way that I or any of us can learn and improve.