General Discussion

marym625

(17,997 posts) Sat Sep 27, 2014, 09:01 AM Sep 2014

Is revolution the only way we can elicit change? [View all]

After many discussions, a couple of polls and reading many responses to posts, it seems that the majority believe that to cause any real change we first have to remove money from politics and change personhood to mean only actual people.

However, it also seems that the majority of people believe that these two things cannot be changed while we live in the corpocracy / oligarchy we currently have.

That leads me to the question, is revolution the only way to cause change?

To clarify, I don't mean blood running in the streets. I mean, as Scuba said, "an awaking of the people and a political revolution"

42 votes, 0 passes \| Time left: Unlimited
	Yes
	36 (86%)
	No
	5 (12%)
	Yes but violence is necessary
	1 (2%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
Show usernames Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll

284 replies

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Highlight:

Is revolution the only way we can elicit change? [View all] marym625 Sep 2014 OP

I used to hope so . . . Brigid Sep 2014 #1

Me too. marym625 Sep 2014 #2

Eeyup. hifiguy Sep 2014 #103

Your question is nonsensical unrepentant progress Sep 2014 #3

I do appreciate your input marym625 Sep 2014 #7

If you're talking about blood running in the streets, then my answer is "no". Scuba Sep 2014 #4

Yes, Scuba marym625 Sep 2014 #5

You're welcome. Scuba Sep 2014 #14

In the words of my one and only hero: 99Forever Sep 2014 #6

Love that! marym625 Sep 2014 #8

I thought you would. 99Forever Sep 2014 #112

Could it ever! marym625 Sep 2014 #122

He Was So MUCH More Than Many Of The Recent ChiciB1 Sep 2014 #171

We, fine lady... 99Forever Sep 2014 #173

Should Have Replied To You Sooner, But ChiciB1 Sep 2014 #202

Revolution is change, pretty much by definition... Wounded Bear Sep 2014 #9

my favorite comment on current marym625 Sep 2014 #10

Yeah... Wounded Bear Sep 2014 #11

The latter would be the apathy marym625 Sep 2014 #33

Respectfully, we do not know what Ghandi and King would say merrily Sep 2014 #81

Very true. marym625 Sep 2014 #105

I am willing to do that, but I am not willing to merrily Sep 2014 #110

I will have to look for the book marym625 Sep 2014 #116

I figured (as to GU). merrily Sep 2014 #124

Respectfully, their strategies came from the ideas they shared, rogerashton Sep 2014 #240

Very true marym625 Sep 2014 #243

I do not think predicting what people long dead, whom we never even merrily Sep 2014 #245

But we can learn from the ideas of our predecessors, and perhaps apply them. rogerashton Sep 2014 #254

Whether we can learn from our predecessors is a very different issue from merrily Sep 2014 #256

I believe you said rogerashton Sep 2014 #271

The one and only form of revolution that will bring results IDemo Sep 2014 #12

Good point marym625 Sep 2014 #15

We can pool our money and make our own noise. Baitball Blogger Sep 2014 #13

There was a group that actually tried to do that marym625 Sep 2014 #17

A mental revolution, or evolution at least. The system we have isn't too bad, but most citizens are Chathamization Sep 2014 #16

I have great faith in the upcoming generation. marym625 Sep 2014 #20

Yes, and perhaps that's why in the end evolutionary change will be more successful than Chathamization Sep 2014 #28

Very true. marym625 Sep 2014 #31

Yes, there is great hope in new generations. The older generations, for the most part, RKP5637 Sep 2014 #74

Some of us older folks marym625 Sep 2014 #76

I see in them some of the spirit we had in the 60's when hoping to RKP5637 Sep 2014 #86

ah that damn me generation marym625 Sep 2014 #98

No Shankapotomus Sep 2014 #18

There is always that option marym625 Sep 2014 #22

The Inca Shankapotomus Sep 2014 #24

That always puts me in mind of the song marym625 Sep 2014 #29

Had to YouTube it Shankapotomus Sep 2014 #32

Now I have to listen to it again marym625 Sep 2014 #34

Yes it was Shankapotomus Sep 2014 #35

Thank you marym625 Sep 2014 #36

Yes, most likely. I wish it wasn't so, but the ability to democratically determine our national Zorra Sep 2014 #19

Thank you for that we'll thought out marym625 Sep 2014 #25

PLUS ONE, a huge bunch! Enthusiast Sep 2014 #147

If the changes were possible through the political process... wundermaus Sep 2014 #21

awesome quote! marym625 Sep 2014 #26

Right on! Louisiana1976 Sep 2014 #85

I've lost faith in the electoral process. Will another president, another one after that RKP5637 Sep 2014 #104

exactly how I see it marym625 Sep 2014 #108

From what I see, DHS militarized the local police becasue they know there is so much RKP5637 Sep 2014 #118

I feel silly just saying yeah, I agree marym625 Sep 2014 #125

This is exactly the conclusions that I have been coming to. Bohunk68 Sep 2014 #158

what a thought! marym625 Sep 2014 #169

Sadly, I think this is quite possible, because it has become us 'vs' them. The military and RKP5637 Sep 2014 #172

I think revolutiin is prob. needed, hopefully a Gandhian Eleanors38 Sep 2014 #23

Very nice, Eleanor marym625 Sep 2014 #27

You are welcome. Eleanors38 Sep 2014 #30

Yes, and violent revolution at that. BKH70041 Sep 2014 #37

I appreciate your comment marym625 Sep 2014 #38

I added a 3rd option. eom marym625 Sep 2014 #40

If We Do Have One RadicalGeek Sep 2014 #39

I am not familiar with that marym625 Sep 2014 #42

agree marions ghost Sep 2014 #217

Yes, But RadicalGeek Sep 2014 #249

Some will lead marions ghost Sep 2014 #250

I should perhaps let you know RadicalGeek Sep 2014 #263

ha ha marions ghost Sep 2014 #272

As One Of My (more Conservative) Friends Would Say RadicalGeek Sep 2014 #274

True that marions ghost Sep 2014 #276

The Powers That Be are making peaceful revolution less feasible. Orsino Sep 2014 #41

judging from the votes so far marym625 Sep 2014 #43

have they tried that voting thing? pansypoo53219 Sep 2014 #44

Who is "they?" marym625 Sep 2014 #45

Violence will happen. ZombieHorde Sep 2014 #46

No doubt marym625 Sep 2014 #48

While Gandhi wasn't violent (except toward his wife) ZombieHorde Sep 2014 #50

yes marym625 Sep 2014 #52

Takes a lot of strength to peacefully stand up against violence, in my opinion. ZombieHorde Sep 2014 #67

I wonder if the rank and file marym625 Sep 2014 #72

I have no idea. ZombieHorde Sep 2014 #75

It will be a peaceful revolution marions ghost Sep 2014 #218

You are assuming there is a majority who want fundamental or radical change DemocratSinceBirth Sep 2014 #47

Not assuming anything. marym625 Sep 2014 #49

There are parties well to the left of the Democratic party on the ballot... DemocratSinceBirth Sep 2014 #53

That is truly one frightening thought marym625 Sep 2014 #55

I think most folks get along when things are relatively calm. DemocratSinceBirth Sep 2014 #59

Not to the degree they do now marym625 Sep 2014 #64

We definitely cannot survive another 250 years like this... marions ghost Sep 2014 #219

nope marym625 Sep 2014 #223

Iphone 6 just came out Puzzledtraveller Sep 2014 #61

My gf has the Samsung 3. It looks nice. I don't have a flip phone but I do have a cell phone./NT DemocratSinceBirth Sep 2014 #63

I only recently got a smart phone Puzzledtraveller Sep 2014 #66

I have a slide phone. I don't even know how to text. LOL. DemocratSinceBirth Sep 2014 #77

I agree completely Puzzledtraveller Sep 2014 #82

KY is a pretty culturally conservative state. DemocratSinceBirth Sep 2014 #101

I got a Lumia 635 phone about a month ago. greatauntoftriplets Sep 2014 #78

Indeed Puzzledtraveller Sep 2014 #90

LOL. I had a doctor appointment about a week after I got the phone. greatauntoftriplets Sep 2014 #92

Revolution doesn't work agent46 Sep 2014 #51

yep. marym625 Sep 2014 #54

If you find a programmer that will work for free, pm me. merrily Sep 2014 #84

I will do that marym625 Sep 2014 #94

I have posted several times about how we could merrily Sep 2014 #113

sad isn't it marym625 Sep 2014 #119

I am going to check that out! merrily Sep 2014 #123

I posted something similar; there doesn't seem to be a good website for progressive organizing that Chathamization Sep 2014 #199

Exactly. Every idea I have that might have some impact merrily Sep 2014 #246

You mean, my life doesn't really depend on whether merrily Sep 2014 #58

Pfft! Enthusiast Sep 2014 #153

There is two prongs. Puzzledtraveller Sep 2014 #65

I agree and have cited those things myself. merrily Sep 2014 #156

Other: I am not at all sure that revolution would bring change, if we are merrily Sep 2014 #56

man am I getting depressed marym625 Sep 2014 #57

Another poster suggested massive civil disobedience. merrily Sep 2014 #60

Not the poll results marym625 Sep 2014 #68

But, some comments are saying there is stuff we can do. merrily Sep 2014 #70

Very true marym625 Sep 2014 #73

btw, I meant violent revolution. merrily Sep 2014 #91

He posted about 3rd response marym625 Sep 2014 #100

Yes, I saw his post. I still don't know. merrily Sep 2014 #102

ask him marym625 Sep 2014 #114

Overthrowing the oligarchy / military industrial complex would certainly help. Initech Sep 2014 #62

As it has been now marym625 Sep 2014 #69

How do you think you overthrow it, though? merrily Sep 2014 #71

prosecute the evil doers questionseverything Sep 2014 #79

With the exception of hand-counting our votes, you are talking merrily Sep 2014 #83

here is one evil doer we could get to questionseverything Sep 2014 #93

Okay, so Monday, then? merrily Sep 2014 #89

see my post #83 questionseverything Sep 2014 #99

Do you mean 93? I don't think finally impeaching one judge is going merrily Sep 2014 #106

yes 93 questionseverything Sep 2014 #109

I call it "in all likelihood, a one of." merrily Sep 2014 #111

we need to make sure it happens questionseverything Sep 2014 #117

I think most or all of DU knows about this case. merrily Sep 2014 #121

msm follows the net now questionseverything Sep 2014 #130

Yes, a mistake on the part of some here. However, that means only that merrily Sep 2014 #133

fuller is rove's guy questionseverything Sep 2014 #139

Obviously, I am in favor of impeaching and convicting Fuller. merrily Sep 2014 #143

prosecuting the evil doers questionseverything Sep 2014 #148

Yes, so does a bad judge passing away, but only if merrily Sep 2014 #151

We had our chance to prosecute the evil doers. Enthusiast Sep 2014 #150

Arresting the MIC for war crimes and holding our own Nuremburg-style trials. Initech Sep 2014 #88

I thought we were talking about what it takes on our part to effect change. merrily Sep 2014 #95

... questionseverything Sep 2014 #107

UofI territory marym625 Sep 2014 #127

yes not prosecuting the war criminals, torturers is his biggest failure questionseverything Sep 2014 #134

Doesn't the executive order marym625 Sep 2014 #138

hmmm which eo? questionseverything Sep 2014 #141

Sorry was looking for it marym625 Sep 2014 #146

ok the improper use of the westfall act by current doj questionseverything Sep 2014 #163

I believe it is marym625 Sep 2014 #165

scroll down to #34 questionseverything Sep 2014 #142

Thank you marym625 Sep 2014 #149

We let that bunch get away with so much during and after Iran-Contra. Enthusiast Sep 2014 #155

yes if we had gone up the chain of command then questionseverything Sep 2014 #168

As some responders have already pointed out rock Sep 2014 #80

My fear is.... marym625 Sep 2014 #128

We would need an extremely strong president, someone like FDR, but I've seen none. However, IMO RKP5637 Sep 2014 #174

so very true! eom marym625 Sep 2014 #177

That is a serious fear rock Sep 2014 #175

I am trying marym625 Sep 2014 #180

The thing is the "we" who have been trying are a tiny fraction of the population, and disorganized Chathamization Sep 2014 #203

It seems weird to say I am isolated marym625 Sep 2014 #204

It's happening slowly because so few people are working on it. It's like being in a group house with Chathamization Sep 2014 #208

Not advocating not voting marym625 Sep 2014 #210

Yes, it's not either/or. I'm just saying I'd focus more on what I see as the low hanging fruit. Chathamization Sep 2014 #212

see my reply marym625 Sep 2014 #226

It’s been a while since I’ve seen Eyes on the Prize, but you’re right, we should look at past and Chathamization Sep 2014 #275

I'm watching the entire series again marym625 Sep 2014 #278

Good point marions ghost Sep 2014 #220

I watched Eye On The Prize marym625 Sep 2014 #225

Civil disobedience IS the way to go marions ghost Sep 2014 #227

I remember this marym625 Sep 2014 #229

Absolutely marions ghost Sep 2014 #233

I think it was Montgomery marym625 Sep 2014 #234

I was so disappointed Occupy sputtered out daredtowork Sep 2014 #87

I agree. That was a hopeful situtation marym625 Sep 2014 #131

It got cold snooper2 Sep 2014 #261

What America needs is a socialist government. And unless we are lucky enough to find a Louisiana1976 Sep 2014 #96

Generally the democrats do not have the guts to stand up to the opposition! n/t RKP5637 Sep 2014 #115

Wouldn't that be WONDERFUL marym625 Sep 2014 #140

I like the word awakening. That has to happen first, on an individual level. Avalux Sep 2014 #97

Let's hope so marym625 Sep 2014 #132

I used to think so... kentuck Sep 2014 #120

What a horrible percentage! marym625 Sep 2014 #135

Yes. I have to say that I'm thankful for "Parks and Recreation", since it's apparently the reference Chathamization Sep 2014 #209

There's more than one way to accomplish change. craigmatic Sep 2014 #126

SCOTUS would certainly help marym625 Sep 2014 #136

It only seems like that because the system isn't designed to work. craigmatic Sep 2014 #166

only semi discouraged marym625 Sep 2014 #167

I am beginning to think so... awoke_in_2003 Sep 2014 #129

Yep marym625 Sep 2014 #137

It would be a revolutionary act to remove money from elections. Enthusiast Sep 2014 #144

I don't like it at all! marym625 Sep 2014 #152

I agree. Enthusiast Sep 2014 #154

This is a movement... marions ghost Sep 2014 #222

This HAS TO END! marym625 Sep 2014 #228

It is about convincing people treestar Sep 2014 #145

My uncle was a self made marym625 Sep 2014 #157

Very relevant post currently trending marym625 Sep 2014 #159

Yes, but not a political or economic revolution. Although those things, along with others 20score Sep 2014 #160

Very well said marym625 Sep 2014 #162

Any old change, or change for the better? Silent3 Sep 2014 #161

I assumed "for the better" was a given marym625 Sep 2014 #164

Think of the word "revolution" marions ghost Sep 2014 #224

Do you know what's scary? DemocratSinceBirth Sep 2014 #170

In the opposite direction? marym625 Sep 2014 #176

Them and their ilk would be running things instead of us./NT DemocratSinceBirth Sep 2014 #178

Ah! Thank you marym625 Sep 2014 #181

My vote is for General Strikes and Online Petitions to the Whitehouse NightWatcher Sep 2014 #179

General strikes marym625 Sep 2014 #182

It's an 'and' thing. mahina Sep 2014 #183

It very much does marym625 Sep 2014 #184

A Force More Powerful on youtube is in many languages mahina Sep 2014 #185

Thank you marym625 Sep 2014 #189

Those are just little clips. mahina Sep 2014 #191

Danes withdraw obedience from the Nazis, topple Nazi occupation with (mostly) nonviolence mahina Sep 2014 #186

Ghandi boots the British with nonviolence mahina Sep 2014 #187

A Force More Powerful and Albert Einstein Institution links mahina Sep 2014 #188

Thank you so much! marym625 Sep 2014 #192

;) Never surrender…never, never, never, never. mahina Sep 2014 #193

mahalo, mahina! and I won't ever :) marym625 Sep 2014 #195

Free downloads at the Albert Einstein Institution include "From Dictatorship to Democracy", mahina Sep 2014 #190

Síochána! marym625 Sep 2014 #194

195 comments and 0 snark! marym625 Sep 2014 #196

The powers-that-be are doing their damnedest to take away all the alternatives. Maedhros Sep 2014 #197

ain't that the truth! marym625 Sep 2014 #198

revolutions usually make things worse eShirl Sep 2014 #200

You're not the first to say that marym625 Sep 2014 #201

GOTR! whatchamacallit Sep 2014 #205

Sorry marym625 Sep 2014 #207

Get Out The Revolution whatchamacallit Sep 2014 #214

OH!! marym625 Sep 2014 #215

Evolutionary change doesn't exist. BlindTiresias Sep 2014 #206

You are not the only one that has pointed that out marym625 Sep 2014 #221

The window on that already closed BlindTiresias Sep 2014 #267

Well said. marym625 Sep 2014 #270

There will not be any revolution. If the present crop of Americans lived during... BlueJazz Sep 2014 #211

man that's just a scary thought marym625 Sep 2014 #213

I think you're wrong about that.... marions ghost Sep 2014 #230

There are many things I would love to be wrong about. BlueJazz Sep 2014 #237

Be the change marions ghost Sep 2014 #241

No AgingAmerican Sep 2014 #216

You and others marym625 Sep 2014 #232

We do it in the current system AgingAmerican Sep 2014 #262

Sorry, I wasn't clear marym625 Sep 2014 #264

Something really, really AgingAmerican Sep 2014 #266

That's exactly what I am afraid of marym625 Sep 2014 #269

We’re already 60% of the way there, with 13% coming up. Chathamization Sep 2014 #268

People need to wake up and vote for democrats! B Calm Sep 2014 #231

Post removed Post removed Sep 2014 #235

This message was self-deleted by its author marym625 Sep 2014 #236

Its a code hack Go Vols Sep 2014 #238

Thank goodness for techy people marym625 Sep 2014 #242

np Go Vols Sep 2014 #244

No link showing on my tablet. . B Calm Sep 2014 #239

Scuba's definition is a good one, but it would not be a revolution. riqster Sep 2014 #247

I don't think we've gotten that far marym625 Sep 2014 #248

Oh, sure. We need that to keep our rights from being further infringed. riqster Sep 2014 #253

When Climate Change can no longer be ignored, I think the populace will remember... randome Sep 2014 #251

What is so amazing marym625 Sep 2014 #252

Heading to Starbucks. Will ponder it over my $6 coffee. nt. NCTraveler Sep 2014 #255

Oh go for broke! marym625 Sep 2014 #258

A revolution would institute a 100% Libertarian oligarchy. If that's what you want, have at it. stevenleser Sep 2014 #257

Can you imagine marions ghost Sep 2014 #259

Not here. Not with the stand your ground crowd. They would shoot us for fun. nt stevenleser Sep 2014 #260

I don't ally with anyone marions ghost Sep 2014 #273

They had all the weapons marym625 Sep 2014 #265

Revolutions never result in the kinds of changes that are actually needed. GliderGuider Sep 2014 #277

You sound like my brother marym625 Sep 2014 #279

Sounds like you have a very thoughtful brother. GliderGuider Sep 2014 #280

It's definitely a compliment marym625 Sep 2014 #281

I have sisters, I know how that goes! GliderGuider Sep 2014 #282

LOL! marym625 Sep 2014 #283

Yep, like that! GliderGuider Sep 2014 #284