“An enlightened people, and an energetic public opinion… will control and enchain the aristocratic spirit of the government.” –Thomas Jefferson
No real original point to make here, no real solutions either, but it certainly does reinforce my point about The People. I am a tad uncomfortable comparing our current situation with the French Revolution…..guillotines make me nervous…. but….
I thought this was a democracy!
I suppose representative democracy contains a certain element of aristocracy within it, at least in as much as the representatives will come to consider themselves above the people, better than the people.
Especially the long serving ones. Especially the long serving ones that have participated in gerrymandering etc. to make sure they STAY long standing. Especially the long serving ones who have people camped out in front of their house.
(btw I have no knowledge that Pelosi has participated in gerrymandering)
I suppose it only really becomes a problem when the representatives demonstrably stop representing the people….like this… Poll: 70% Support Fully Funded Withdrawal or NOTHING by andgarden…..
As I say….I am uncomfortable with talk of guillotines….but I become less uncomfortable with the word revolution everyday.
“If once the people become inattentive to the public affairs, you and I, and Congress and Assemblies, Judges and Governors, shall all become wolves. It seems to be the law of our general nature, in spite of individual exceptions.”
Thomas Jefferson
“Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms (of government) those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny”
Thomas Jefferson
“Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period and pursued unalterably through every change of ministers, too plainly prove a deliberate, systematic plan of reducing [a people] to slavery.” –Thomas Jefferson
“Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government…”
Thomas Jefferson
“I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever.”
Thomas Jefferson
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“We are not to expect to be translated from despotism to liberty in a feather-bed.” –Thomas Jefferson
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had some input into the sweetheart gerrymander CA now enjoys.
As for revolution. . .? I don’t really know what you mean by that. I don’t think Pelosi is being tyrannical, I just think she’s being overly cautious.
I don’t really see any option other than to continue what I’m doing. By and large, I like our form of government. It’s not as if we’re going to get a parliament any time soon.
and since I can’t stomach more than five minutes of just about any MSM media “newscast” I don’t have too much of a problem with bringing back the guillotine as long as it’s use is confined to our current aristocracy!
To quote a song —
I will not fight you with sticks, stones, or guns. If the law of the country will not protect me, my loved ones, or my home, then I will run away. I will be a refugee. I will not be asking myself, why I didn’t leave in time?
The United States was born of war. It will die of war too.
Take away their money instead.
And give it then to them
Who are far more worthy.
Defund the bloody war machine!
Defund the Aristocracy!
Defund the sick Hypocrisy!
And who then are we?
A merry band of humanity!
Wheeeee! 🙂
revolutions SHOULD be cyclic, as the name implies.
on the tumbrill go round and round…
……………………………….
……………………………….
……………………………….
But it’s just a ruse and they sneak up from behind and kill us all.
learning how to knit… I’m usually a non-violent person… but starting to understand the glee of the old lady, Madame DeFarge. Is that wrong?
re: guillotines
“I fucking get it now!”
sang Nigeria’s Afro-Beat creator, Fela, about his nation.
The regrettable thing about the “game of society” is that it proceeds on the expectation of a least decent behavior amongst its members. So anyone willing to violate the norms has an upper hand.
Any serious revolutionary knows that a highly organized and dedicated cadre can grab more power in proportion to the degree of chaos around them. (This is Vampirism 101.)
So, earth changes forcing relocations? well, “a) we can get flown to wherever there’s dry land and a chance for food, and b) whole populations displaced, land values going haywire? Fucking-A!!!”
Complete destruction of the currency? “Well we’ll be holding whatever is valuable. Where’s the problem?”
Breakdown of infrastructure: “Won’t slow me down. And raises the outcry that something MUST be done.”
I’ve joked the Dems front-runners–heck, most of those well-placed on earth–are right now trying to get themselves a seat on the escape spaceships that are being built in an undisclosed location.
That would explain at least why nobody’s saying anything about what’s going on. (Yes, there are some, but they don’t get heard too often, and are echoed never.)
But the serious part of the joke is the Dem leadership is (and maybe this is too strong) complicit in the destruction of everything, simply by not speaking about it. It’s made doubly ugly by their actual accommodations they’ve made.
I’m so pissed at the Dems right now, I try not to comment at DKos. I haven’t investigated much around here yet, but I’m going to be bold and say if there’s a candidate who’s platform is a) bring the troops home from all 132 countries, b) stop taxing labor, and c) we take care of our own, and every human within our borders is our own, well, that’s who I’m voting for regardless of party.
My 2nd choice is Al Gore. (please! please! please!) Truthfully, I don’t completely trust him, only because I haven’t heard him renounce the goal of global hegemony for the US. He’s of that class that sees that as a goal. (As are Hillary, Obama, McCain, et al)
But I expect he’s genuinely a good, smart, and still open to learning human, so that would be a representative for us to the rulers.