NationStates Jolt Archive

Some governments are so screwed up and corrupted, namely the US, that I ahev been thinking maybe a revolution and full restart is needed. I mean, even if the Democrats come back, it will still be so screwed up. Sure the French have a new government every 15 years, but maybe having five republics is better than one. Maybe we really just need a revolution and start anew. Anyone?

PS: I'm not saying start a dictatorship in the US, although that may be necessary...if it were a good dictator. I'm more going for writing a whole new Constitution and starting a new government.

I think the U.S. citizens should vote everyone in government out and get all new people in. They'd be uncorrupt for the most part and progressive legislation or more legislation would pass and more would get done.

You can;t always vote evrythign out though. Also, I'm not preaching a violent, bloody revolution. More of civil disobedience and just arresting and sending gov't officials home to spend time with theri families.

Unfortunately, all governments are prone to corruption. Governments exist to defend and manage the values, assets, interests and rights of their people: their commonwealth. When the majority of the populations no longer trusts any of the ruling parties, a revolution (preferably non-violent) is the only way to put an end to a "legal dictatorship".

Some governments are so screwed up and corrupted, namely the US, that I ahev been thinking maybe a revolution and full restart is needed. I mean, even if the Democrats come back, it will still be so screwed up. Sure the French have a new government every 15 years, but maybe having five republics is better than one. Maybe we really just need a revolution and start anew. Anyone?

PS: I'm not saying start a dictatorship in the US, although that may be necessary...if it were a good dictator. I'm more going for writing a whole new Constitution and starting a new government.

The problem is that a majority of people don't want revolution at this time.

So it's a stupid idea. Yes, Thomas Jefferson was right, but there aren't any patriots left these days.

Too many people living in the suburbs, making money on their 401Ks and their third house (which appreciated in value 45 percent in the last three years), and driving their Hummer H2's, and playing golf on former farmland, and...

Well, you get the picture. Usually, to foment revolution, you need a starved population. As an example, the French after 1940 committed ZERO acts of resistance or sabotage until the British Special Operations Executive started dropping in to France and recruiting Frenchmen. That's right - the French, who were not starving, and who by and large suffered no loss of economic lifestyle, were not interested in goading the Germans. Even after a Resistance began, orchestrated by the British, the effect of the Resistance is generally regarded as ineffective.

Yes, it helped the invasion. But they could never have overthrown the government on their own.

Sometimes, a revolution is needed, yes.

But it doesn't have to be violent. Thatcher's reign for example was for all intents and purposes a revolution, in that it completely changed the way the government worked in Britain.

The problem is that a majority of people don't want revolution at this time.

So it's a stupid idea. Yes, Thomas Jefferson was right, but there aren't any patriots left these days.


I beg to differ.

Theres lots of patriots out there, they just dont stay one for very long after becoming a professional politician.
I myself, while perhaps not hardcore, ocassionally dredge up a fierce streak of the stuff.

I say there are many, well read, intelligent, and honest people out there who consider themselves, or better yet, others would call Patriots.

However, once you start making a lot of money being a politician, and get the promise of lots more, by voting in certain laws that appeal to someone else with tons of cash, you arent really doing it for the benefit of the country, just your own wallet.

The problem is that a majority of people don't want revolution at this time.

So it's a stupid idea. Yes, Thomas Jefferson was right, but there aren't any patriots left these days.


Don't forget about the entire American football team made up of patriots!

Some governments are so screwed up and corrupted, namely the US, that I have been thinking maybe a revolution and full restart is needed. I mean, even if the Democrats come back, it will still be so screwed up. Sure the French have a new government every 15 years, but maybe having five republics is better than one. Maybe we really just need a revolution and start anew. Anyone?

PS: I'm not saying start a dictatorship in the US, although that may be necessary...if it were a good dictator. I'm more going for writing a whole new Constitution and starting a new government.
You severely underestimate the capacity for self-renewal of America. What is needed is for someone with real intellect, personality and vision to be elected President. If all we get are ideologues again, I may just start my OWN damned party! :p

You severely underestimate the capacity for self-renewal of America. What is needed is for someone with real intellect, personality and vision to be elected President. If all we get are ideologues again, I may just start my OWN damned party! :p

Ideologues? Neither Bush nor Kerry were ideologues; far from it.

Noam Chomsky is an ideologue. Daniel Pipes is an ideologue. Neither are in power.

Too many people living in the suburbs, making money on their 401Ks and their third house (which appreciated in value 45 percent in the last three years), and driving their Hummer H2's, and playing golf on former farmland, and...
You forgot the massive credit card and mortgage debt.

Noam Chomsky is an ideologue. Daniel Pipes is an ideologue. Neither are in power.
Thank non-existant God.

Ideologues? Neither Bush nor Kerry were ideologues; far from it.

Noam Chomsky is an ideologue. Daniel Pipes is an ideologue. Neither are in power.
In my book, both Bush ( with his "evangelical christian" base ), and Kerry ( with his radical left base ) are both ideologues.

In my book, both Bush ( with his "evangelical christian" base ), and Kerry ( with his radical left base ) are both ideologues.

Kerry's "radical left" base?

Do you know any radical leftists? Were you paying any attention at all to the radical left's reaction to the Kerry campaign? I was. Trust me; they are not exactly the best of friends.

Thank non-existant God.

I wouldn't mind a country run according to an ideology similar to Noam Chomsky's. Our paths of thought tend to be pretty close.

I wouldn't mind a country run according to an ideology similar to Noam Chomsky's. Our paths of thought tend to be pretty close.
I despise any and all ideologues. They are uncompromising fools who have no idea what they would do were they actually in power and realized that their ideas simply do not work. Governments must do what is pragmatic. One of my problems with both political parties in the United States is, that while they aren't ideolouges, they are still far to devoted to certain unwavering notions.

Ideologues are, however, a blast to parody.

I despise any and all ideologues. They are uncompromising fools who have no idea what they would do were they actually in power and realized that their ideas simply do not work.

Chomsky is hardly an ideologue in that sense. His views are sometimes iconoclastic on the radical post-Marxist left, too, despite his affiliation with that portion of the political spectrum. He is a pretty reasonable person, with arguments that amount to more than "Marx said this" or "Bakunin said that." Anyone who thinks he is the extreme end of the US political scene needs to read some of what, say, the Progressive Labor Party puts out, or any one of the various sectarian Trotskyist cults.

As I said, his approach is similar to mine; we are very close ideologically, though Marx and Nieztsche tend to feature more prominently in my thought than the pre-Industrial Revolution liberals he tends to cite.