Posted by
Patrick Henry on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 7:06:20 AM
So, will the current virulent political polarization eventuate in Americans fighting
government -- and even one another -- in the streets? It seems more possible now
than at any time since the Civil War of the 1860s, but like all historic upheaval it
depends on several factors.
One key is the middle class that represents the latgest social group and the mainstream
of the nation. If and when it is the consensus of this group that government intends
to limit their potential for upward financial mobility, or that government policies are
unacceptably punitive and confiscatory toward them, the potential for rebellion and
violence will escalate exponentially. The objective of left-leaning (socialist) politics
has always been the "classless society." If it becomes evident that this will be achieved
by pushing the middle class (majority) down, open rebellion may well occur.
It also depends on whether radical government policies can be effectively moderated
by electoral and parliamentary means. If a majority come to believe that a "one-party
system" is being perpetuated, that elections are being manipulated through clever
identity politics and shekeinery and that it is impossible, by other means, to restore
reasonable checks an balances, the seeds for revolution will have been irrevocably
sown.
Additionally, if repressive government regulations in areas such as the private
right to own and bear arms, the ability to own and solely control private property,
the freedom to strive for ecoomic independence or the right to open and free
speech (including dissenting speech) begin to severely limit the liberties now
enjoyed by Americans they WILL rebel, and they WILL fight.
Should hostilities break out, what might such conflict look like. Clearly we
will not see armies massed in the hills outside Gettysburg, as in the bloodiest
battle of the 1860s. It may start with a Kent State type incident, with government
violently repressing massed dissent, or be triggered by the implementation of
some new Draconian policy. It will be guerilla warfare, adopting the tactics like
those of the Weather Underground and targeting government facilities and even
officials. It wil doubtless involve relentless cyber-attacks and aim at degrading
governments capacity to function. If it becomes class warfare, it may even result
in open battles between the entitlement population and those who consider
themselves victimized by the growth of those entitlements. It may result in
the suspension of posse comitatus, federalization of the national guard and open
mobilization of the military against the civilian population. The matter of
whether American troops, a majority of whom disagree with government policy,
would obey an order to fire on Americans on American soil is anyone's guess.
But the fact is that enough of the elements exist -- at least in rudimentary
fashion -- to suggest that a revolt is possible. The clear message to government
is to slow down systemic change, listen to ALL the people, not just political
patrons, the entitlement class or powerful unions, and seek moderations that
will allow Americans to digest change gradually. Avoid overt power grabs and
arbitrary suspensions of traditional freedoms. Allow the courts time to consider
and rule on constitutional issues at stake. Avoid the apperance of discarding
or discounting traditional American values. Or pursue an opposite course at
your own peril. America was born in revolution and waged a bitter civil conflict
to preserve a union and achieve rights for all. Any group or government that
believes Americans have lost the drive, the commitment or the stomach to defend
their hard-won liberties -- by force if necessary -- embraces a deadly delusion.