Self defense is essential, but passive rather than active. You can see the progress in history from bearing arms being natural and universal, to it being an obligation of citizenship, to it being a right, and finally to being an endangered right. It may be true that the right, the rich, and the powerful fear violent revolution, but revolutions are not violent, or need not be violent. It is reaction that is violent, and in fact, many revolutions begin as reactions to reactions.
The counter revolution by the nobles preceded the French Revolution in France. Bankruptcy is another precursor to revolution. In any event, insurrection is not revolution, and revolution requires no violence. If violence is required it is made necessary by violent reaction and reaction is always violent.
Revolution is a change of forms as the Declaration of Independence makes clear. People right themselves and in the process right their social forms. But the horse before the cart is the people righting themselves.
We agree in fact that something has to change. We are at odds with the right over the direction of change, but I would urge the left to get out of their way. The difficult thing to do in life is to overcome the natural and universal conservatism of all of humanity. It is not necessary to have set the course of human progress. The challenge is to overcome the inertia of the human mind. First get things falling, and get the hell out of the way, and then help to set up a society that will work for left and right and middle. Many on the right see the corrosive effect of money in politics. Many on the right see the impossibility of making partocracy work when party must be moved to move government. Many on the right want as much as the left to shuffle the deck of the commonwealth so it serves once more this people. So what if the tea party is serving fruit cakes. They make good points and where they make them they should be encouraged. This is the stars wars strategy: Let the wookie win.
If you want violent revolution you are on your own, and I hope you are an army of one. Because the government is looking for you and looking at you, and as soon as you organize which every lilly livered wanna be revolutionist does, they are all over you. Don't organize. Disorganize. Resist. Learn to resist as an individual. All that is keeping the government going is momentum. It is falling as we speak. Prepare to defend yourself, not against your government, but against the breakdown of law. Think about what you want for the future. Help me to write a new constitution and try to gain wide spread acceptance of it. Revolutions are typically dangerous to follow, but deadly to lead. Let the people do the hard part, and take the credit if you are the sort. Do not point a gun in the direction of the government, or I will rat you out. Do nothing to keep the beast alive.
As much as in Anglo Saxon England, the society rests on three legs like a stool. It rests on the government, on the churches, and on the economy. Hate them all, resist them all; but do not raise a hand against them because it only empowers them. Form new relationships and learn who you can trust. Think as a man. No one gets ahead by getting even. Make your enemies your friends because there are simply too many of them to do otherwise with.
Revolt is sowing the wind. You cannot determine the course of revolution or its likely outcome. You cannot tell people what forms they think will work best for them, but if they have the power of democracy they can correct all mistakes. No matter what general form of relationship people have, they will invariably cut their own deals much as people in the South do to their great disadvantage with employers. People did this under hitler and stalin as well.
Ideologies and laws are mere suggestions. With the smallest amount of freedom people will remake their worlds following their own inclinations. This behavior should be encouraged rather than discouraged. Revolution should always free rather than constrain. Never support the tyranny of the ideal. Live without ideals, without ideal forms. Seek the practical solution. Encourage people to make their own deals. Never try to dictate any portion of anyones life. Make government the court of justice for the people. Encourage justice everywhere and in all situations, and all will be well.
= new reply since forum marked as read
