Are contemporary Americans too complacent for another revolution?

Question

Do Americans raised in an atmosphere of at least 125 years of increasing government-sponsored nannydom have anything remotely in common with the founders of the United States? Would they be willing to revolt against a tyrannical government -- or are all of us too dependent upon it now that we will take whatever it does -- or use it to take whatever WE can from our fellow Americans?

Answer 1

Let me weigh on this and see if I can put things in perspective. In the first place, many of our ancestors at the time of the Revolution were as complacent as Americans are today. But the more friction created by the minority of the rabblerousers, the more tyrannical became the acts of the British military. They took to forcing families to quarter and feed them. The British Navy commandeered American merchant ships and hijacked members of their crews and impressed them into serving the British navy and any multitude of other wrongs. When the wrongs became to heavy and tyrannical a burden for the people to bear, they revolted.

In like kind, modern day Americans are as complacent as their ancestors. We fear the potential repercussions of upsetting our government, because the idea of what could replace it (i.e. dictatorship, communism, socialism, fascism, religious tyranny like that exercised by the Roman Church and modern day Isalm), is more frightening. The situation at Waco sent a wake up call to many Americans about how far our government would go. It backfired on the government in most respects, waking people from their complacent doldrums. (This is not meant as an endorsement of David Koresh or the Branch Davidians. Whatever they were, they deserved a day in court, not destruction by US law enforcement and military might).

If this government resorts to more fequent tyrannical acts, like the ones at Waco and Ruby Ridge, Idaho, then just as Japan realized too late that they had awakened a sleeping giant, then so too would the tyrants in government. We Americans are slow to anger, but if you get us riled, you better hide all your stuff.

Hope this helps clarify the issue.

Answer 2

Despite the media's impressive efforts to support the contrary, the average American is not a "stupid ruffian too ignorant to bother with politics."

True, Americans have let their government grow like a vicious weed for the past century, as it slowly consumed freedom after freedom until today - when it nearly controls the entire garden.

However, Americans have not completely forgotten the founding of their country. Even today, groups like the Ayn Rand Institute actively work to remind Americans of what real freedom means.

The simple fact that you have asked this question and received responses is an answer in itself.

Answer 3

Revolution comes from the poor. Big business and gov't make sure the poor have juuuust enough to keep them complacent. Why should I revolt if I've got a TV, a car and a joint? I think the next revolution will come from the squeezed middle class.

Answer 4

No, we have nothing in common with the founding fathers or we would not sit back and let the government and our employers tell us where we can and can't smoke, carry guns or allow the states to tax items brought in from another state, tell us what we can and can't do on our own property or compel us to incriminate ourselves. The founding fathers would cry if they saw the shape of the country and the people's complacency.

Answer 5

Unforunatley, the simple answer is yes. Americans are too complacent to care about anything that does not have a direct effect on them or their family. We have shamelessly become a nation of egotisical, self-centered ethnocentrics.

Answer 6

i'm not an anarchist. the reason i am interested in politics is because i believe our union might continue, not because i have abandoned hope.

revolution is for when i can tell i am oppressed; right now i'm just insulted that this administration has attempted to steal my rights so obviously. aren't you sort of amused they have been so obvious and gleeful with their machinations?

human beings have always been apathetic and ignorant at large. know what they call the people who fled the revolution rather than fight the brits? canadians. the song has stayed the same, what you yearn for is mythology.

Answer 7

no,
no,
yes,
yes

Too lazy, too uninformed (ignorant) of American affairs much less global ones, too impatient, selfish and media crazed to take the time to learn and understand what's going on or what impact it has on them (and certainly dont give a damn how it affects the rest of the world!!)
Too irresponsible to do anything- if a problem arose with the government they'd say "the government needs to do a better job" or some pointless crap like that,
And ooh if anything could 'give them more'-- because they feel so damned entitled- you betcha theyd be taking it.

Answer 8

Each generation is getting weaker, the end of USA as we know it, will eventually end. Too many receiving without paying any taxes.

Answer 9

The only real answer is... YES to all of your questions.

Answer 10

it sounds like you already know the answer, and yes i agree.