Is it wrong to want to overthrow our American government?

Question

Our forefathers said that if ever the government got out of hand or didn't work to the satisfaction of the American people, that the people should overthrow the government. But that is not the attitude today. I actually feel that our current government has a propoganda machine in place to convince us that to do so would be wrong, and we'd be labeled as traitors, antipatriotic, and criminal. Of course, because they don't want to lose their power. The government should fear the people, not vise versa.

I am almost sure that I'll be flagged for this question. Hmmm... wonder if I'll get a visit from the FBI.

Since violence keeps coming up, I will mention that I am not a violent person. I hate war. I would only resort to violence as a last resort, and only if I knew it had a very strong chance of changing things. I would exaust every other peaceful option first.

Sarah, you are correct in all you said, and I did know all of that. Our forefathers won, so they're considered heros. The south lost, so they are considered an embarassment to the country. I am pretty pleased with these answers so far. I figured I'd get a lot of hate messages that demand respect for our government.

And DUH it's illegal, people. The first law a government is going to put in place is that it's illegal overthrow them! Jeez.

Answer 1

You should probably pick up a history book and take a look at what the founding fathers did. They were labled treasonous...infact, what each did was an act of treason. However, what made them different is the fact that they were victorious. When you win, you get to make the rules so to speak. So go ahead, try and mobilize a force that will overthrow the greatest government and greatest militarty that the world has ever seen...I am guessing that you will not win, and that you will be found guilty of treason and labled a traitor. If you are to think that there was no sort of propaganda machine working then, think again...what those men did was illegal. Because of the actions of the thousands of brave men that fought for freedom, we honor them as patriots. Should you overthrow the government and improve upon it, so could you be in time.

Answer 2

I understand what you are saying...not "overthrow" exactly, but change it significantly--And I understand why you would want to do something like that.

Somehow over the past hundred or so years, though, we have become so mired in an almost omnipresent bureaocracy that I can't even imagine how one would go about it.

Back in the 60s, (Yes, I was in SDS, etc.--probably still have an FBI file...) we actually thought that there would come a "REVOLUTION", and that we might have to pick up arms--brother against brother, etc. But, the military/industrial complex is much too great!!! About 2% of the people in the world own about 97% of the wealth. They are not about to give it up. They are the people who set up puppets like Dubya, people who will do their bidding.

About the best you can really hope for is to find good, intelligent people with very, very strong convictions to run for office, live in a small town, get elected mayor, make your own rules.....

There is definitely a propaganda "machine" at work, but the military is what is even
more frightful...read about Kent State and Jackson State, and see what "they" did when the idealists got a little too out of hand.

Don't lose your idealism, and don't let the "love it or leave it" ventriloquist dummies deter you. Part of "loving it" is being free to change it when you feel it is no longer working the way it should! That is patriotism: knowing about the past and respecting it.

Why do people get so angry about questions/thoughts like this? It must be fear. We are "free" to discuss whatever we want in this country.

To those who said it "ain't so", yes it is: the founders of this nation said that we should overthrow the gov't. if it wasn't working properly. Later on people added laws about treason and sedition, because they were afraid that anyone who could read the Constitution MIGHT take it all literally, and try to oust THEM!!!!

So.....all this to say: there will be no violent overthrow of the gov't. from within. (Fear the "black helicopters"......)

If we could all get together and "fight" the powers that keep us apart, we would stand an OK chance of changing parts of the system for the better, but, look at the division just on a little bit of space like Answers. No, it is in the best interest of the "powers that be" to keep us at each others' throats with racism, illegals, stem cell questions, the "religious right", gay marriage questions etc., etc.

Peace and nappiness, brothers and sisters, and never forget the anthem of the 60s: The Power belongs to the People and the People belong in the streets!!!!!"

Answer 3

Why would you overthrow it dummy. Then you'd have to go through all the work of making a system of government that works as well as this one that we have. Do you have any idea how complex this government is? Do you know how long it would take to do something like that? In the meantime this country would be left in a state similar to Iraq with no power or clean water because those are subsidies of the cities which are one of the parts of the government we have.

Answer 4

There's nothing wrong with your question. It's only when you begin to try to act it out that you may wind up in a bit 'o trouble. If you dislike the way government is handling things, there are non-violent ways to approach the problem, and I strongly suggest that you try them first. Start by finding people who feel as you do and see about joining up with them. But if you suspect they are considering violence in response to percieved government misdeeds, better back off quick!

Answer 5

What you are talking about it sedition. Look it up. I know you don't know what it is or you would not have typed all that garbage you spewed out in an attempt to explain it.

And, it is 'illegal'. What you are proposing is seditious activity. Luckily for you, the authorities will take you for what you are, nothing but a mouth, and not mess with you.

I hope your ignorant post does get you on a watch list and visited by the FBI. Rather than put you in a jail I hope they just knock you out and when you wake up, find out you have been deported.

Sent to a country that is more to your suiting. Then you won't have to go through all the effort of screwing up this country to get your spoiled brat selfish way.

Maybe Cuba would be to your suiting. What you talk about in your post would get you killed in Cuba. By the dictators regime.

Keep talking like a fool and you may just get some of the attention you never got from your parents but get it from the FBI.

Sedition is a term of law to refer to covert conduct such as speech and organization that is deemed by the legal authority as tending toward insurrection against the established order. Sedition often included subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent (or resistance) to lawful authority. Sedition may include any commotion, though not aimed at direct and open violence against the laws.

Because sedition is typically considered a subversive act, the overt acts that may be prosecutable under sedition laws vary from one legal code to another. Where those legal codes have a traceable history, there is also a record of the change of definition for what constituted sedition at certain points in history. This overview has served to develop a sociological definition of sedition as well, within study of persecution.

The difference between sedition and treason consists primarily in the subjective ultimate object of the violation to the public peace. Sedition does not consist of levying war against a government nor of adhering to its enemies, giving enemies aid, and giving enemies comfort. Nor does it consist, in most representative democracies, of peaceful protest against a government, nor of attempting to change the government by democratic means (such as direct democracy or constitutional convention).

Answer 6

No as you said, the forefathers told the American People that if they ever became as bad as the British they were revolting against, we should feel it necessary to revolt, and do so. And your right, there is a propaganda machine... And guess what, the day Bush eliminates congress and emerges as supreme dictator, you and I will never be heard from again.

Answer 7

It is illegal to violently overthrow the government. What our forefathers talked about was having the STATES occasionally get together and rewrite the constitution.

Answer 8

It's totally wrong to do that, these days. You'd end up in jail, or fighting Ruby Ridge style. It would be better to remove all who are n power and write some new laws, than to oppose the entire country.

Answer 9

No, it is in our blood and is how democracy works "the people" from inside have to reclaim the country. A invader cannot do it that is what we are starting to learn in Iraq.

Answer 10

It sounds like something interesting to do. However, be prepared to be charged with treason or something like that.