would you take up arms against the U.S. government if it became oppressive?

Question

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!"
Benjamin Franklin

"If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude
greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us
in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down
and lick the hand that feeds you; May your chains set lightly upon
you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen."
—Samuel Adams

"Law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it
violates the right of an individual." --Thomas Jefferson

"No nation however powerful, any more than an individual, can
be unjust with impunity. Sooner or later, public opinion, an
instrument merely moral in the beginning, will find occasion
physically to inflict its sentences on the unjust... The lesson
is useful to the weak as well as the strong." --Thomas Jefferson


evil provails when good men fail to act.

Answer 1

IF?

Answer 2

We may not be able to take up arms if the second amendment is struck down. America is on a bad path. We have become the spoiled child of Europe and we are going to be learning some hard life lessons in the coming decades.

Answer 3

you've picked some great quotations to remind those who ignore history books the principles upon which this country was founded. it's not whether people would take up arms against the u.s. government if it became oppressive; it's whether they would recognize it was happening. we're so inundated with technology and lip service that it's very easy to get distracted by shiny things and not take notice of this government. look at the previous answers. there are people who still believe that dems tax 80 percent and just hand it over to poor people. the actual amount of the federal budget that goes to social programs is way below that, with most of the budget going toward military spending and tax cuts (corporate and upper-upper-class). but, because they're only listening to one side, they won't notice that this administration has racked up the largest deficit in history (with inflation taken into accord) with spending, or that those 'tax cuts' will be covered by a gradual increase in taxes for the middle class. these numbers/data can be located at the u.s. government's own websites and through objective studies, but it's much easier to hear it from our favorite political talking head than to look it up for ourselves. surely, constitutional rights are more in jeopardy now than they were prior to this administration, but because we in america cannot recognize or compare what happens here with what happened with stalin or hitler, i doubt anyone will even think to contest what's happening. bush isn't evil; he's opportunistic. he and his administration realize that the american public is too fascinated with pop culture and celebrities that any rights they lose or excessive government spending goes largely ignored. and, as long as there's a patsy to blame, it will remain unnoticed. i'd bet my left knee that if we took a good look at all the text in the patriot act and compared it to the constitution -- then applied them to current socio-political goings-on, we'd realize that many 'inalienable rights' disappeared while we weren't looking. and they'd be just as effective today.

Answer 4

"...That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness..."

"...But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security..."

These are parts of the Preamble of the Declaration of Independence. In that fantastic document, we actually ENCOURAGE the overthrow of a federal governing body if it is oppressive & create our own.

So, technically, if the U.S. became a destructive force in the world and cause mass oppression, we as human being have the responsibility to overthrow it.

Of course, I wouldn't encourage it under the current circumstances.Things aren't great, but it's far from national oppression.

Answer 5

My favorite was by Ben Franklin....I'll have to paraphrase it though,I don't have his gift for speech. " A man who trades liberty for security deserves neither" also appropriate no? Also Jefferson said revolution should occur every ummm 8 years was it?
Good God, we all just made some F.B.I. watch list lol

Answer 6

All Americans have an obligation to take up arms if the government became oppressive. With priviledges also comes responsibilities.
Hopefully we shall not see it in our lifetime.

Answer 7

No

All wars are insane and immorral no matter what.

The USA is currently oppressive through its support of Israel and invasion of Iraq and threats againt Syria and Iran.

Answer 8

Oppressive in terms of imposing a religion on us, or oppressive in terms of outlawing religion all together?

Oppressive in terms of taking 80% of our income in taxes so those who don't have to work don't have too or oppressive in not taxing us enough to defend us from the fascist in the world?

Oppressive in terms of spying on our every move or oppressive in not defending us against those who'd cause us harm?

There are many on this forum \ discussion \ Q & A thing that are intolerant of the opposite side. I've seen many say they "hate" those who disagree with them. If that kind of leadership is coming to America - then probably yes - to answer your question

Answer 9

if the government started to oppress the people of America, i would definitely invoke my second amendment right. ( the right to bare arms. for all the liberals that don't know their rights.) no administration has the right to be tyrannical against the American people.

Answer 10

Only when all other options have failed.

We still have the courts, and elections, and non-violent civil disobedience. Each of those is pretty powerful as a tool for reform.

And it's one of those things where if all those have already failed, we won't be the ones starting the fight.

Answer 11

When I was in the USAF I was asked by my commanding officer if I would arrest my own family if they had been accused of being traitors to my country. I told them they would have to arrest me first. Nuff said.