govenrment if they have come to the unanimous conclusion that their right to "Life, Liberty, & The Pursuit Of Happiness" has been taken away from them by their government?
And if so, would the US Military stand with the population, or quash the insurrection? Could a son wearing a soldiers uniform actually raise a weapon to his own mother marching on Washington D.C.?
2007-07-17 08:41:02 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
Though many might say so, there is no actual right.
If you look at the time of the Articles of Confederation, which pre-dated the Constitution, there was concern over local armed rebellions. So, when writing the Consitution, there was in mind the fact that there needed to be means other than violence to redress issues.
So, if you look at the Second Amendment, it specifically stated "A well regulated militia being necessary for the protection of a free state..." In political science terms, terms used back than which the founding fathers would have known, state was specifically the government. The term "nation" is used to refer to a group of people. So, even there, which many who say there is a clear right cite, they are talking about the protection of the government.
And, we need to ask what the threshold is for armed rebellion. At what point do we have a right to take up arms against the government to redress our issues? If I don't think I owe taxes, do I have a right to find redress through violence? At what line do we say "On that side, we use peaceful political means, and if it doesn't work, we accept it" and "On that side, we take up arms and fight it."
2007-07-17 09:12:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
We, the citizens of the United States of America have given certain of our rights to the U.S. government. Whenever the government misuses those rights or attempts to take other rights from us that we have not given to them via the constitution, we have the right and obligation to form an insurrection to recover those rights and form a new government.
When such an insurrection is large enough and unanimous, the military will support the peoples' position against the government. This is what occurred in Russia when Communism fell.
2007-07-17 08:52:58 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
look this country could not even form a unanimous conclusion on a new color for water -- so forget it -- and the constitution does allow for a takeover it is called gitting the vote out. now all you have to do is get ever one to vote for a certain issue or issues that would do want you have made as your goal. as for the military if your insurrection by electrion won they would be the population or one and the same.
2007-07-17 09:01:01 · answer #3 · answered by mister ed 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Interesting question. The answer is no, citizens do not have the capacity or express powers to take up arms against the government. However, the army takes an oath to the constitution and could do so.
2007-07-17 08:45:02 · answer #4 · answered by Pfo 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The USA have a constitutional right use force of arms to as long as their leaders think so. And the young men and women in this country won't speak out. In some countries the average young boy or girls goes through hell each night thinking about how to get his or her lunch the next day. The average american has so much as his or her disposal that nothing matters to him. Either we speak up, or our leaders will speak us down.
2007-07-17 08:49:55 · answer #5 · answered by Nana A 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
"Dissent is the highest form of patriotism" Meaning when all else has been tried and failed, then it is time to dissent. While not Constitutional per say it is a founding piece of the ideology of a Democracy, or democratic Republic as the case may be.
The military would most likely split depending on the situation.. but lets hope we never have to find out.
2007-07-17 08:48:40 · answer #6 · answered by pip 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
The day this country comes to a unanimous conclusion pigs will fly.
Armed insurrection based on the discontent of a vocal few is still treason; and as probable as tose flying pigs
2007-07-17 08:44:55 · answer #7 · answered by wizjp 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Did you forget? Brother vs. brother during Mr. Lincoln's War (the Civil War)
2007-07-17 08:50:12 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
What are you talking about?? How has freedom to LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS been affected?? How?? What freedoms have been taken from you??
2007-07-17 08:50:41 · answer #9 · answered by John 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
American troops have been willing to fire on their own citizens in the past - with enough paranoia and propaganda there's no doubt they'll be willing to do it again.
2007-07-17 08:49:22 · answer #10 · answered by Hothman 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋