For the final time, folks ... It's gonna take a revolution.

[FlemingsGhost]

Perhaps sooner than most realize, this nation will abruptly find itself toeing a terrifying precipice. And as we collectively stare into the abyss, the full brunt of our foolish arrogance (and ignorance) will tower from behind. It is then, "we the people" will take this nation back. Mind you, it won't be revived, it will be be reborn.

It is November 3rd. And true to my word, my support and affiliation with the Democratic Party has come to an end. It's time to truly go "underground."

Good luck to you all. See you at the edge ...

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mike_c]

2. good luck and godspeed, 'bro....

eom

[jpgray]

3. Based on what, exactly?

Every five minutes someone says a revolution is on the way, and this time, as usual, they are overestimating the revolutionary qualities of the American people. They are ignorant, fat and happy--they have voted on gays, gods and guns. These false moral issues are hardly the issues of a revolutionary populace. It will take a lot of boring hard work to make a very boring, slow change that won't suffice to fill out any melodramatic threads here.

[regnaD kciN]

4. You say you want a revolution...

...well, you know, we all want to change the world.

Actually, I'm coming to share your opinion. I'd like to reform the system from within, but I'm getting to the point where I see no way to stop the lemmings from their mad dash over the cliff. I think we need to be ready to pick up the pieces.

I hope you stay on, here. We're going to need some plans once the whole edifice comes crashing down.

(I can't believe I'm sounding more radical now than I was in 1970...)

[LisaLynne]

More radical?

In my opinion, that can only be a good thing. ;)

I'm not sure about the Dem party right now. Is it more efficient to take it over or just start something new? I can't figure it out right now. All I know is I'm sticking around here and doing something! :)

[stepnw1f]

5. That's a Frightening Realization or Projection

I would like to believe the stakes are less dire, but then again that may be out of fear.

[The Traveler]

6. We're at the edge now, brother

Or sister as the case may be. But it will take more than a revolution of bodies ... it will take a revolution of ideas.

The world is changing. Global warming is a reality the neo-cons refuse to admit, but other nations are not so challenged and thus will be better able to respond to the changes rushing upon us all. Empire is a both morally and intellectually bankrupt notion, unable to surf the waves of change that are already here.

And while this happens, these fools have over extended us ... militarily, politically, economically and in a very real way culturally. We are over extended in one, limited cultural direction based on the literal interpretation of mystical poetry (Revelation) and a desire to retreat from the changes that have already caught up with us. We exalt blind faith at the expense of reason and common sense.

This is counter to the American impulse, and given the realities we face, neoconservativism is unlikely to endure as a viable political philosophy. Of course, we can be forgiven if we strategically place banana peels and apply the odd gentle shove to help it find the bottom of its grave.

You are correct. Revival is impossible. Rebirth is now required.

[jpgray]

8. Revival is perfectly possible

We went from the despair and corruption of McKinley, Harding et al to the New Deal. Not through revolution, earth-shattering violence or any of that nonsense, but by the hard work of people who were committed to championing progressive values. The Republicans have countered and subverted much of the New Deal with the same procedure--we can and will turn them back, but navel-gazing about an impossibility of a revolution I think would be a waste of energy.

[wtmusic]

9. It took a Depression to get a New Deal

and it will likely take another:

1) Depression
2) World War
3) Apocalyptic terrorist event

to break the mold this time.

[The Traveler]

10. The revival/rebirth metaphor should not be taken too seriously

No revolution can bring good unless it begins as a revolution of ideas. If the ideas are good enough, the political and martial act of revolution is not required.

But in order for people to seize upon new ideas, the old ideas must first carry them to the bottom. The correct metaphor, I think, is the spendthrift addict or alcoholic rushing towards disaster while spinning the structures of his own denial.

[jpgray]

12. Sure, but the question was whether a revival was possible

It most certainly is. I don't like the idea that we have to sink the ship and build another one to change directions--let's try turning the damn thing first.

[fugue]

7. No. John Kaminski.

On edit: Oops, this was supposed to be a reply to whether we were joining al Qaida.

"Thomas Jefferson Calling" by John Kaminski (written during the buildup to the Iraq invasion)

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article1890.htm

[This excerpt is from the middle.]

We must overthrow the government. There is no other choice. Nothing else will work. Could it be more obvious?

We can't use violence, because real humans would be crushed by all the hellish weapons arrayed against the entire world by the military industrial complex that has stolen all our money and erased all our rights under the Constitution.

Besides, it is illegal under what's left of the Constitution to advocate the VIOLENT overthrow of the government. And I would never dream of advocating any such thing.

It is, however, patently legal and indeed our patriotic duty to advocate the peaceful overthrow of the government.

[whirlygigspin]

13. switching to the euro

hey, if it's a collapse your looking for, you should be glad Bush won this because he's gonna blow the economic system straight to hell.

I give it 2 years or less.

enjoy your victory, moral crusaders
you shall reap the whirlwind.

[Kimber Scott]

11. And just who do you shoot? Your neighbor? Your family? Whose head

do you cut off, your boss's? This is a nation of laws. Everyone crying "revolution," I can probably bet, has no idea what hell revolution is. China had a revolution of the people, then the people became the enemy of themselves. France had a revolution and once the blood was tasted, it was a hard thing to control. Russia had a revolution - many - and they have still not recovered. Mexico is in the same boat.

Revolution is the last act of a desperate people. The last act when all hope is lost. I don't know about you, but we're not starving, or freezing, to death right now. We're not being occupied. Our social structure is still in place. There are no marauders bursting in my home raping and pillaging and my family hasn't been hauled off to the Gulag, or sold off as slaves. We are not a desperate people.

Half of this country made a choice last night, (supposedly made a choice), we don't agree with. This is still a democracy. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Sometimes things get stolen from you, but we are not yet at the edge of the abyss. Will we get there? Who knows, but we have a lot of work to do before we can say we did everything.

If and when the necessity for revolution ever comes, you won't have to cry for it. You will be crying for it to end.

[FlemingsGhost]

14. Who said anything about violence?

The fact that your first concept of the word "revolution" is one of violence and bloodshed, shows a genuine lack of imagination. Just as fascism has cleverly reinvented itself, so too must our means of fighting it.

By the way, "desperation" is coming, Kimber.

Mark my words ...

[wtmusic]

15. No, *you're* not starving

yet your government is murdering thousands in Iraq. Is that better, because they're not in your backyard?

Your tax dollars are paying for it. You can either take responsibility for it, or sit back and watch "The Price is Right".