Back to the Drawing Board for the United (Untied?) States

[Demeter]

Sweet reason has no power any longer. (We collect the facts, debunk the spin, and post it to our friends and neighbors and legislators in spite of them)

The law is not honored, even in the breach. (We take them to court anyway--keeping up the pressure)

Voting has been eliminated as a barrier to abuse of power. (We vote anyway, in the hope that they slip up.)

Importuning one's elected representatives is a complete waste of time--they aren't listening, and they don't care, either. (But we call, write, email, publish, march, draw cartoons, button and bumpersticker and talk still, to get our fellow prisoners awake)

Yup. Until enough people are willing (or are driven) to cross that last barrier that separates civility from the jungle, we are stuck, waiting for somebody in authority to show a little spine and initiative.

I think we will be driven into violence by our oppressors, myself. When they start in on us, we will resist with everything we have learned the hard way. It won't be pretty. It will be wasteful. A lot of futures will be cut short. We may even lose.

Personally, I'm hoping the military brass or the Secret Service does its duty to the nation and ends this regime. Perhaps I've read too many thrillers. But it WOULD be the ultimate patriotic act. And very economical. Medal-worthy, with honor throughout the generations. And heroes out there?

[Jim__]

1. I don't agree with your analysis.

Namely: I think we will be driven into violence by our oppressors, myself. When they start in on us, we will resist with everything we have learned the hard way.

By the time they start in on us, it will be too late. We never learn.

First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.


Pastor Martin Niemöller

[Demeter]

2. Call It Cock-eyed Optimism, Then

Take away the last possible solution, and there's no reason left to live.

There are a sufficient number of really cranky people in this country to pull it off. If we are mentally prepared for it.