They aren't scared of us anymore.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

Thomas Jefferson said, "When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty."
Discuss. =)
Duckie

[Moondog]

1. No argument from me.

[chill_wind]

2. They haven't been for decades. n/t

[Danascot]

3. and why should they be?

Apparently they can do anything they want and we just take it.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

6. Let's fucking do somethinga bout it!

[bluerum]

4. Truer words have rarely been spoken. eom

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

5. "When the people fear their government..."

...there is tyranny = contemporary America

when the government fears the people, there is liberty." = post-revolutionary France


Vive la France!

[white_wolf]

10. I'm not sure about France.

What about Robespierre and the "Committee of Public Safety" (There's are a name the right-wing would love) and the Reign of Terror? And of course Napoleon Bonaparte.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

17. I wish I could find stats, but...

...France's public sector very large by comparison, and they're public sector unions are strong. It's kind of a built in check-and-balance. What we are seeing nationwide here is the consequence of weakened public sector unions. What we are seeing in Wisconsin is something I would liken to a response to "tyranny."

[white_wolf]

21. Oh I know France is better off now than we are.

I thought you meant immediately following the Revolution. Things we not very good for years after it, after Napoleon's defeat the Bourbon Kings were restored to power. Now however they are much better off than us. We are heading in the opposite direction of France and the rest of western Europe.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

23. Yeah, I don't know a proper demarcation...

...perhaps post-WWII. :shrug:

[DavidDvorkin]

7. However, Jefferson didn't say that

http://wiki.monticello.org/mediawiki/index.php/When_governments_fear_the_people,_there_is_liberty...%28Quotation%29

[YellowRubberDuckie]

8. Interesting.

Regardless of who said it, though, it's true.

[Poboy]

9. Jefferson, my favorite president, was then correct.

[derby378]

11. Yet another reason I argue for gun rights like I do

We have to keep the government on its toes, remind them that true power doesn't come from either a gavel or a gun, but from the consent of the governed.

[unkachuck]

12. millions....

....of people, petitioning their government day after day, surrounding their Capitol, demanding resignations and systemic change, will once again 'scare' the pricks....

[KurtNYC]

13. what do you have if the 2 are afraid of EACH OTHER ?

[csziggy]

14. Balance of power? n/t

[Joe the Revelator]

15. Favorite quote of the tea party....

[socialist_n_TN]

16. Well, I guess we're not trying hard enough..........

nm

[woo me with science]

18. K&R nt

[blindpig]

19. That's true, cause ya know what they fear?

Socialism. When the socialist movement in this country regains it's footing they will fear us plenty.

[kctim]

20. Only going to get worse

Government does not fear those who are dependent on it.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

22. They will be!

[defendandprotect]

24. They're always sacred --- but not in the ways we need them to be ... !!!

[ReggieVeggie]

25. our government has never feared its people

Other than those pesky elections, the people are pretty much ignored unless they have a lot of money or power