The mores sophisticated the system, the easier it is to take down
lol -- I kind of doubt that. Disorganized would not triumph over organized. Ask yourself this question, which criminals do better? Organized crime or petty crooks?
It would be a big help if our elections could be taken from the Republicans and Democrats and turned into only single votes by unfettered folks. Nothing in our Constitution about Republicans and Democrats and over the years parties would come and go. But not in the last 100 years or so. It is supposed to be the sum of the votes of the people that should make up our government and the way we wish to go. Not at all the responsibility of any political party, no matter which policies they really want. They can advertise and preach, but it is still the people that should make the final decision.
This I couldn't agree more with you on. We should do away with "parties" altogether and vote for the candidate. The two party system has become a largely laughable one-party system that disguises the fact with "liberal" and "conservative" masks.
You really know little of history (His Story) because you don't even know how "much" of our military would follow a government say, similar to Hitlers or other dictators.
The very history you refer to shows that they would. Please, if the government ordered it 80% would cave and send their fellows to the camps. Most people would save their own hide before anyone else's. I'm a big fan of The Hunger Games and I wish I couldn't see that happening here but I can. I tell my family up front that I'd pull a Mags. You know this already if you're familiar with the trilogy but if your'e not [
SPOILER], Mags is the old woman who sacrifices herself so the young can live to get away and fight another day. She runs into the poison fog. I would do that in whatever form so my daughter and grandson wouldn't get killed trying to get my crippled ass out with them. Well, okay, maybe I'd have to limp or crawl into the poison fog or open gunfire but you get the drift...
I'd be more concerned with protecting my family and property in the case of a national disaster, like the grid going down either from a solar flare or attack. If people can't access their money, can't put gas in their cars, can't buy any food or water from the stores, then things will get ugly. I'd worry more about having guns and ammo just for protection from the criminal element, who will steal, vandalize, etc. to take anything you may have for themselves...rather than the government taking over.
Just localized disasters like Katrina, or the floods in Colorado, created a field day for the criminals, breaking into cars, homes, and stealing everything they could.
Exactly. Though I can protect myself against two or three, maybe even half a dozen or slightly more, but I do not kid myself that I can even protect myself against 50, unless they were incredibly stupid about how they attacked my house. We can't count on their being incredibly stupid.
I agree, and that's a possibility as well as lots of other possibilities. The main thing I think of is to have a way to defend myself, and loved ones/friends if something should open the door to attacks. There is always a chance of collateral damage, or misuse of our defenses but what is the alternative? Have zero defenses. I do think some folks think that if the law-abiding don't have access to weapons, we will be better off. I really don't get that way of thinking.
I don't think that but I don't think we can protect ourselves from the US government if they stopped hiding behind the curtain of their propaganda and out and out decreed a totalitarian government. Doesn't mean I would go down without a fight. I wouldn't but I'd most likely go down fighting.
Totally agree. That's a much more likely scenario, as has been demonstrated time and again throughout our history.
Do you actually believe that you could overthrow a system by religiously following the rules it has set out for you? Do you not think that they would be more than willing to abrogate whatever responsibility they had for "playing fair"?
That government counts on having people like that, the ones that will lay down and roll over, instead of the ones that would fight outside the system.
True. But, still, good luck taking on the United States government.
The biggest political mistake a politician could make would be to use Fed. Troops against US citizens on US soil. Given the outdoor nature of many military and their sworn duty to the constitution you really think they would follow some general? Besides most of them are NRA members. About the time any federal action such as you are describing happened it would be all over the Internet, unless the system was shutdown by hackers and blamed on guess who?
Any seabreeze is correct, it's the looters that are the problem not the protesters. the federal government needs the backing of pro gun people to cover there back.
Currently there at least 50,000 people in Conn. And Maryland that stand in violation of not registering "assault rifles". In Colorado there is at least 500,000 in violation of not registering their high capacity magazines. Where's the fed troops QS?
the reason is because the fed will have to go up assist local law enforcement and who have already sent letters to Obama telling they would not enforce these laws. If this was happening in the states which specifically prohibit violations of the constitution the feds would be arrested. Aren't any of the previous posts sinking in?
If the Fed government reaches the point it goes totalitarian, they won't care about votes/political image. You have more faith in the members of the military and local law enforcement than I do. Anyone can bluster about what they'll do but the only thing that counts is when it's time to put their money where their mouth is if they'll follow through. I think it'd be like Nazi Germany all over again. The majority would just follow orders and the minority that didn't would either quickly be taken prisoner or shot. Your law enforcement officers writing letters saying they wouldn't enforce those orders are going to find federal agents in their jurisdictions seeing that they do. They're going to be looking at what Tevye's constable friend from Fiddler on the Roof was: an official looking at you going do you like these Christ-killers with the subtle threat of being locked up with them. How many of these brave letter-writers are going to remain brave when they find themselves breaking out in a cold sweat at the subtle threat of what will happen to them if they go through with protecting those innocents. Look at Abu Ghraib. I'm sure you'll argue that it would be different against fellow Americans but to that all I can say is you have more faith in them than I do and I, frankly, hope your faith isn't misplaced and my skepticism is.
Our entire Infrastructure is in sore need of repair/rebuild. I don't think there has been a major dam built since the days of the Great Depression. Most of our highways and bridges were built 50+ years ago, as part of the Interstate Highway projects. Our electrical grid is a patchwork of overhead power lines and poles that are quickly approaching their end of life....a major storm system Always knocks out power to large numbers of people. As these hackers and rogue nations increase their skills, and continue to blame the US for all their own shortcomings, the possibility of them targeting our grid continues to increase.
If our government really wanted to help shore up our Middle Class, and reduce the levels of poverty, it would have ongoing programs that devoted billions of tax dollars, yearly, to maintaining and upgrading our Infrastructure, and putting large numbers of people to work in good paying jobs....instead of just letting them vegetate on food stamps.
Again, couldn't agree with you more. Every winter (not so far this winter but it's been mild) there's people without power for a week or more and I sit there glad it's not me and wonder how they keep from freezing to death. Either lucky enough to have a private generator or they get out of the black-out area and stay with friends or family or rent a room elsewhere. If the blackout was too massive for that, it'd be utter chaos. It's scary to think about how little we're protected against such a scenario and really stupid that we aren't.
Cartoon mentalities of holding a fort are always worth a laugh or two. First rule of SWAT is to isolate and cut of communications. Works both ways. Talking about a military that lost in Vietnam and Afgan, against a bunch of people who couldn't even shoot, but excell in gorilla warfare .
Large infrastructure projects require large capital investments in equipment not usually held by the contractors that would be helped the most to say nothing of right to work laws that would block a decent wage schedule. Again the 1% get all the monies. Only one political party in US - The property party. Allows large amounts of wealth to disappear. Only difference between Demos and Rep. Is who gets to control the purse strings the conduit to this group.
You delude yourself if you think your average citizen with a gun is any smarter. Who do you think made up that military that lost in Nam and Aghan? I agree with you on the party. There is no real difference between the Dems and Repugs.
Realistically, although many of us hopefully will never have to deal with an real emergency disaster situation, having a few guns accessible may be a matter of life or death for the family. I don't need an arsenal, and many gun owners are not of that mentality. The moat business, which you've said in the past, is just a very childish and disrespectful comment, IMO. I respect your right to have nothing to do with guns, and that's a good thing that people who are fearful of them or unsure of how to handle them, stay far away from them. Hopefully, if you ever need to protect yourself, the police or government will assist you and your family in a timely manner.
Anyone who has ever lived in a city where a major snowstorm crippled motorized travel, stopped deliveries and food supplies to grocery stores, gas deliveries to gas stations, interfered with electrical power for heat, etc. for even up to a week, would know that the mindset of people changes greatly when store shelves are empty. It's every man for themselves, and that would intensify greatly during a real disaster like the electrical power grid going down throughout the United States, and that would be in every neighborhood, regardless of the wealth of the residents.
I don't care how much money, or how good of a job you have, that will mean nothing if you can't spend it. Rich people don't even think of stocking their pantry with some extra canned or dry goods, or bottled water, in case they need to take care of themselves for several months or longer. They don't care about having some extra wood for the fireplace on hand, just in case in the dead of winter, there is no utility services available to heat their homes.
Those are likely the first people to try to take from others to save themselves, as they've never been without, are spoiled, and don't know how to handle it. All I'm saying, is if there is ever a situation, and I'm hoping there never is one, where some people are hopping my backyard fence to steal my firewood, or breaking my windows to take my food and water, I will not be the victim. I'm in my 60s, have had access to a loaded gun in my home all my adult life, and thankfully have never had cause to use it....but I wouldn't want to be without it.
So true but again when it comes down to anarchy and everyone warring over these things, I don't delude myself that I can defend either myself or my stores of canned/dry good, bottle waters and medical supplies against 50 people invading. No, not even with an Uzi. Well, maybe the first 50 if I had an Uzi but they're just going to keep coming and you tire or your ammunition runs out, etc. No way you can hold off the masses forever. They're not just going to lie down and die for you in the street.
Frankly, I hope I never live to see such an apocalypse. I wish I was sure I wasn't going to. I'm not.
