What would it take to push you to Rebellion?

[Tennessee Gentleman]

I for one cannot see that happening in any way in the near of foreseeable future. I think the system of government we were given and the maturity of our democratic institutions would prevent such a thing. I often do not agree with the government but I feel that my vote and the votes of other count and time and time again (like the recent Illinois Governor impreachment) the system works. Not perfect and mistakes are made but in the end there is no better system in the world. I don't think a revolution would produce a better system.

Another view of the "Battle of Athens" may be found here: http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/ima...p?EntryID=A043

I quote a pertinent part:

Although recalled fifty years later with a certain amount of local pride, the battle of Athens initially proved a source of embarrassment, and many residents abhorred the violent, extralegal actions of the veterans. The image of gun-wielding hillbilly ex-soldiers shooting it out with the Cantrell-Mansfield "thugs" that blazed across national and regional newspaper headlines enhanced East Tennessee's reputation for violence and lawlessness. The Good Government League, empowered by the veterans' victory, scored few successes in its efforts to eradicate the vice, corruption, and arbitrary rule of machine government.

[zxcvbob]

The only way a revolution would succeed would be if a fairly good sized prortion of the military sided with the revolutionaries. I could only see that happening if what the military was ordered to do violated the constitution in an egregious manner. It would probably require a bunch of general or flag officers in order to make that happen.

It will *start* in the military, as the reaction to an egregiously unlawful order. And it won't be a revolution, it will be an implosion. Perhaps a revolution will rise out of the ashes, or perhaps not.

[Bartholomew Roberts]

The problem with this is if a majority of the population wishes to curtail your rights are you ok with that.

I don't believe I ever said anything like that. My point was that as long as representation accurately reflected the wishes of its constituents you were better off using the political system to fight your battles as a practical matter. You may very well be unjustly oppressed, as happened repeatedly during the Civil Rights movement of the 50s and 60s; but picking up arms and revolting in that environment will mean you lose; because if you lack the support to win politically, you almost certainly lack the support to win by force of arms.

As long as representation accurately mirrors public sentiment, use of force is not a winning strategy (whether that public sentiment is fair or not). If use of force IS a winning strategy, then you don't need to resort to it because you already have the numbers you need and a way to win without destruction of infrastructure or lives.

[B. Lahey]

Bacon Prohibition.

[rgoers]

All it would take (for me) is a good leader. The time is already here...

[berettaprofessor]

Yep, Bacon Prohibition would do it, but a Butter Confiscation would suffice as well.

[johnwilliamson062]

A tyrannical government constantly meddling in my private life, interfering with my business, and taxing me into poverty.

I am talking concrete things. Not flimsy crap you might read in a communist pamphlet. I said in a previous thread here that if the economy was so bad I could not go to the store, buy a can of compressed whipped cream tilt my head back and take a shot the gov't would feel my wraith. Now that was obviously a comical post, but if the economy got so bad I couldn't do that enough others things would be wrong it might be true.

Lets have it, what are some concrete things you would not put up with? Whether they have already happened or not.

In response to others off topic posts:
The only way I can possibly see the United states getting back on track without some sort of violent conflict is to limit the vote to those who foot the bill. As long as people living off of tax revenue control as much of the vote as they do, we will not see change.

The revolution would succeed if Rifleman, like the people on this board, get behind it. The US has an extremely poorly guarded infrastructure. Imagine the effect of chaining 3-4 cars on certain exit ramps in large cities. If you blocked traffic in two or three places strategically during rush hour you could gridlock whole metropolises for hours at almost no cost. The economic damage would be immense if done in the morning. Very little loss of life very little cost to the perpetrators. Our military is extremely dependent on having secure rear operating positions to stage from. This luxury would vanish. Put a 50 cal round through the right places on a jet and you are looking at hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage. Coordinate it so that you target a low wear part that is not all that available and one sniper can ground a squadron for weeks. The luxuries the US military has had for the last 50 years has left it with a huge blindside.

[Tom Servo]

A tyrannical government constantly meddling in my private life, interfering with my business, and taxing me into poverty.

Sounds like Scandinavia. Except there, it's a friendly government meddling, interfering and taxing. They're doing it for your own good.

Get used to hearing that phrase. I've seen some real parallels between the semi-socialist welfare-state system in Denmark and the stuff folks would like to see done here.

I don't think we're past the tipping point yet. The question remains, "what IS the tipping point?" Will we see it coming in time?

I won't discuss means or plans. Yes, it's easy to disrupt infrastructure, and yes, I've read Unintended Consequences. Thing is, if I were inclined do any of those things, there would be no turning back. I would be remembered not as a Patrick Henry, but as a Timothy McVeigh.

Remember how deftly the Clinton administration turned "militia" into an insult. The general public still thinks Ruby Ridge was about white supremacist nutcases, and that Waco was about religious weirdos.

Still want a revolution?

So, back to the OP. The only answer is, I just don't know. I hope I see it coming in time.

[Tennessee Gentleman]

Originally Posted by Bartholomew Roberts

As long as representation accurately mirrors public sentiment, use of force is not a winning strategy (whether that public sentiment is fair or not). If use of force IS a winning strategy, then you don't need to resort to it because you already have the numbers you need and a way to win without destruction of infrastructure or lives.

This is a well reasoned post. Thanks Bart.

As to some of this other stuff, I know we want to share ideas and I like that but keep in mind that some of this rhetoric about shooting up airliners and Unintended Consequences, Waco and Ruby Ridge being government plots to squelch our freedoms is the stuff that makes gun owners look dangerous to the non-gun owners who vote and affect the laws we get stuck with. Want to help pass the AWB? Then haul out and start quoting Unintended Consequences and it will pass for sure. The government and the USA is not our enemy. We own it if we stay involved.

[Scattergun Bob]

I never thought I would read such a thread in this forum!! The thought of rebellion against the Stars and Bars is so foreign to me that I was overwhelmed by those whom proposed it.
To me rebellion = Chaos, and Chaos = the stopping of the wheels that move our nation, a thought that chills me to the core.

Hopefully, those of you who advocate such a course of action, have not experienced Chaos and are simply unaware of the conquests. I have viewed the Chaos first hand and in my mind it would mean an end to America. To you I wish you would hold off until I have passed on, I am not ready for a second viewing of a world on fire.
Good Luck & Be Safe

[Al Norris]

Originally Posted by johnwilliamson062

The revolution would succeed if Rifleman, like the people on this board, get behind it. The US has an extremely poorly guarded infrastructure. Imagine the effect of chaining 3-4 cars on certain exit ramps in large cities. If you blocked traffic in two or three places strategically during rush hour you could gridlock whole metropolises for hours at almost no cost. The economic damage would be immense if done in the morning. Very little loss of life very little cost to the perpetrators. Our military is extremely dependent on having secure rear operating positions to stage from. This luxury would vanish. Put a 50 cal round through the right places on a jet and you are looking at hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage. Coordinate it so that you target a low wear part that is not all that available and one sniper can ground a squadron for weeks. The luxuries the US military has had for the last 50 years has left it with a huge blindside.

When the OP and thread starter goes from, "Where is the Line?" to point out ways to make it happen... You just know the thread has ended.