$700,000,000,000.00

[Alex179]

I doubt armed rebellion could be successful in the US.  Too many Americans view the president the way Catholics view the pope; that although they may privately disagree with some of their policies, it's their religious/patriotic duty to support the pope/president at all costs.  The US military and police forces are overwhelmingly pro-establishment, and the US propaganda industry is too effective at keeping the population in line for a mass uprising.

It doesn't have to be as massive as you think.   I do agree that most Americans are brainwashed.    People in the UK should have killed off the "royal family" a loooong time ago.

What would be the point to killing the royal family?  If we'd killed them centuries ago, the UK would have become a political pariah and/or the royal family would have been replaced with something worse.  If we killed them now, we'd lose some tourism and a bit of cultural heritage for no appreciable gain.

Could you outline how a successful not-so-massive US uprising would work?

Key political and corporate figures would have to be taken out.  Basically the richest 1% (most of them) and some politicians.  That would cause a chain reaction of sorts. 

The royal family is worthless and the UK is not really as democratic as you think.   The royals still have the final say ultimately.

[ProfessorFarnsworth]

I doubt armed rebellion could be successful in the US.  Too many Americans view the president the way Catholics view the pope; that although they may privately disagree with some of their policies, it's their religious/patriotic duty to support the pope/president at all costs.  The US military and police forces are overwhelmingly pro-establishment, and the US propaganda industry is too effective at keeping the population in line for a mass uprising.

But that's how dictatorships eventually form and that should worry people, that blind patriotism and exposure to controlled media manipulating their prospective on everything, instilling irrational and excessive fear and arrogance into their culture; distracting people with tabloid junk journalism, away from the issues that really matter to people's interests as a whole. Once people are conditioned to follow a certain ideal to be self-absorbed with their own lives and are apathetic of the big picture, that's usually when they're led into a path of blindly endorsing totalitarian policies without question driven by fear or ignorance, and are weakened to protest any policy they're against, because as witnessed their opinion doesn't seem to matter. This inaction to mass protest against it is primarily likely due to fear of persecution or lack of confidence, that feeling hopelessness that nothing can be done brainwashed into them (when in reality, things can be done, but at a necessary sacrifice or risk though). Eventually when the people realize their lives are manipulated and restricted by their government to a point that makes them too uncomfortable, it's usually too late to do something about it without a violent war or uprising.

But now is a key moment, because people have just witness a blatant disregard of Democracy with their so-called 'representatives' selling them out to special interests and lobbyist groups of the financial elite. Now ask, if they do that, how do you Americans know the President regardless of political affiliation will be the same as those representatives? Both presidential candidates already showed betrayal to favor financial elite interests in the Senate. I can also assure you that this election in November will be a Pyrrhic victory no matter who wins unless America speaks or acts out.

[Peter]

I doubt armed rebellion could be successful in the US.  Too many Americans view the president the way Catholics view the pope; that although they may privately disagree with some of their policies, it's their religious/patriotic duty to support the pope/president at all costs.  The US military and police forces are overwhelmingly pro-establishment, and the US propaganda industry is too effective at keeping the population in line for a mass uprising.

But that's how dictatorships eventually form and that should worry people, that blind patriotism and exposure to controlled media manipulating their prospective on everything, instilling irrational and excessive fear and arrogance into their culture; distracting people with tabloid junk journalism, away from the issues that really matter to people's interests as a whole. Once people are conditioned to follow a certain ideal to be self-absorbed with their own lives and are apathetic of the big picture, that's usually when they're led into a path of blindly endorsing totalitarian policies without question driven by fear or ignorance, and are weakened to protest any policy they're against, because as witnessed their opinion doesn't seem to matter. This inaction to mass protest against it is primarily likely due to fear of persecution or lack of confidence, that feeling hopelessness that nothing can be done brainwashed into them (when in reality, things can be done, but at a necessary sacrifice or risk though). Eventually when the people realize their lives are manipulated and restricted by their government to a point that makes them too uncomfortable, it's usually too late to do something about it without a violent war or uprising.

But now is a key moment, because people have just witness a blatant disregard of Democracy with their so-called 'representative' selling them out to special interests and lobbyist groups of the financial elite. Now ask, if they do that, how do you Americans know the President regardless of political affiliation will be the same as those representatives? Both presidential candidates already showed betrayal to favor financial elite interests in the Senate. I can also assure you that this election in November will be a Pyrrhic victory no matter who wins unless America speaks or acts out.

A nasty situation, I agree, but as a UK national living in Scotland, I'll confine my contribution to posting online and leave the armed insurrection to those who're more directly affected.

[Peter]

I doubt armed rebellion could be successful in the US.  Too many Americans view the president the way Catholics view the pope; that although they may privately disagree with some of their policies, it's their religious/patriotic duty to support the pope/president at all costs.  The US military and police forces are overwhelmingly pro-establishment, and the US propaganda industry is too effective at keeping the population in line for a mass uprising.

It doesn't have to be as massive as you think.   I do agree that most Americans are brainwashed.    People in the UK should have killed off the "royal family" a loooong time ago.

What would be the point to killing the royal family?  If we'd killed them centuries ago, the UK would have become a political pariah and/or the royal family would have been replaced with something worse.  If we killed them now, we'd lose some tourism and a bit of cultural heritage for no appreciable gain.

Could you outline how a successful not-so-massive US uprising would work?

Key political and corporate figures would have to be taken out.  Basically the richest 1% (most of them) and some politicians.  That would cause a chain reaction of sorts. 

The royal family is worthless and the UK is not really as democratic as you think.   The royals still have the final say ultimately.

I don't think the UK is particularly democratic; it's got a surveillance apparatus that would make China blush, and the government from a national down to a local level (especially at a local level) has a distinct authoritarian tendency.  Compared with the US though, I view UK politics as being more pragmatic, sober and less influenced by corporate and religious interests.

[ProfessorFarnsworth]

A nasty situation, I agree, but as a UK national living in Scotland, I'll confine my contribution to posting online and leave the armed insurrection to those who're more directly affected.

I live in Australia and can't exactly do much hands-on either... However I can speak my mind online and try and inspire people to think at least, all it takes is an idea to inspire others and for them to spread the words. I know it's extremely likely in vain, but at least I demonstrate that despite vain efforts at least I'm trying to say something, and anyone else who can, should too. Ultimately it's up to the American people to either wake up, stand up and defend their democracy or keep sleeping and fall down into eventual totalitarianism. People around the world should be worried about this too, because the implications of America becoming a potential totalitarian state will definitely affect the world negatively too.

[Johnny]

keeping the population drunk, stomed and entertained and playing the american lottery seems to be working for the ruling class.

[Pyraxis]

I know it's extremely likely in vain

I disagree, just speaking for myself. I've been politically apathetic most of my life but am finally starting to pay attention and see how much sense I can make of the onslaught of noise. Your opinion seems reasonable thus far.

[Callaway]

I doubt armed rebellion could be successful in the US.  Too many Americans view the president the way Catholics view the pope; that although they may privately disagree with some of their policies, it's their religious/patriotic duty to support the pope/president at all costs.  The US military and police forces are overwhelmingly pro-establishment, and the US propaganda industry is too effective at keeping the population in line for a mass uprising.

But that's how dictatorships eventually form and that should worry people, that blind patriotism and exposure to controlled media manipulating their prospective on everything, instilling irrational and excessive fear and arrogance into their culture; distracting people with tabloid junk journalism, away from the issues that really matter to people's interests as a whole. Once people are conditioned to follow a certain ideal to be self-absorbed with their own lives and are apathetic of the big picture, that's usually when they're led into a path of blindly endorsing totalitarian policies without question driven by fear or ignorance, and are weakened to protest any policy they're against, because as witnessed their opinion doesn't seem to matter. This inaction to mass protest against it is primarily likely due to fear of persecution or lack of confidence, that feeling hopelessness that nothing can be done brainwashed into them (when in reality, things can be done, but at a necessary sacrifice or risk though). Eventually when the people realize their lives are manipulated and restricted by their government to a point that makes them too uncomfortable, it's usually too late to do something about it without a violent war or uprising.

But now is a key moment, because people have just witness a blatant disregard of Democracy with their so-called 'representatives' selling them out to special interests and lobbyist groups of the financial elite. Now ask, if they do that, how do you Americans know the President regardless of political affiliation will be the same as those representatives? Both presidential candidates already showed betrayal to favor financial elite interests in the Senate. I can also assure you that this election in November will be a Pyrrhic victory no matter who wins unless America speaks or acts out.

The totalitarianism has already happened in the past to some extent.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was such a popular president that he was re-elected three times, so we changed the Constitution so that nobody could ever be president for more than ten years again.

Even so, since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the government has in the name of "safety" and "fighting terrorism" seriously curtailed the freedom of its citizens.

[Tesla]

They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
Franklin's Contributions to the Conference on February 17 (III) Fri, Feb 17, 1775

[DirtDawg]

They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
Franklin's Contributions to the Conference on February 17 (III) Fri, Feb 17, 1775

A little-respected scholar in this day, Franklin is another of my personal heroes. Had this country been made more in his vision, our history may not have been as spoiled. I have collected his entire written works, as far as I know.
Although, some of Poor Richard's Almanac issues are digital copies  

[Christopher McCandless]

I doubt armed rebellion could be successful in the US.  Too many Americans view the president the way Catholics view the pope; that although they may privately disagree with some of their policies, it's their religious/patriotic duty to support the pope/president at all costs.  The US military and police forces are overwhelmingly pro-establishment, and the US propaganda industry is too effective at keeping the population in line for a mass uprising.

But that's how dictatorships eventually form and that should worry people, that blind patriotism and exposure to controlled media manipulating their prospective on everything, instilling irrational and excessive fear and arrogance into their culture; distracting people with tabloid junk journalism, away from the issues that really matter to people's interests as a whole. Once people are conditioned to follow a certain ideal to be self-absorbed with their own lives and are apathetic of the big picture, that's usually when they're led into a path of blindly endorsing totalitarian policies without question driven by fear or ignorance, and are weakened to protest any policy they're against, because as witnessed their opinion doesn't seem to matter. This inaction to mass protest against it is primarily likely due to fear of persecution or lack of confidence, that feeling hopelessness that nothing can be done brainwashed into them (when in reality, things can be done, but at a necessary sacrifice or risk though). Eventually when the people realize their lives are manipulated and restricted by their government to a point that makes them too uncomfortable, it's usually too late to do something about it without a violent war or uprising.

But now is a key moment, because people have just witness a blatant disregard of Democracy with their so-called 'representatives' selling them out to special interests and lobbyist groups of the financial elite. Now ask, if they do that, how do you Americans know the President regardless of political affiliation will be the same as those representatives? Both presidential candidates already showed betrayal to favor financial elite interests in the Senate. I can also assure you that this election in November will be a Pyrrhic victory no matter who wins unless America speaks or acts out.

The totalitarianism has already happened in the past to some extent.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was such a popular president that he was re-elected three times, so we changed the Constitution so that nobody could ever be president for more than ten years again.

Even so, since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the government has in the name of "safety" and "fighting terrorism" seriously curtailed the freedom of its citizens.

Just think, if they had not made that restriction, then neither of the Bush's would have gotten elected. It would have been Reagan followed by Clinton.

[DirtDawg]

[Johnny]

FDR was a hack who prolonged the depression for a decade and stuck us with the nanny state, only reason he got re-elected over and over was because the 1929 crash was blamed on the republicans and morons blindly voted for democrats since the 30's and gave us the current mess.

[Alex179]

LBJ was a piece of shit too.  Blaming Nixon for Vietnam when LBJ really escalated it more than anyone was retarded.   Kennedy basically started Vietnam by putting forces there first.   LBJ just furthered the welfare state of FDR.

[Tesla]

Ten years?