Posted on May 3, 2015
Is the age of effective peaceful protest over? What are the root causes of our current civil unrest?
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This brief debate piece poses two interesting perspectives:
http://www.stripes.com/opinion/is-effective-nonviolent-protest-still-possible-in-the-21st-century-1.343631
http://www.stripes.com/opinion/is-effective-nonviolent-protest-still-possible-in-the-21st-century-1.343631
Protest
Baltimore
Ferguson
Riots
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 11
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There is some truth in all I've read in this discussion thread, however, the one who commented on "opportunists" seems to be reaching the root of the problem.
Political opportunists are exploiting every contentious moment to set groups and classes of citizens (and non-citizens) against each other. They then pretend to be concerned with resolving conflict when, in fact, they take advantage of them to gain control and power.
Political opportunists are exploiting every contentious moment to set groups and classes of citizens (and non-citizens) against each other. They then pretend to be concerned with resolving conflict when, in fact, they take advantage of them to gain control and power.
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I think the short debate you linked to has great utility in describing - or at least pointing to - the root cause. From the second speaker:
"At some point, our liberal friends and fellow citizens need to take a good, hard look not only at the “repressive regime” they themselves endorse and helped build, but the culture that’s festering around it."
Exactly, but even this doesn't go far enough. There is an actual industry - people earn their livelihood from it - that has arisen around fighting the "repressive regime" and there are a significant number of politicians who base their incumbency on perpetuating and exploiting the energy generated by "fighting the repressive regime." This all despite the fact that this same industry and set of politicians is fighting tooth and nail to protect the "repressive regime" where/when-ever it comes under attack, in addition to advancing both the reach and the repressiveness of the regime whenever they perceive an opportunity to do so. For one reason: the "repressive regime" is the source of their power, influence, and wealth.
From a purely rational self-interest / economic perspective, why would we expect the leaders of this industry and associated politicians to behave in any other manner?
And we need to be honest with ourselves here: those of us who believe in individual liberty, self-sufficiency, accountability, and hard work are now the **minority** in the U.S.
I don't have an answer to solving this, but think it starts with understanding we are indeed engaged (or not, in most cases) in a struggle for the future of the county we thought we lived in.
"At some point, our liberal friends and fellow citizens need to take a good, hard look not only at the “repressive regime” they themselves endorse and helped build, but the culture that’s festering around it."
Exactly, but even this doesn't go far enough. There is an actual industry - people earn their livelihood from it - that has arisen around fighting the "repressive regime" and there are a significant number of politicians who base their incumbency on perpetuating and exploiting the energy generated by "fighting the repressive regime." This all despite the fact that this same industry and set of politicians is fighting tooth and nail to protect the "repressive regime" where/when-ever it comes under attack, in addition to advancing both the reach and the repressiveness of the regime whenever they perceive an opportunity to do so. For one reason: the "repressive regime" is the source of their power, influence, and wealth.
From a purely rational self-interest / economic perspective, why would we expect the leaders of this industry and associated politicians to behave in any other manner?
And we need to be honest with ourselves here: those of us who believe in individual liberty, self-sufficiency, accountability, and hard work are now the **minority** in the U.S.
I don't have an answer to solving this, but think it starts with understanding we are indeed engaged (or not, in most cases) in a struggle for the future of the county we thought we lived in.
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Lt Col Fred Marheine, PMP
I'm 'hearing' your effort to be balanced in your response, but admit I'm beyond any attempt at balance any longer as I believe the evidence is incontrovertible in supporting the conclusion that creating an enduring environment of discontent, anger, rioting, occupying, etc. is, in fact, the desired end state for a certain segment of the political class and their associates. The willful, deliberate disregard for objective fact / knowledge in choosing to pursue specific policies coupled with the never-ending rhetoric and invective they communicate is simply impossible to ignore or explain away as mistakes or failure to anticipate second and third-order effects.
It is deliberate and is achieving it's intended purpose (i.e. perpetuate their power, influence, and wealth). In the interests of full disclosure and owning my opinions, I'll label this segment liberals/progressives - a bin in which I put most Democrats and a great many Republicans.
It is deliberate and is achieving it's intended purpose (i.e. perpetuate their power, influence, and wealth). In the interests of full disclosure and owning my opinions, I'll label this segment liberals/progressives - a bin in which I put most Democrats and a great many Republicans.
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CPT Jack Durish
Please, let's stop calling those on the Left "liberals". There is nothing liberal or "liberty-loving" about them. Liberty is an anathema to them. They obviously believe that there are some (elite) who are more fit to make decisions for the unwashed masses (in flyover country) and are justified in telling any lie (to create false crises) to gain control.
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Lt Col Fred Marheine, PMP
Well said CPT Jack Durish , though I tried to widen the scope beyond "the left" as I don't think it's limited to them. I'm open to suggestions for something more appropriate.... Perhaps "Hobbesists" or "Leviathists"?
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Kally Alenko
Peaceful protests are not that difficult. https://bestproductlists.com/tips-how-to-organize-a-peaceful-protest The main thing is to start with your behavior. Not to be the crowd that, like rams, go wherever. Even so, almost no one ever hears protests. But! We will not stop and will continue to follow our rights.
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