What would it take for you to rebel against the government

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I really believe that our governments could pretty much do anything they liked to us or any other nation without any attempt at intervention from us. Years of government public relations campaigns have rendered us submissive to the status quo and have been sucessful at manufacturing consent. If UK/USA/EU announced that it had designed a weapon which would wipe out all of Asia Africa and Southern America how many of us would do anything? Realistically what would we be expected to do? If the government carried out this plan I doubt that many would really do all that much. Riots would erupt which would be suppressed brutally but aside from that and perhaps some mild mannered hactivist action (spamming a few public officials' inboxes) we would submit while the world burns.

Am I wrong in this and what would you say our defense against our governments really is? Personally I think that hackers are our last line of defense,for this reason we need to be doing all we can to keep the internet free. Perhaps the price to pay is child porn and the darknet but the alternative could be far worse.

I can't see people rising up against the scenario you mentioned or anything like it. As long as enough people are living in relative comfort to what they are accustomed to they they won't do diddly but express "outrage". The only scenario I see what could be called insurrection would be the result of a chain reaction started by one incident that grows out of control.

An opportunity to present itself.

But how far would you be willing to go? Im not sure its enough to say youd give up your life. Would you be willing to suffer under torture for an indefinite period?

Well I already am not exactly enjoying life anyways, but not sure I'd be willing to do that but then I have never been in that situation so don't know whether I'd give in or not.

What do we do? Politics sucks, especially in the western world.

Western world now vs 30 years ago:
-30 years ago, politicians didn't pay lip service
-30 years ago, the western world and particularly Europe, had more homogeny, anything where people blend together to eliminate certain physical traits and all look the same looks like dystopia in truth
-30 years ago, the gov't wasn't as BIG as it is now
-30 years ago, we never had to worry as much as we do now about computers taking jobs.
More I can name?

If I was to rebel against the government I would have to believe my cause is not hypocritical or misguided. Herein lies the issue with a lot reactionaries, they don't necessarily offer better alternative. They also may trample on other's rights to get there.

If people feel disconnected with the political process that is one thing. But if people are using the political process and somebody denies them that right as a "freedom fighter", becuase they believe their cause more righteous, significant or important than others, then it is them that is undemocratic.

Uncomfortable truth is voters like dishonest politicians, they consistently vote them in, and the profession demands these personalities for a reason. It a kind of dishonest and not any kind, it has to be convincing enough. Just look at the type of personalities that don't get voted in as ask yourself why, ask why those qualities are derided, some may be genuinely bad, but some may simply be considered unacceptable in that role for cultural reasons. But there is a wiliness to be deceived no doubt, people buy in the manifesto politc to an unrealistic degree, they want to be told the same things every time, however unrealistic. So obviously those that are not going to tell them that, are not going to do well.

The first thing you need when holding your country's politicians to account, is a mirror. Then ensure you movement is not goign to lose the very thing you are fighting for, and how to restore necessary institutions or set up better alternatives.

There are far to many people who don't get what they want and assume this is becuase their democratic right aren't being fulfilled, but this can be precisely becuase of the the masses' democratic rights, that they don't always individually get what they want. I find this is big factor in common with a many reactionaries.

Another kind of reactionary is the Vague-ist. It is sort of political movement that has some idea that something is unfair or unfree, but is not all that sure what that is or what the real alternative is, just that they know what is best but can't elaborate.

Then there is the impractical such as "direct democracy". Anyone with any sense know that direct democracy cannot be scaled, the logistics, the expense, the shear number of decisions, capacity to get informed in the time rame, and who the hell sets the questions, make it an impossible substitute for governance. Then there is the point that consensus, and "voter will" is actually quite fickle. It would be complete gridlock, nothing would actually get done i magically hypothetically the do the referendum, they result would not be implemented for long becuase it would be constantly changing.

The American Founding father's actually discussed direct democracy. They rejected it on the basis that it could be used by majorities to persecute minorities, but imposing their will on them with little checks and balances.

When politicians flirt with "direct democracy", they know it is gimmick. They know it is for the odd referendum but to give the false impression there is a substitute for governance. There isn't.

Would you like to see revolt against your government? Are you recruiting?

I see no reason for revolution. Things change. Nothing is permanent. Learn to adapt. Life is never going to be ideal. I have everything I need or want. I am no oppressed. I can say or do anything I want to say or do. The most oppressive element existing in our culture is religion.

So the thrust of your argument is that the world be damned as long as you have your creature comforts

I have very little in the way of "creature comforts." The world, and its inhabitants evolve. Always has and always will. If one lives a simple life and dsn't get caught up in the rat race, it is possible to not be affected by what irks you so much. And I will not allow those who get involved in the "rat race" to draw me in when their own choices bring discontent into their life. You probably have more "creature comforts" in your linen closet than I have in my entire residence.

Don't allow yourself to get attached to this life and its traps. Nothing you "own" is yours other than your own actions, thoughts and words.

An interesting way of putting it but I agree, I am not a violent person nor do I want to hurt anybody lets say something like the Arab Spring or the color revolutions happened here I probably would be on board.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WowTQVHRlWI[/youtube]

Last edited by Stannis on 23 Aug 2014, 8:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Like Velvet?

Eh, I'm already rebelling, albeit in minor ways.

This is one of those questions folks are probably better off not answering.

It there was a rebellion against the government, why not my life is going nowhere anyways....rebellion or not. Or I can keep hoping for the fairly unlikely zombie apocalypse.