1776 in 2003?

[Inverse Icarus]

my friend brought this up today, and i figured poly would be an excellent place to extend the argument.

ADD Version:
would a 1776-esque revolution be possible today in a modernized nation?

REAL version
lets just say that tomorrow bush does something that REALLY pisses off like 75% of the country enough to warrant revolutionary ideals. could it ever progress to a unified revolt? i'm not talking about political activism changing the society, i'm talking full blown revolution.

the way i see it, they'd be labeled as terrorists by the state, and the FBI/CIA would be all over it, and the revolution would never be organized enough to actually act.

ideas?

[aaglo]

I think in this case, the majority of the population would decide who would be labeled as terrorists...

I think your military is in essential role here: whom do they serve? The government or the people?
They are run by government (I think), but if 75% of the people would want to revolt... let's just say, that the side the most of the military takes would overcome.

The key is military, so bribe them

[monolith94]

How many guns per American again?

[Drake Tungsten]

How many guns per American again?

Enough to keep us free.

[Shi Huangdi]

It'd wouldn't happen, because of our democratic tradition. If Bush really pissed off 75% of the country, he would be voted out of office.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by aaglo
The key is military, so bribe them

You are right, the key is the military.

With 75% of population revolting, the military is not going to get involved I don't think, since they will be killing their own friends and families.

[Ned]

Well, the South did revolt when Lincoln was elected. They are STILL a bit pissed off.

[Ned]

And, lest you forget the high feelings surrounding the last election. The Republican were violently angry at Gore's tactics. Had Clinton intervened on behalf of Gore, anything might of happened.

[DRoseDARs]

Damn it Ned, you made me spill my drink...

[Az]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten

How many guns per American again?

Enough to keep us free.

Not by a mile, if the army is on the side of "generic evil government"

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Azazel
Not by a mile, if the army is on the side of "generic evil government"

Correct. In the modern era, your handguns are no match for even the wimpy machine guns, before we start moving up the ladder.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

What on earth makes you think that 75% of the people would ever notice what Bush (or any president) is doing?

[:) Smiley]

Handguns? People in America own everything up and beyond assault rifles. Additionally, your off-the-shelf computer can be used to conduct information warfare.

[Mr. Harley]

Weatherby 300 magnum, scoped with a 20x scope. Better yet, wildcat the sucker down to 7mm. I believe that took the 1000 bench rest competition one year, putting a pattern reliably into a target the size of a dinner plate at 1000 yards. The politicians who are staging an authoritarian coup have to live to enjoy it .

[Drake Tungsten]

I rest my case.