"Unlike many modern revolutions, the American Revolution was not rooted in economic deprivation or in the struggle of an oppressed class against an entrenched elite. But this does not mean that the colonists did not suffer from serious grievances. The Revolution was the product of 40 years of abuses by the British authorities that many colonists regarded as a threat to their liberty and property. But people do not act simply in response to objective reality but according to the meaning that they give to events. The Revolution resulted from the way the colonists interpreted events.
The American patriots were alarmed by what they saw as a conspiracy against their liberty. They feared that the corruption and the abuses of power by the British government would taint their own society. And, further, they were troubled by the knowledge that they had no say over a government three thousand miles away. "
It seems that everytime, some vote doesn't go one way or another, someone brings out the documents of 300 years ago. Ah, those bright eyed innocent days of long ago.....What else was around in 1776? Well slaves in all 13 colonies made up 40% of the population. Yea, I guess that threat to liberty was somewhat narrowly interpreted...Oh, and that population, pretty small, about 1.6 million. Yea, that's about the popluation of Boston alone today. Sitting around the tavern, sipping Sam Adams brew of the day, I imagine it was a lot easier to think about revolt against a country that would have to ship in their army 200 at a time, with muskets. Yes, times have changed, radically.
Whether individuals want to admit it or see it, Americans on the whole are very satisfied with their government. And the vast majority are satisfied with their day to day existence. The threats to liberties that some see, are thought of as the return of normal morals to the masses. Liberty is quite different from Anarchy. Even the colonials, had social rules that were simply not tolerated to be broken.
The recently past election highlighted that. Sure Kerry had a lot of votes, not enough to win, but almost. But what would have changed had Kerry won. Possible minor changes to the environmental laws, possible minor changes to the world diplomatic approach. But these changes would be minor, very, very minor. The massive bulk of the people very obviously are not all that unhappy. The big news report of the day is that a few women are upset that their breasts were touched during an airport security check (exposing even today the puritanical influence in the states), then they go on their flight, go on their business trips, vacations, go home in their Saabs, unlock the 3 bedroom colonial in the suburbs, get on their wireless phone or computer, call their lawyer and complain. Ironic.
Do these people have any concept of what goes on, day to day, in most of the world?
No there will be no revolution here, none. And the reason is it simply isn't that bad to 99% of the people. Hard times to most people is having to wait 10 seconds for dial up internet to log on. Hard times is bitch'n about the gas going up 20 cents, while driving a HumVee and paying 5$ for a latte at Starbucks and paying 6$, 3 times a day for a pack of cigarettes. These are the people you think are going to revolt??
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