I always knew no enemy could ever destroy the United States from outside

[lunatica]

I'm just ruminating here with random thoughts.

Invading us would be futile just because of our size and the fact that if they invade our Capital almost nothing changes in the individual States that could cripple the country. They would have to invade all 50 State Capitals and that would be impossible. Too many guns and people willing to use them. Too high a population to put into camps. It would be highly problematic and probably impossible to force us into compliance. Too many enemy numbers would have to be used to control us.

I also always knew that if the United States were ever destroyed it would be from within. I wonder if that's what we're witnessing now and perhaps it has been happening for the last 17 years since the Supreme Court selected George W. Bush. Are we a different country now? A nascent overgrown giant puppy for Putin? What does he have planned for us if he succeeds in destroying us? He would have to spend way too much energy and time and personnel just to keep his status quo of controlling us. Invading us would end up like playing whack a mole.

He could just divide us and have us fight among ourselves, destroying the United part of the United States. That could happen. We've been being primed for that since FOX News and Limbaugh started their drumbeats of pure hatred. Perhaps it will all lead into a civil war, with maybe more than just two sides. Could we, would we break off into separate countries?

Nothing is permanent, but I thought we would last much longer with our experiment in Democracy and equality for all. At least long enough for those words to actually turn out to be true at some point.

Anyway, just some thoughts...

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Ben Franklin wondered, too.

At the close of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, as he left Independence Hall on the final day of deliberation, a woman asked him, "Well, Doctor, what have we got—a republic or a monarchy?” He answered, “A Republic, if you can keep it.”

I always assumed we could keep it. Now I'm not so sure.

[lunatica]

2. The question isn't can we keep the Republic, but will we?

It has to be a conscious decision at some point. But how is also problematic.

I used to think that our vote would decide all the questions of where we go as a country, good or bad. But with the Republicans controlling everything I can see that they're rushing to cram through the very things that will weaken us as a country, or at least as a Democracy. I'm sure that in the tax cut paperwork there are a thousand hidden clauses that will destroy much of what our country stands on and bring down great swaths of Americans. Once it becomes law what will happen when we learn of the details? Will voting in a year make any difference? The Republicans have learned how to circumvent now. And they know they won't always be in complete control.

[Journeyman]

3. Abraham Lincoln, January 27, 1838, Address to the Young Men's Lyceum of Springfield, Illinois . . .

“Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant, to step over the ocean, and crush us at a blow? Never! -- All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest; with a Bonaparte for a commander, could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a Thousand years. At what point, then, is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.”

[bluestarone]

4. AWESOME

and so VERY TRUE

[lunatica]

5. Perhaps we'll have another civil war but without the leadership of Abraham Lincoln

to keep the country together. I hope we do manage to keep it together.

[lunatica]

6. .