Today’s insanity is the historical norm

[Cyrano]

Given the history of humanity, why would anyone think that a sane/rational society is anything more than an occasional departure from the bloody history of the human species?

From time to time, there have been brief eras, in localized regions of the world, in which sane, civilized people prevailed over tyrants. But throughout the course of human history, such occasions have been few and far between.

Today’s American government, -- composed of barbarians, and those who quickly surrender to barbarians, -- is nothing unusual. It’s the way most human beings have behaved throughout recorded history.

We Americans thought we were different. We thought we were “special.” We thought we stood head and shoulders above our human predecessors throughout the world. Well, it turns out we are nothing more than the latest collection of passive peasants.

From about 1945 to about 1980, we Americans experienced a way of life and a prosperity that has rarely existed among the peasant class of this planet. We created a "middle class." But in 1980, the barbarians took back power. They’ve spent the past 30 years reestablishing greed, fear, ignorance, and brutality as the norm. And they’ve convinced far too many people to put their heads back into the yoke of oppression.

So how do the vast majority of us survive? We can settle for living day-to-day on crumbs. Or can we can fight back against the barbarians tooth and nail.

So here are my questions. Are we going to settle for crumbs and worse? Or are we going to attempt to defeat the barbarians who currently own everything there is to own? Are we just going to go on being beaten dogs? Or are we going to revolt against the tyrants who are crushing us and everything that matters to us?

[Blecht]

1. When enough of us are willing to die

That is when things will change.

The problem is that the change is often not for the better.

[cliffordu]

2. Exactly.

[Cyrano]

3. The tyrants and the know-nothings have already pushed

American off a cliff. In this case, I believe that change would be for the better, but it's really hard to repeal the laws of gravity. Given where we are today, dying is easy. Fighting for our freedoms is hard.