Egypt
just did it in a matter of a few days.
What made this happen? For this
to happen so quickly took two things:
First there were millions in the streets protesting. They protested everything from not having a
job to an elected president that turned into a dictator. Second, the military provided the power and
the final action of removing the elected dictator.
Revolutions
usually take longer… much longer. Take a look at our revolution that was
formalized (not won) on July 4, 1776.
One could mark the start to 1763 with the end of the French and Indian
War. But the colonies were inflamed with
the Boston Massacre in 1770 and the Boston Tea Party in 1773.
See the
word “inflamed”? It takes an
inflamed group of people to really get a revolution going. Many, and I am one, who say that Samuel Adams
was an essential ingredient in the success of the revolution. Adams was not particularly successful in business,
but he knew and managed and stoked the people’s
outrage. A rabble-rouser is often
necessary to the success of a revolution.
To the
present: On February 19, 2009 Rick
Santelli went on a rant against the government’s
Homeowners Affordability and Stability Act and said that it promoted bad
behavior by potential homeowners and suggested a Chicago Tea Party. The Tea Party movement was born, and thrived
and put the Republicans in charge of the House in 2010. Now we know the power
of that and the government quickly put the IRS into stopping it by slow walking
applications and forever prolonging their application and various acts of
harassment and intimidation. The Tea
Party movement was severely slowed and, in many cases, died.
As
scandal after scandal piles up, there is no “Santelli” or outrage.
Should we
not be angry that the administration made no effort to to save our people under
attack in Benghazi? Should we be even
angrier that they actually told people to “Stand down”?The culture of the military made this impossible and many
disobeyed order and went to help and died trying.
Should we
not be outraged that the administration used the most powerful arm of the
government (outside the military) the IRS to undermine a national
election. Is there no greater sin
against democracy?
Should we
not be outraged that they are slow walking any investigation? Oh, and they are very quick to look into
finding something else to convict George Zimmerman.
Should we
not be outraged that they are collecting our telephone calls, e-mails, internet
traffic without cause or warrant?
Should we
not be outraged that the President declares that he will delay implementation
part of a law passed by congress and signed by the him?
Yes, to
all. But no one is in the streets. There is no Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams or
Rick Santelli.
Who will
it be, what will be the trigger? Or, will we be the frog in the pan sitting
comfortably in the warm water as it heats up and evntually kills?
