Welcome to a discussion about the upcoming 5th Revolution in the US, which I’ve titled the “Revenge Revolution.” For more about the Revenge Revolution and the author, Entry #1.  Periodically I write a “sense check” to assess whether a revolution in the US is possible or whether the entire exercise is based on a statistical aberration — i.e., a roughly 50-year cycle between major upheavals in the US Entry #476 was the most recent “sense check.”

BEGIN ENTRY#489: The last week of August 2023 included two markers in recent history of the US. One was the former president pleading “not guilty” (again) as part a RICO case brought in Fulton County Georgia.  Trump is the lead defendant in a case that centers on whether Trump and others attempted to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

The second marker was an event that happened 60 years ago – the March on Washington, DC.  The March included MLK’s famous speech, “I Have a Dream.” 

What often is overlooked about the March is how many non-blacks participated.  In addition, what is rarely mentioned, and I confess I was unaware until very recently, is the person who spoke immediately before MLK – a German-born rabbi, who lived through World War II.

The focal point of the rabbi’s remarks seems as germane today as in 1963. He suggested the worst action anyone can take in a situation where people are being discriminated against or persecuted is to remain silent.  Without dwelling on the topic, the rabbi noted what happened to 6+ million Jews and others under German rule when people remained silent.

Non-Jews often wonder why Jews are so vocal at times. Why did Jews become an early supporter of the civil rights movement and participate in the marches where police brutalized participants?  What was in it for the Jews? What did they have to gain?

The answer is simple, nothing. But to remain silent would mean Jews were acting no better than most of the general population who remained silent in Germany, Austria, and Poland. Silence can be a de facto death sentence for those being oppressed.

OK, you’re thinking, cut the drama.  The March on Washington was 60 years ago, and Hitler came to power about 90 years ago. What does the “sound of silence“ have to do with today’s environment?

Go back to the beginning of this entry and reread the first marker.  Whether you want to believe it or not, Trump and his gang came perilously close to pulling off a coup and replacing POTUS with a dictator.

Everyone in the US should be shocked at the percentage of the population, and even more shocked at the percentage of the Republicans, who believe Trump: (i) is the subject of a witch-hunt: (ii) is a positive force (iii) should be reelected. Many of Trump’s supporters have similar profiles and are modern-day versions of the population in Axis countries who remained silent in World War II – white, and Christian.

How do people in this group justify being silent?  I’m baffled but I suspect many justify silence by thinking, “I am safe. No one is coming after me. Why should I get involved? Besides, I don’t like the way ‘those people’ look and act. ‘Those people’ are not like me.“

What’s your risk of not getting involved and remaining silent? You’ll be risking trading a democracy and all its protections for a dictatorship and its lack of protections. Ever think about what government provides in the way of benefits to you?  Ever think how easily those benefits could be eliminated with the stroke of a pen by a dictator?  (Libertarians should pay close attention to the list.)

Here are some examples. #1, ownership rights. If you think you own your house, your car, your stocks, or any other item, you need to think again. The government provides the right to ownership. The right to ownership is not in the constitution and not guaranteed without a functioning government.

#2, police and fire protection. What do you think would happen if police and fire protection were privatized?  Ever been exposed to “demand pricing” when buying an airline ticket?  How much do you think the cost of protection might increase if your house were on fire?

#3, public roads.  In a dictatorship, all roads could be privatized so you get to pay a toll to the dictator.

#4, the right to vote.  There would be no right to vote, or the elections would be rigged, much like Trump tried to do in 2020. 

And this is the short list.  Still interested in supporting Trump and the gang?

If you think the list is “fake news,” then what the core tenets of your religion?  Please point out a religion that promotes watching other people suffer. Point out a religion where one is not supposed to help others.

If you still like Trump because you think that as a “member” of Trump’s club, you’re protected, think again.  Take a look at how all of Trump’s operations are run – he decides who’s a member and who’s not.  Don’t bow down to the Donald and get thrown under the bus.  In Donnie the Dictator’s world, one day you might find yourself on the outside. Then what have you got?  With the nod of a head, you can go from good to dead.

Now, go look in the mirror and ask yourself one more time.  “Is this the guy I want leading our country?” END ENTRY #489

Other Topics. Interested in more info about climate change, what’s required to electrify a fleet of cars/trucks, what it was like to work day-to-day with Lee Iacocca and an array of other topics? Visit another page of this website, https://usrevolution5.com/jrd-thought-comments/