The repukes and the concept of civil war...

[Javaman]

You know, I have been thinking about something recently.

Various people come on here from time to time spouting the concept of civil war. Could it happen again, would it happen again. If we don't take back either the senate or the house or both in 2006, will one break out...

My question is this: Do the repukes think about this possibility? That such a colossal divide happening that starts us down this path?

As much as they are in control of everything, does it ever cross their minds? I'm talking about the politicians not the average mouth breathing repukes.

It scares me even to ask or ponder such a concept, but, like I said, it's been on my mind.

[Bacchus39]

1. no, it won't happen

n/t

[hwmnbn]

2. The idea has crossed MY mind.....

Last night I watched a PBS documentary about slavery in the 1850s. That the rich plantation owners had inordinate political power in DC. The Dred Scott decision was pushed by southern politicians. It removed all legal "personhood" from blacks. Free blacks in the north could be kidnapped and sold "down the river" as property. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT!

Anyway, the divisions in the country at the time were so big, they could only be resolved by civil war. I think we're getting close to matching that division. Abortion, civil liberties, tax inequities, imperial presidency are the issues today.

[ieoeja]

7. And notice which side was abusing federal power.

As you noted, the slavers spent two decades in control of the federal government and milked it for all it was worth. When they finally lost that power they immediately seceeded, even before the new administration had been sworn into office, on the assumption the opposing side would be every bit as abusive as they had been.

So in response to the original poster, no, I don't think they give it much thought at the moment because they are in the ascendency. A better question is, would they, like the slavers in 1860 start clamoring for civil war the moment they lose power?

[shoelace414]

3. our civil war..

The Civil war didn't as is implied come from the people, it came from the states. There were states so pissed off they decided they no longer wanted to be part of USA, they were afraid of what Lincoln MIGHT do. Lincoln didn't like that so he sent in federal troops.

I don't think any state would leave the union or attempt to kick all federal troops out of the state. The closest we may have come was the blacks in school thing back in the 60s

[Ganja Ninja]

5. Right! Civil war between the states is unlikely.

More likely all we'll have is a few incidents of drunken morons back-shooting someone for their bumper stickers.

[Road Scholar]

4. It's something to think about. It's worrisome actually.

I don't think we've been this divided since the civil war.I believe it could happen but it would the worst thing short of a thermo nuclear
Holocaust.But the party in power refuses to give an inch and refuses to listen to reason. It's really scary if you think about it long enough.

[zbdent]

6. Actually, I believe that

we will be in a civil war if Dems retake the Senate & House . . . remember which party is the party of unlimited guns . . .

I believed that the US would have been involved in a civil war if the SCOTUS installed the RIGHTFUL President Gore 12/12/2000 instead of handing it to Bush . . .

[ieoeja]

8. Not when they are in power.

(See post #7)


Civil wars aren't started by the people in charge. If they want to get rid of half the population, they set up death camps. And rightwingers musing on the notion of setting up death camps for Liberals I HAVE encountered on several occasions.

This is always being bandied about in a humorous manner. My response to this is to turn it serious. One or two get very animated in their genuine desire to see this come to pass. The rest are eventually shocked when they realize their one or two friends are serious.

I do this to wake up the moderate rightwingers to what is growing in their midst under the cover of "humor".

[genie_weenie]

9. It would take alot to start another civil war.

The school system is set up to cement the idea that the Current Government of the US has somehow inherited the prestige and honor of the Founding Fathers. I mean why make the Congress so lavish, why have all those honorary titles for Senators and pResidents and Judges, why have all the pomp and circumstance in the House reading of bill? It is to overawe and instill the belief in Americans that these people are somehow *above* them and infused with a special quality. In the past, it was easy for the King of France to claim the Divine Right of Kings, for the Pharaohs to claim to be born of the Gods, for the Babylonians Priests to claim divinely inspired knowledge, they just came right out and stated it. Now-a-days, politicians prey upon the ignorance of the citizenry, that the average citizen won't question, that the average citizen takes it as a fait accompli.

Sorry to ramble on. Does anyone know what the status of Vermont's design to leave the union?