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0 pointsvixen991y ago0 comments

There are zero rights without obligations. Why do we never hear about the latter?

To read about people standing up for their rights in a Marxist State read Robert Conquest's 570 pages of 'The Great Terror' - an account of the crimes committed against humanity in the name of the Soviet Communism that emerged from the 1917 revolution. 'We'll do it differently' is the usual response. Sadly this always leaves out appreciation of the human factor whereby charismatic leaders arise and are convinced they know the truth and the way. Before considering a revolution, ensure there's a solution for this human problem of leaders who lead the masses (they regard the latter as such) down a path that in retrospect is seen to be a disaster. Pol Pot, The Great Leap Forward, the Iranian Revolution. We need to sit down and think about this before taking to the streets.

How about evolution rather than 'eggs in one basket' revolution?

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ben_w1y ago

> There are zero rights without obligations. Why do we never hear about the latter?

I hear much about the latter. The right to freedom of speech vs. the obligation to not defame, to not pump up your own share price, to not leak state secrets, to not openly call for civil wars in foreign countries, etc.

The right to bear arms, vs. the obligation to keep them locked up so kids can't play with them.

While I share your opinion that revolutions are generally bad and messy things, there's plenty of people who think the rich are failing their obligations to the society which gave them the right to own property.

pjc501y ago

> How about evolution rather than 'eggs in one basket' revolution?

That's the premise of social democrat parties, and the UK Fabian society (named after Roman general Fabius "the delayer") & Labour party!

Revolutions only happen when peaceful change is thwarted.

Of course, America is the least fertile ground for a left revolution. It's in the middle of a right-populist one.

switch0071y ago

> Revolutions only happen when peaceful change is thwarted.

Hence why the illusion of change and propaganda/political marketing is so, so important

Just make sure people are busy believing everything is changing all the time. Wear them out

wesapien1y ago

Taking an isolated look into history is unhelpful and lacks wisdom. The events you mention will feel and sound raw due to how close it is to us. Looking at it this way, it only serves to protect existing entrenched power structures because it fails to acknowledge why revolution happen. If the system evolved, we wouldn't have revolution. It's the last straw.

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