And while America fights insurgents the world over,

[_Rick_]

France today celebrates its insurgents, who stormed the Bastille 225 years ago, to end feudalism and bring forth a constitution and the declaration of human rights.

Aux armes, citoyens! And a happy 14th of July to you all.

Fun fact: It's a national holiday only since a century after the fact, someone thought it would be a good thing to officially celebrate (NB: around ten years after Prussia invaded Paris and the German national state was founded there), except for 1790, when there was a week-long celebration in Paris.

Oh, and remember kids, what triggered the revolution? A financial crisis of course, and a high taxation of the less wealthy, while the nobles and clergy enjoyed tax exemptions.

 

[master_shake_]

France today celebrates its insurgents, who stormed the Bastille 225 years ago, to end feudalism and bring forth a constitution and the declaration of human rights.

Aux armes, citoyens! And a happy 14th of July to you all.

Fun fact: It's a national holiday only since a century after the fact, someone thought it would be a good thing to officially celebrate (NB: around ten years after Prussia invaded Paris and the German national state was founded there), except for 1790, when there was a week-long celebration in Paris.

Oh, and remember kids, what triggered the revolution? A financial crisis of course, and a high taxation of the less wealthy, while the nobles and clergy enjoyed tax exemptions.

will never happen in my lifetime.

 

[Markbnj]

France today celebrates its insurgents, who stormed the Bastille 225 years ago, to end feudalism and bring forth a constitution and the declaration of human rights.

Not to mention the terror, and an orgy of bloodletting that defies description.

 

[John Connor]

I wonder if the terrorists we are fighting are fighting for human rights? :sneaky:

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Not to mention the terror, and an orgy of bloodletting that defies description.

Did somebody say "orgy?" 😀

 

[bunnyfubbles]

France knew it could win, it was fighting France.

 

[_Rick_]

France knew it could win, it was fighting France.

This is a misconception.
At the time, Louis XVI's government was well aware, that the French military would side with the people, and so he had many foreign mercenaries stationed in Paris.

The Terror was probably a necessary learning experience, and exterminating much of the nobility made the restoration government that much more frail, and secured long term victory over the royalists.

Compared to what it took to get human rights into the USA, the Terror was but a minor issue of dissent 😀

 

[KB]

Oh, and remember kids, what triggered the revolution? A financial crisis of course, and a high taxation of the less wealthy, while the nobles and clergy enjoyed tax exemptions.

Another big cause of the French Revolution was food became scarce and the people got hungry. When people are hungry they get motivated to make changes.

"The economy was not healthy; poor harvests, rising food prices, and an inadequate transportation system made food even more expensive."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Revolution#Causes

The US is not going to have a revolution as long as we are fat and food is cheap.

 

[Bulk Beef]

 

[Newell Steamer]

,... a high taxation of the less wealthy, while the nobles and clergy enjoyed tax exemptions.

And, if you disagree with this type of set up, you are a worthless, self entitled welfare leech that wants things for free and does drugs, while buying TVs, iPhones and tattoos.

Oh, and a Muslim communist.

 

[Greenman]

And, if you disagree with this type of set up, you are a worthless, self entitled welfare leech that wants things for free and does drugs, while buying TVs, iPhones and tattoos.

Oh, and a Muslim communist.

That seems about right.

 

[BudAshes]

That seems about right.

What you suckers don't know is that you get to go to special rich people heaven when you die if you have a nice enough luxury yacht.

 

[BlitzPuppet]

Pffft, are you celebrating the Les Miserables movie? Who celebrates a movie plot?

:awe:

 

[maddogchen]

And now France taxes it's 1% at a 75% tax rate. And finds itself lagging behind the rest of Europe in recovery. Cuz why make more if you are getting taxed so much?

 

[momeNt]

I can guarantee that a majority of Americans would rather live without the second amendment, and have their government come in and confiscate all arms, than to put up with a revolution.

Americans just aren't very revolutionary anymore.

 

[dainthomas]

Another big cause of the French Revolution was food became scarce and the people got hungry. When people are hungry they get motivated to make changes.

The people in France didn't adapt to the cooler climate of the Little Ice Age. They continued to rely on wheat when their leaders were trying to get them to switch to the cold-tolerant potato. Many lives would have been saved had they done so.

 

[maddogchen]

Before when you could just pick up a rifle and be as well armed as the military you might have a chance at revolution. But now with the most advance and heavily armed military in the world. Rifles don't work against tanks, fighter planes, guided missiles and armed drones.

 

[momeNt]

The people in France didn't adapt to the cooler climate of the Little Ice Age. They continued to rely on wheat when their leaders were trying to get them to switch to the cold-tolerant potato. Many lives would have been saved had they done so.

And the world would have been without post revolutionary french cuisine, umm... pass.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Before when you could just pick up a rifle and be as well armed as the military you might have a chance at revolution. But now with the most advance and heavily armed military in the world. Rifles don't work against tanks, fighter planes, guided missiles and armed drones.

I think if recent American military conflicts tell us anything they tell us that the most advanced military in the world struggles when facing a local population with average weapons but tons of innocents as shields and a better feel for the terrain.

 

[momeNt]

If there was a revolution. I don't think the American military could stomach mowing down their fellow countrymen. Would the government resort to bringing in foreign, UN troops in order to quash the rebellion? The US military would need to be deployed as I don't think they would sit idly by and let European troops slaughter Americans.

Is that why we keep the Middle East as a hot spot for potential deployment in the event the UN military needs to kill Americans at the behest of the US government?

 

[maddogchen]

I think if recent American military conflicts tell us anything they tell us that the most advanced military in the world struggles when facing a local population with average weapons but tons of innocents as shields and a better feel for the terrain.

Well if you think that's true, China encourages you to revolt. It's tired of being number two.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Well if you think that's true, China encourages you to revolt. It's tired of being number two.

We have a lot further to drop before that is even a considerable option.

 

[Gibsons]

And, if you disagree with this type of set up, you are a worthless, self entitled welfare leech that wants things for free and does drugs, while buying TVs, iPhones and tattoos.

Oh, and a Muslim communist.

Gay. You left out gay.

 

[DrPizza]

To have a revolution, you have to sort of organize - get other people on board. Good luck, with the NSA watching all communication.

 

[_Rick_]

I can guarantee that a majority of Americans would rather live without the second amendment, and have their government come in and confiscate all arms, than to put up with a revolution.

Americans just aren't very revolutionary anymore.

Actually, the French revolutionary forces stormed the Bastille to get ammo for the weapons they stole earlier that morning. They weren't significantly armed up to that point. And they only got in, because the commander couldn't stomach killing his own people anymore. He was holding that fort with invalid war veterans and twelve mercenaries, losing one man for a hundred revolutionaries.

This very fact demonstrates, how little the second amendment has to do with whether a revolution will succeed or not. The army decides whether a revolution goes ahead or not. That's why a a volunteer army is a danger to democracy, since the people isn't represented equally in the army.