The Klan Rides Again

In a recent poll it seems that 44% of Republicans and 29% of all people polled believe an armed revolution may be necessary in the future to, I guess, “restore our liberties.” I do not know precisely what “liberties” these revolutionaries have in mind but I’m pretty sure they have to do with maintaining “White superiority.” Consider, for example:

Since President Obama, our first Black President, was elected, there has been an almost unbelievable increase in what are generally considered “militia” organizations. There were, I gather from the internet, 149 militia groups in 2008, and now there are at least 1200. I have no first-hand knowledge of any of these groups but I am confident they are most probably all White.

It seems the number of gun owners in our population is actually decreasing while at the same time the sale of guns is increasing. This means, of course, that fewer people are buying and stockpiling guns. I’m pretty confident the vast majority of these gun buyers are White.

It has been suggested by some, probably correctly, that the revolution these people have in mind has more to do with their concern to maintain their traditional view of our society as dominated by Whites than anything else. This is also seen as a fearful response to the changing demographics of our nation that will make Whites a minority.  You might consider this an effort to maintain the status quo in the face of change. It is also a typical development when the nation is undergoing a period of hardship and unrest. The Klan arose and grew under such conditions and has re-emerged, or at least attempted to, on more than one such occasion. While it is true that not all these current militias represent the Klan, they are certainly Klan-like in their beliefs, revolutionaries of the “Right,” so to speak.

Interestingly enough, at least to me, may be considered revolutionaries of the “Left,” who want to change the status quo, not to protect their liberties, but to gain them, those who are outraged at the obscene and glaring inequities in our society. When the pay of CEO’s is somewhere around 1700 times that of ordinary workers, and a few individuals between them have more wealth than 40% of the rest of the country, and billionaires are being created faster than worker’s wages are increasing, this may well lead to a revolution, a classic Marxian revolt of the proletariat against the bourgeoisie. You know, “arise, you have nothing to lose but your chains,” and etc.

As far as I know there is no well-organized movement on the Left, at least not one as easily identifiable as the militias, but there are growing signs of unrest and revolution, striking workers at Walmart, striking teachers in Chicago, an increase in union activities, and so on.

We have tended to believe for a very long time that a revolution could not occur in our (pretend) democracy. That may well be changing now that our government has ceased to act on behalf of the people, preferring instead to act for the interests of the corporations and the wealthy. Now it appears there are two potential revolutionary movements that are probably diametrically opposed to each other in almost every way, one favoring the status quo, the other challenging it, one favoring White supremacy, the other promoting diversity, one demanding justice, one defending injustice. Both of these potentially revolutionary movements are dissatisfied with our present government but for completely different reasons. Could they ever join forces? I do not see how. It is a most curious situation. Perhaps instead of a revolution we will merely have another Civil War. In any case, do not look for any “Joy in Mudville” anytime soon.

“If you make peaceful revolution impossible you make violent revolution inevitable”
John F. Kennedy