> political dissent is correlated to violence In some important ways, this is already a non-sequitur. First, let's stipulate that dissent is positively correl

> political dissent is correlated to violence In some important ways, this is already a non-sequitur. First, let's stipulate that dissent is positively correlated to violence, although I don't know how exactly you'd measure that. I suspect that, for reasonable measurements, it's not and that in fact it's negatively correlated. But let's stipulate. To use the example of the current political configuration of the United States: the government is ruthlessly violent, not only within its borders but around the world. So, which is more strongly "correlated" to violence, support for the government or dissent? If you hobnob with government officials, does this make you more closely connected to violence than if you associate with dissenters?