2 ms·

> imagine a few hundred million people getting angry within one election cycle This isn't hard to imagine? We'll elect someone, they will put in place new poli

> imagine a few hundred million people getting angry within one election cycle This isn't hard to imagine? We'll elect someone, they will put in place new policies. Maybe they will help, maybe they won't. Nice thing about real democracies, you don't actually need pitchforks.

toofy 1mo ago
this is only true if people know their voices matter. if their voices are overrun by the powerful, the pitchforks come back out.
- bonobo 1mo ago
  We have also to consider what if their voices not only don't matter but are actively being suppressed. It's hard to start a revolution if who's in control can control communications and can preemptively identify people who are more likely to start dissent. Maybe this time we won't even have the slightest chance to revolt.
loup-vaillant 1mo ago
Said democracy does have to be real, though. If we're talking about that country between two oceans that waged armed conflicts almost constantly since its very inception, has supported or helped put in place straight-up dictatorships not that long ago, and sports one of the highest wealth inequality in the West, well... I'd think long and hard before I call that a real democracy.
- nielsbot 1mo ago
  Also: The US government is structured to put checks on democracy thereby ensuring wealth and power inequality. See: The Electoral College, The Senate, and even the Constitution itself among other examples.
  - rb666 29d ago
    This is sarcasm right? All those institutes are currently failing.
    - nielsbot 29d ago
      Not sarcasm. For example: The Senate was originally not directly elected. Furthermore Wyoming and California both get 2 senators each. And there’s the filibuster on top of that.
geraneum 1mo ago
Yeah, nobody likes the pitchforks but “maybe they won’t” is not really an option for hungry people. > Nice thing about real democracies, you don't actually need pitchforks. Democracy is not something inherent in any society. It’s a tool wielded by the people.
rglover 1mo ago
Can we please stop pretending any facet of this system works? Calling current day America a real democracy is like calling Kim Kardashian's ass real.
- lazyasciiart 1mo ago
  Words are funny. It is real, it's just not ..biological.
rewgs 29d ago
Found PG's alt account.
pjc50 29d ago
Everyone seems to be forgetting that the US did have a pitchfork event, it was called Jan 6th and might best be characterized as a coup d'etat that fizzled with remarkably few casualties.
- tmountain 29d ago
  Different people with different motivations.
  - pjc50 29d ago
    (upthread) >>>> imagine a few hundred million people getting angry within one election cycle If that many people get angry, you can bet they're all going to be different people with different motivations. This is partly why revolutions tend to suck no matter how evil the regime was they overthrew; the US got extremely lucky with being able to postpone the post-revolution civil war for a century.

toofy 1mo ago

this is only true if people know their voices matter. if their voices are overrun by the powerful, the pitchforks come back out.

bonobo 1mo ago
We have also to consider what if their voices not only don't matter but are actively being suppressed. It's hard to start a revolution if who's in control can control communications and can preemptively identify people who are more likely to start dissent. Maybe this time we won't even have the slightest chance to revolt.

loup-vaillant 1mo ago

Said democracy does have to be real, though. If we're talking about that country between two oceans that waged armed conflicts almost constantly since its very inception, has supported or helped put in place straight-up dictatorships not that long ago, and sports one of the highest wealth inequality in the West, well... I'd think long and hard before I call that a real democracy.

nielsbot 1mo ago
Also: The US government is structured to put checks on democracy thereby ensuring wealth and power inequality. See: The Electoral College, The Senate, and even the Constitution itself among other examples.
- rb666 29d ago
  This is sarcasm right? All those institutes are currently failing.
  - nielsbot 29d ago
    Not sarcasm. For example: The Senate was originally not directly elected. Furthermore Wyoming and California both get 2 senators each. And there’s the filibuster on top of that.

geraneum 1mo ago

Yeah, nobody likes the pitchforks but “maybe they won’t” is not really an option for hungry people. > Nice thing about real democracies, you don't actually need pitchforks. Democracy is not something inherent in any society. It’s a tool wielded by the people.

rglover 1mo ago

Can we please stop pretending any facet of this system works? Calling current day America a real democracy is like calling Kim Kardashian's ass real.

lazyasciiart 1mo ago
Words are funny. It is real, it's just not ..biological.

rewgs 29d ago

Found PG's alt account.

pjc50 29d ago

Everyone seems to be forgetting that the US did have a pitchfork event, it was called Jan 6th and might best be characterized as a coup d'etat that fizzled with remarkably few casualties.

tmountain 29d ago
Different people with different motivations.
- pjc50 29d ago
  (upthread) >>>> imagine a few hundred million people getting angry within one election cycle If that many people get angry, you can bet they're all going to be different people with different motivations. This is partly why revolutions tend to suck no matter how evil the regime was they overthrew; the US got extremely lucky with being able to postpone the post-revolution civil war for a century.