Majority Support

2002-10-4 17:44:00

Blayne
I don't agree that history supports this premise. 3 percent actually fought the revolution. Jefferson and many others were labeled outlaws among the majority.

JJ
I'm not talking about the number who fought the war, but the number who supported the rebel cause over the British cause. By your reasoning less than 1% of the people supported the Gulf War and less than 5% supported World War II.

During the Revolutionary War there existed over 50% of the population who supported the Rebels more than they supported the British. All the supporters may not have been in the Army, but two thirds helped by not supplying aid to the British and not allowing them to use their property without force of arms.

Blayne
It is debatable how many in their hearts supported the rebels, because in reality there was no real support among the majority in deed. Many of the founders thought there was little if any chance of winning denoting the lack of support from their countrymen. They fought on principle alone preferring to die rather then submit to any more increasing tyranny despite what the majority did in action or lack there of. And the tyranny as not as bad as Hitler's at the time.

JJ
Many of them were like Mel Gibson in The Patriot. They had their reasons for not going to war but they supported the Rebels over the British. Note that his son wanted to join the rebels, but the father would not let him. This certainly does not mean the son was not in support of the cause.

Blayne
History has borne out that the majority go with what ever way the wind blows. When the rebels won why then everyone was on their side.

JJ
And during the Revolutionary War the wind was blowing toward revolution.

"A democracy is six wolves and one sheep voting to eat the sheep for dinner. A tyranny is one shepherd putting a bullet through the head of the sixty wolves without looking for an alternative solution to the problem."

Blayne
A free constitutional republic is the sheep are armed and dinner is not open to vote. ;-)

JJ
But it will only remain free if you have majority support, otherwise the representatives will kill the wolves and eat the sheep. Freedom requires an eternal vigilance in educating the majority so they will knowingly support it in their hearts and minds. A deluded majority with the power of the state can even overcome an armed minority.