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Mark · Site Admin Joined: 13 Nov 2007 Posts: 1052

Many thanks to Sharon for passing this along!

When Change Is Not Enough: Seven Steps to Revolution

http://www.alternet.org/story/77498/

Excerpt:

If history is any indication, we may be on the road to violent revolution. We got here because of the conservatives' war against liberal government.
...

Recently, I came across a pocket of sociological research that suggested a tantalizing answer to these questions -- and also that America may be far more ready for far more change than anyone really believes is possible at this moment. In fact, according to some sociologists, we've already lined up all the preconditions that have historically set the stage for full-fledged violent revolution.
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Way back in 1962, Caltech sociologist James C. Davies published an article in the American Sociological Review that summarized the conditions that determine how and when modern political revolutions occur. Intriguingly, Davies cited another scholar, Crane Brinton, who laid out seven "tentative uniformities" that he argued were the common precursors that set the stage for the Puritan, American, French, and Russian revolutions. As I read Davies' argument, it struck me that the same seven stars Brinton named are now precisely lined up at midheaven over America in 2008. Taken together, it's a convergence that creates the perfect social, economic, and political conditions for the biggest revolution since the shot heard 'round the world.

dyfet · Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 6:20 am Post subject: Moments in history

Certainly if there was a "storm the winter palace" moment offered, I would choose to take it even with the uncertainty it might bring over the clear consequence of doing nothing in respect to the present society and path which at least is already known to be clearly destructive.