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West of Eden's avatar

Thanks for getting me to read the Declaration of Independence on Independence Day! Well done! Also for cracking me up on a regular basis.

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Telenil's avatar

George Orwell made some related remarks about revolution. People only demand rights when they have time to think about it. Peasants, workers or serfs whose chief concern is finding food and firewood might occasionally revolt, but that won't escalate into a revolution because they won't have any coherent political program. Once people get a certain degree of control over their life, however, they begin to realize they can manage their own affairs better than the local nobles or the central government, so the boldest of this middle class start looking for ways to take matters in their own hands (such as replacing the old government).

In other words, oppression itself doesn't start revolution. It only does when people consider their rulers unnecessary, in the sense that they could rule themselves better.

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