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I& #39;m an expert on the Iranian protest movement in 2009-2010. Followed every minute. I& #39;m an expert on Arab Spring. This feels like that. This one is different. And for the 1st time in my life, I think the US government has more in common with the dictators than not.
Protests are protests. They are designed to pressure the government. In democracies they& #39;re a way of reminding the elected that the electorate is paying attention. Things are different in dictatorships. Follow this thread to find out which one we are
In dictatorships protests are a direct challenge to power. You usually can& #39;t beat or has or arrest them away. They& #39;re designed to force a government to listen or to show their true colors. In strong systems (Saudi Arabia as an example) the government can accommodate and reform
In weak systems the government is forced to crack down. Protesters then rally to support the protesters who were attacked. When there are no longer any options to change the government& #39;s behavior, the violence starts
In America we have a president who is a traitor, elected with help from foreign powers. He is an open racist, an enemy to entire populations and regions. He is vindictive. The legislature is totally subservient to the executive, the judiciary is corrupt
Elections are rigged, polling places are shut, districts are gerrymandered, voting is suppressed. There is no longer any way to stop this abuse of power. Police have been promising reform, it has not happened.
Economically, the poor keep getting poorer and the rich richer. In good times and in bad, the disparity gets worse. In bad times the crunch is on. There is no way to stop this process. Government is complicit.
So eventually we reach the breaking point, the point where following the rules has negative consequences, and not following them has negative consequences, so you might as well stand up and fight. Usually there& #39;s a catalyst that starts this process