We Americans are a unique nation in many delightful ways (forgetting how hard Progressives want us to be like other nations) thanks to our Founding Fathers’ political and historical genius. That sociological masterpiece we call the US Constitution.
That genius was in their foundational notion that Power is sought by all the wrong people and that they had to design their framework to isolate that urge to make it as difficult as possible to protect Society against the Government, the States against the Federal Government, and the Branches of the Federal Government from each other.
In the end, however, it comes down not to Government or Society but to us. What have we, individual Americans, done to protect that document by not allowing those that crave Power to aggregate and abuse it? Lately, I don’t think we’ve done much. 74% of us believe that the county is not on the right path. But it is a poll question that only asks that – not WHICH WAY or in which direction; are we giving up too much Freedom, or are we not giving the Government enough Power?
In Russia, we just saw an abortive coup. The Wagner mercenary army took over Russian army positions and leverage points and started to march to Moscow. Until it got aborted, and I doubt that few people, even in Russia, have a complete idea of what happened when the best army in Russia (a private mercenary force) stood down. What I do know is that The Truth About Guns had a piece that my bingo card would never have EVAH had.
Seriously, would any of us in the Freedom camp have thought this would happen? Emphasis mine, reformatted:
Russians Suddenly Discover the Value of an Armed Populace
Mikhail B. Khodorkovsky, a Russian businessman who has sought to unite groups opposing Putin, called on Russians opposed to the regime to arm themselves. Khodorkovsky wrote on his Telegram channel:
“Now we see that only armed people can resist the dictatorship,” “Now there is a small window of opportunity when there is chaos on the streets and the security forces are not in control of the situation.”
He said the dramatic standoff would likely result in further repression:
“If you see the strength in yourself in the future to become those armed people who will oppose Putin or Prigozhin, then it’s time to arm yourself,” he said. “Prigozhin is not our friend and not even our ally. He is a bandit and a war criminal. But his rebellion is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and there won’t be another like it for a long time.”
Who knew? Who knew that even people who have lived under totalitarian governments for over a hundred years would understand that the basis of our Second Amendment might be their source of freedom? The ability to defend themselves. Sure, at a high cost, most likely, and as we saw in our Revolution, few participated. Would Khodorkovsky find like-minded people?
From the little I know, the phrase is “If you are going to kill the King, KILL THE KING!”. And in this case, he’s staring at TWO Kings – mostly? Sorta? Prigozhin lit out to Belarus with no one knowing what the terms are (and what little we do know seems to be changing quickly).
Our Rights stem from God and are enshrined in our Bill of Rights.
Sidenote: with fewer and fewer Americans believing in God, are WE in trouble soon when we reach that tipping point that the Progressives are aching for in their “There is no God – WE are our own gods” and revoke it?
Russians have no such right in theirs. However, they understand that they need one.
Even if this coup goes away, the idea won’t. What will happen then?
