Quote:
Originally Posted by NeonSamurai
Most of what went on in the French Revolution was not so much because the people had had enough, but because of capitalists (meaning people with capital, or money) wanting to change the laws to favor themselves (such as free use of private property, etc). The food riots were largely attributable to these individuals hording grain on their "private property" with the purpose of causing grain prices to soar due to lack of availability and caused starvation to run rampant all over France even though there was plenty of food available. Which started the riots, which blamed the 'corrupt royalty' (talk about hypocrisy) for the lack of food (the food was there, nobody but the aristocracy could afford to buy it though).
They also after the revolution enacted all kinds of laws which stripped any power from the worker and gave it all to the property owners, eliminated price fixing (before prices were fixed by the government to ensure fair trade and prevent gouging), and abolished all guilds, unions, etc. These guys also as a result sowed the seeds of communism which is the exact opposite (supposedly all power to the working class, though that is a lie too).
So pretty much "the people" were used again. What always surprises me though is not how much people are suspicious of government (I don't blame them), but how few are suspicious of big business (the corporations). After all, who is controlling who and where is the money coming from?
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Well you're basically saying (in more detail) the exact same thing I just said.
As for the rest, I am well aware of the French Revolutions aftermath. That could well happen here too I suppose, but such pitfalls aren't an argument against revolution, far from it. The line is still there and I think we're being pushed a little towards it every day.