Wendell Phillips Monument, Boston Commons
Revolution is the only thing, the only power, that ever worked out freedom for any people. The powers that have ruled long and learned to love ruling, will never give up that prerogative until they must, til they see the certainty of overthrow and destruction
if they do not.
—-Wendell Phillips
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I wanted to say a few words about the current political unrest spreading through the Middle East and these words from Wendell Phillips, the American abolitionist and advocate of Native Americans of the 19th century, came to mind. These words seem to echo the root of the problem in Egypt and in other areas where revolution is in the air. Maybe in the US in times to come.
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In Egypt and other countries, there has been an ever expanding chasm between the haves and have-nots, with the haves possessing all the political power, bending it to serve their wills. They control the government and shape the laws and policies in a way that only benefits them, usually at the expense of the have-nots. Injustice and inequality become the norm and an aristocracy is formed to lord over a growing class of the poor and oppressed. The government which always speaks of serving the people is now only serving a select few and an anger begins to simmer at the unfairness of the situation. A tipping point begins to materialize and nears and is finally reached. The streets fill with the angry populace.
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Maybe this is very, very much oversimplified but it is the spine of any revolution. I worry for the US , not for what is happening in Egypt, but for what is happening here, with a government and judiciary more and more attuned to serving the interests of the wealthiest citizens at the expense of those less affluent citizens who need the protection of our government. We have evolved into a corporate aristocracy, even giving the benefits (without the responsibility) of citizenship to corporations in the Citizens United ruling from the Supreme Court. The chasm between the haves and have-nots is nearing historic proportions and in a nation of over 300 million people that was formed from revolution, those in the have camp should take heed from what is happening in the Middle East.
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As Phillips also said:
Governments exist to protect the rights of minorities. The loved and the rich need no protection: they have many friends and few enemies.
Redtree Times 
One can’t read the remarkable “Disunion” series in the NY Times, marking the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, without getting the disturbing feeling that something is once again in the air (and, in fact, Wendell Phillips was featured in the November 6 entry).
Great series and a great observation… Hopefully, there will be a break from the pattern we seem to be following.
This phrase struck me: “…The government which always speaks of serving the people is now only serving a select few…”
Ask people “Whom do you believe the government is serving?” and the answers can be remarkably dissimilar. Worse, the phrase “pandering to” can be substituted for “serving” in too many instances.
Anyone who doubts the complexity of the situation we’re in need only come to Texas and see how border issues, health care, gun control and education have become intertwined. Beyond that, between the extremes of the “haves” and “have-nots” you describe lies the great middle who feel some resentment in both directions and are growing restive.
When people are both resentful and restive, you certainly can “feel it in the air”.
Unfortunately, the great middle that has often carried and defined our country in times of prosperity are trending toward the have-nots. The actual income and buying power of the middle class has decreased precipitously over the last 30 years while the incomes of the top 2% has skyrocketed. The number of people living at or below the poverty level grows every year, including many who not too long ago considered themselves middle class. This middle class has been the stabilizer of our society and when they are seeing themselves sliding backwards they become predictably restless. They are the tipping point in this scenario.
Well, that’s my two cents worth anyways…