You must be warned that I have a reputation among friends and family as being something of a harbinger of doom, and I often wonder how close to tin-foil hat territory I fly.  But I have to say, if things get really ugly in this country, it’s not the government I fear.   I fear some of my neighbors.

A lot of people frame Second Amendment debates around the idea that we need firearms to protect us from a tyrannical government.  And I believe that’s a good reason, especially with the charlatans in the White House now.  But I’m also concerned about how we will treat each other in the event of something cataclysmic, whether a deep economic depression, or another terrorist attack on our soil.

Consider this:  The right has been vilifying liberals—quite successfully it seems—for a long time now.  Progressives are "terrorist sympathizers," "traitors," even actual terrorists.  Because of this campaign, there is a large segment of our society who believes that if Amurka falls from grace in any way, it will be the fault of godless, commie, homosexual, elitist hippies.

And you know how much Americans like to find and place blame.

The biggest obstacle to tyranny is an informed public.  Just look at the videos that have brought down senators (macaca, anyone?)

Many of us have cell phones now.  They can be powerful tools for democracy.

I'm no fan of the two-party system.  So why do we have to wait and conform to the "president/vp" model, at any point?  What if we, as progressives, just got our shite together and offered a full package?

I'm assuming that our progressive/democratic candidates will put ego aside.  Maybe that's naive.

More savvy folks might read below the fold?

Like many libs, I've been cursed with the ability to empathize with other perspectives.  Conservatives, for example, are easy for me, since I have beloved members of my family who drink the kool-aid.

Liberals are pussies.  Liberals are "surrender monkeys."  Liberals are going to be overrun by "islamofascist" hordes.  Liberals are going to weep for help from red-staters with guns.

Bullshit.