A little rebellion

I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical.1 Unsuccesful rebellions indeed generally establish the incroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions, as not to discourage them too much. It is a medecine necessary for the sound health of government." - Thomas Jefferson to James Madison,Paris, January 30, 17872
https://www.monticello.org/site/research-and-collections/little-rebellionquotation

While many will decry this and say it cannot be, the US has undergone a bunch of rebellions, some violent, since it first became a nation. The War Between the States is merely the biggest and most reported rebellion.

What is happening right now in Seattle is another rebellion. Whether or not I support all the aims of this movement is irrelevant. Whether or not I support this rebellion is irrelevant. It is a rebellion.

Among the demands of the largest and loudest group there:

We demand that prisoners currently serving time be given the full and unrestricted right to vote, and for Washington State to pass legislation specifically breaking from Federal law that prevents felons from being able to vote.

This, of course, won't hold up. It's been tried many times over. If there is ever a conflict between federal law and state law, federal authority and state authority, the feds win. We literally fought our bloodiest war ever over this. Admittedly, the War Between the States was over the right to keep and own other human beings as chattel, but that is still a break from federal law and federal control.

http://www.tampadispatch.com/seattle-protesters-take-over-downtown-set-up-chaz-with-raz-simone-using-stop-and-frisk-threats-to-keep-order/

If you read down a bit, you also get into their demands for even more socialism and government funding of everything while at the same time demanding less government.

We demand autonomy be given to the people to create localized anti-crime systems.

and

We demand the de-gentrification of Seattle, starting with rent control.

They also get racist.

We demand the hospitals and care facilities of Seattle employ black doctors and nurses specifically to help care for black patients.

No mention of where these people are coming from. Just a blanket demand, except not emphasized.

and

We demand the people of Seattle seek out and proudly support Black-owned businesses. Your money is our power and sustainability.
Then, they make a contradictory demand.

We demand that thorough anti-bias training become a legal requirement for all jobs in the education system, as well as in the medical profession and in mass media.

Good luck trying to make that happen in the media! Dunno why they are whining about that anyway.  The major outlets, except Fox, are on their side anyway.

As Mr. Jefferson says, a little rebellion is a good thing. It wakes up those in power and hopefully makes them re-evaluate and be more responsive to the needs of the people.

Getting a government that is more in touch with the people is something we certainly need.