Just what is eRevolution?

Day 1,157, 07:21 • Published in Australia Australia • by Derek Apollyon

I must say, Paul Hamon's latest article got me thinking: Just what is civil disobedience and how does it apply to eRep?

Civil disobedience is the active, professed refusal to obey certain laws, demands, and commands of a government. (excerpt from the article by Paul Hamon)

I can totally understand that sentiment, but I believe that is should only be used when the situation calls for it; sure, external pressure can be the force needed to change something, but there has to be an internal movement as well pushing for change.

If only the external force exists, then the Gov would just clamp down on the activity and make it harder for citizens to say/do what they wanted (esp in terms of when/where they could protest). The only time external force wins out against a Gov is when there is a absolute critical majority coming out against the Gov (civil rights for African-Americans, led by MLK, is a prime example of this aspect).

If only the internal force exists, then nothing would really get done because there would be no external support of any kind to back it up.

So in order for change to happen inside Gov, there has to be both external and internal forces at work to effect change.

I can only guess as to what Paul Hamon's motives are for publishing such a short article and being so vague about it. Is he saying he supports Government reform? Or is he just saying his lack of participation in the community is actually a pre-planned act of civil disobedience? What is he trying to change by doing his civil disobedience?

Unfortunately, I don't think I'll ever get the answers to my questions.
But this does bring to mind something interesting. We here in DIYPA want to reform the Gov; we've got a good draft of a new Parliament Protocl (which we're still working on) and we've got some very skilled individuals who want to help get it implemented, but we need the support of the broader community as well. If the broader community doesn't support us, then we really don't have a mandate to try and change things, but if we get the support (votes) we need to get enough of our people into the Senate then we do have that mandate.

When you vote, you're exercising political authority. You're using force. And force, my friends, is violence, the supreme authority from which all other authority derives. ~Starship Troopers

So therefore, voting for a movement that wants to change the way things are done could be seen as the ultimate act of rebellion, since you'd be using "the system" against itself.

So on election day, don't forget to vote; but more importantly, vote for DIYPA!