The fellow engineer who’s office is next to mine dropped by yesterday to talk about our government shutdown. He was animated and wanted me to know that if a shutdown like this happened in India, there would be riots in the street.

In India, the opposing political factions would get their followers to shut down the univerities, gather a crowd, and march to the center of government (town, city, etc). There would be a peaceful demonstration that would decend into a riot with looting. Each party would blame the other for the violence. Regular people would be swept into the fray. There would be arrests. The instigators would get off through their political connections. The everyday man would be held accountable.

He was wondering why there were no demonstrations, no riots here in the U.S today.

He asked when was the last politically motivated riot? There were the Watts riots, but that was not political. There were riots in the 1930’s, that were put down by the military. There were workers in mines in Colorado who were on strike for deplorable working conditions. Many were shot dead by our military. Aside from the 30’s I’d have to go back to the Civil War or Harper’s Ferry, but there were probably many other instances that I’m not aware of.

A good read in this regard is “A People’s History of the United States” by Howard Zin.

The workers were organized in the 30’s. The unions were strong and necessary to provide safe working conditions and an adequate wage. After the 70’s unions were seen as evil and largely self serving. They have been in decline since Regan broke the Air Traffic Controler’s union. I’ve not had much use for unions myself. But without an organizing body, there will be no voice for the people or channel for outrage. Today “the people” are not pro-union for the most part.

What would happen if the un-employed and under-employed showed up for a deomnstration? Would that change the discourse? What if a riot ensued? What then? I am not advocating rioting as a political tool to get noticed or to force an issue. I more support peaceful disobedience as Ghandi espoused.

I do not believe the unemployed would riot, the government is trying to extend benefits to them (the shutdown aside). The employed are too busy making a living and risk adverse. The wealthy never riot; they use the rule of law and corruption to get their way. So no riots in the U.S. Not yet at least.