THE FORKIE PHILOSOPHER

“I’M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I’M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!”

Network (1976)

In regard to empires and/or powerful nations I have mentioned a few ways for them to falter or fall altogether: All manner of political machinations and treachery can displace a rightful leader without any need of overt violence; maybe an assassination here or there on the sly perhaps. However, some do prefer the expediency of a military coup, although this may set a very messy precedent resulting in civil war.

Invasion and subjugation may have less to do with the internal politics of a state than the previous perils, but bad governance can be responsible for weakening an empire or creating hostilities with powerful peers. If that is the case, all three calamities stem from a hollowing out of the core. A weakening of the belief structure that holds a society together.

Citizens lose confidence in their leaders. They begin to doubt the validity of the institutions and conventions they once held high. It could take the shape of anger or apathy at a seemingly unfair system. Maybe it emerges as decadence or nihilism at a complete lack of meaning. Either way the empire rots from inside and the foundations become shaky.

Whether going soft through debauchery or lack of passion you become vulnerable to any antagonists. The sharks, be they internal or external can sense the blood in the water. The only way to restore faith in the system may well be a dramatic upheaval at the top. Not merely a massive election defeat, a total ousting; hostile takeover!  Be it political chicanery or Colonel Coup and his skullduggery soldiers, a regime change is on the cards.

While either of these outcomes represent a monumental failure, there is another outcome that leaves little doubt as to where the popular opinion lies among the citizenry – revolution! No ifs, buts or maybes; the ones running this state fucked up big-time!

These people misread the room to such a staggering degree that the very sheep on whose backs’ they ride have tossed them in the dirt. There will be a reckoning and there will be blood! To be on the receiving end of a population pushed too far is horrific fate indeed. I mean we’re talking “let them eat cake” kind of out of touch stupidity here.

The heads being called for will now see, for probably the first time ever, how precarious their power can be. If they are fortunate enough to have the military and any other security forces on side they may stand a chance. Although continuing to govern after a violent uprising will require some serious brutality and paranoia.

If the populous is well equipped and intensely devoted to their cause things could go either way. If they manage to sway the military and/or security forces to join the revolt, things are looking very grim indeed for the aristocracy.

Let’s assume the insurrection is successful. Heads roll, blood flows and many more are incarcerated or exiled. What happens after the smoke clears?

The grievance responsible for most insurgencies usually stemmed from wealth inequality and the lack of rights for the peasantry. Basically, the poor were fed up with being treated like shit. Not an uncommon complaint; pretty fucking universal actually! Only the degree varies. The haves always seem to want more and are often oblivious to the misery of the unwashed masses.

Fucken hell! Egypt, considered one of the ‘cradles of civilisation’, built the bloody pyramids! One of the first empires, and their most enduring legacy is monstrous status symbols built by countless slaves and exploited workers! Civilisation? Not much has changed.

So, every once in a while the conditions are just right, and a few sparks set the seething lower class alight.

“Equal rights and justice

And if he doesn’t get it

He’s gon’ to take it any way and anyhow…”

“Can’t hold us anymore

We’ve had enough of jive and bluff

We want our share for sure.”

“Piece of the Pie” Jimmy Cliff

A champion (or shit stirrer, take your pick) comes along and convinces the plebs the time has come. “The suffering ends now!” The organisers who get behind this leader do so because they share the distress of the aggrieved and are willing to go all in for victory. The willingness to go to war with one’s own ruling class does not come about lightly. It is spawned by overwhelming resentment and furious anger. That kind of passion cannot be faked. The imposters will wait and see how things turn out before stepping into full view.

I do not know where the tipping point is, but once the balance shifts from protests and riots to full on uprising there is going to be carnage and mayhem!  The people in the thick of it are in a life and death struggle; defeat is death. Those who lead (at least near the front) are true devotees to the mission of bringing down the cruel overlords and bringing tangible change to the lives of the downtrodden.

The Russians called for “Land, peace and bread”

The French wanted “Liberty, Equality and Fraternity”

The soon to be United State of America screamed “Give me liberty or give me death!”

These and other successful tyrant takedowns all had a similar theme; that of stop shitting on us and share the fucking food, and all the other good stuff you motherfuckers are hoarding”

Those leading the charge had noble enough intentions and were genuinely striving for a better society. Sadly: “The road to hell is paved with good intentions” (Saint Bernard). I am sure the people who took control after the victory were honourable; they were also naïve in many ways. They overestimated the efficacy of their new and improved model of society, and they underestimated the darker side of human nature.

I will go into more detail about the various visions of a fairer state; some were more successful than others; some are all but extinct now. The troubling thought I will conclude on is this: in every single scenario after the purge eliminated the ‘bad’ leaders, it didn’t take very long for a new guard to manoeuvre themselves to the top spots and bask in the ill-gotten gains of exploitation and crookery. New system, new leaders – same appalling gap between rich and poor; same unscrupulous behaviour benefitting those at the top, while sucking the lower class dry.

“The more things change, the more they stay the same.”

Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr