When I was in Canada, alot of them thought they should be paying more to help the poor people who didn't have work. Of course those were the French Canadians, who are a little whacked in the mind.
Three things come to mind about he Revolutionary war in America:
No freedom of religion (Waco anyone?)
Taxation without representation (and taxes were/are high)
Came for the guns (last straw)
Now I may not agree with groups like the Branch Davidions, or people like those from Ruby Ridge, but our gov't doesn't seem to want people to be self reliant and independant of them. Sound familiar to the British and the US Colonials with there religious beliefs?
The British were raising the taxes to the point that no one could afford to live because they were giving most of their money to the British gov't. The US Gov't is now taxing us at rates of almost 50%, death taxes, taxes on purchases, etc. We have armed IRS agents (British tax collectors were armed too), we do not have a debtor's prison in this country save for owing the Gov't money in the form of Taxes. Sound familiar?
Finally, the British sensing that the Colonials might rebell against their harsh treatment went after the armory to seize all of the guns including those privately owned. Brady Law, Brady II, Crime Control Law of 68 and 94, waiting periods, background checks, etc. Sound familiar.
What the founding fathers new and wrote about was that as long as the people have the ability to resist the gov't through physical means then the gov't could not become all powerful. The vote would be backed by not only our belief in it but by the threat of armed revolt. Knowing this they have systematically eroded away our rights and means through legislation by the courts and the Congress.
But, the founding fathers also warned that while it is our right to revolt, if the revolution fails, we must be willing to suffer the consequences.
I see an ominous parallel here. But also as a friend pointed out. As long as we have our Maddog 20/20 and Miller, etc and Sporting shows on Saturday/Sunday, we will just ignore all else and never realize that we have been imprisoned by the very system designed to keep us free.