Can it happen here?: Can It Happen Here?a 2005 review

That question -- Can It Happen Here?-- serves as my signature line as I wander the blogosphere. My answer depends on the meaning of "it."

On the face of things, "it" has happened here. We live in a state in which the rule of law is precarious, monarchical powers are asserted by our ruler, and money calls the shots. The regime is fairly benign if you are white and not desperately poor; you are invited to consume mass culture and run up credit card debt. But it can turn brutal if you are black, brown, yellow, the wrong religion, poor, unhealthy, queer, very young, old or any combination thereof.

So "it" is pretty bad. But on the other hand, people do resist war and injustice, whether out of conviction or out of necessity. . . Here are links to 12 occasions of resistance from 2005.