What are the chances the U.S. economy could eventually trigger violence in our country?

For the first time maybe since the Vietnam War or certainly since the civil rights movement, there are some darkening storm clouds on the civility horizon. A growing number of voices are continuing to suggest that if this economy doesn't turn around, and people can't start feeling optimistic about their futures again, we could be headed for some ugly scenarios. A new CNN poll says 48 percent of Americans think the country is headed for another Great Depression in the next twelve months. That is a stunning number.

James Carville, who in 1992 told Bill Clinton, "It's the economy stupid," says the current economy is so bad, there is a heightened risk of civil unrest. And unless things start changing for the better, it's a distinct possibility.

Sick & Tired wrote:I cant figure out why more people arent angry. Not that I want to see violence, but I can say I think if someone took my child because I am poor I would be screaming in the streets and protesting until my last breath.

Although I do think at this point these people feel defeated and feel there is nothing they can do because they dont have $$.

This country is headed into one pathetic, greedy, heartless land of no opportunity. We should be combating homelessness, not causing it.

MaryKay wrote:What I can't figure out is why we have so few people left who are really helping to advocate for benefits and jobs. Even at our busiest, we didn't have the kinds of numbers on any forum combined that truly represents our numbers. I know we have all been active, but it does not appear as sick and tired said that enough of the unemployed and 99ers as a whole are angry.

lam wrote:I believe that all Americans are getting more angry. As joblessness continues and those dip sticks in Washington continue to fight over everything. Plus with there being nothing for the 99'ers I know that I am very angry most of the time. So I'm not sure what it's going to take but at some point very soon. The anger will spill out into the streets and I will be there with everyone else!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

rprp wrote:

MaryKay wrote:What I can't figure out is why we have so few people left who are really helping to advocate for benefits and jobs. Even at our busiest, we didn't have the kinds of numbers on any forum combined that truly represents our numbers. I know we have all been active, but it does not appear as sick and tired said that enough of the unemployed and 99ers as a whole are angry.

I think everyone will handle and process this situation differently. Some will believe in the govt enough to do as you say above (and many have) and then some will just give up. I think one can advocate for benefits and ask for jobs, but no one can be forced to hire someone. And there are only so many jobs to go around and I don't know where more jobs are supposed to come from as we've given our jobs away. IMO, what we really need to do is to stop fighting pointless wars and use that money to create something like the work project that FDR did, but times have changed since we had people like FDR around.

Some people will get angry and use that energy to do as you say above and some people will get depressed and have no energy to do anything and some people will just get paralyzed with fear and not be able to focus on anything other than just getting through the day. A lot of it really depends on your state of mental health before all of this happened and this will go a long way as to how one handles this what I call a depression (as in a variation of the Great Depression).

DesperateInRI wrote:

For the first time maybe since the Vietnam War or certainly since the civil rights movement, there are some darkening storm clouds on the civility horizon. A growing number of voices are continuing to suggest that if this economy doesn't turn around, and people can't start feeling optimistic about their futures again, we could be headed for some ugly scenarios. A new CNN poll says 48 percent of Americans think the country is headed for another Great Depression in the next twelve months. That is a stunning number.

James Carville, who in 1992 told Bill Clinton, "It's the economy stupid," says the current economy is so bad, there is a heightened risk of civil unrest. And unless things start changing for the better, it's a distinct possibility.

http://caffertyfile.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/08/what-are-the-chances-the-u-s-economy-could-eventually-trigger-violence-in-our-country/

rprp wrote:Couth11 wrote...

It sort of reminds me of a military strategy Stormin Norman talked about. I think it was called Shock and Awe, or something. The enemy (us, apparently) are bombarded into paralysis. There are so many simultaneous attacks, the enemy doesn't know which attack to address first. Then they give up out of sheer exhaustion.

Unfortunately, this is exactly where I am. I'm one of the people paralyzed. There is so much to do and I cannot even get the dust bunnies off the floor or the dishes done.

I think of the reality of the situation every day and my thoughts are not exactly positive. I mean, everything is bad news. Am I right about this or is it just that I am depressed? Anyone would be depressed in this economy but maybe I am just more depressed than most.

If things escalate and there are riots in the street, I won't be one of the people out there. I'll be the one hiding under the covers. I guess I have moved past anger to resignation which I know is not a good thing.

rprp wrote:Couth11 wrote...

It sort of reminds me of a military strategy Stormin Norman talked about. I think it was called Shock and Awe, or something. The enemy (us, apparently) are bombarded into paralysis. There are so many simultaneous attacks, the enemy doesn't know which attack to address first. Then they give up out of sheer exhaustion.

Unfortunately, this is exactly where I am. I'm one of the people paralyzed. There is so much to do and I cannot even get the dust bunnies off the floor or the dishes done.

I think of the reality of the situation every day and my thoughts are not exactly positive. I mean, everything is bad news. Am I right about this or is it just that I am depressed? Anyone would be depressed in this economy but maybe I am just more depressed than most.

If things escalate and there are riots in the street, I won't be one of the people out there. I'll be the one hiding under the covers. I guess I have moved past anger to resignation which I know is not a good thing.