On Riot Threats

Lately, I've been hearing some chatter on social networks of people threatening to riot should Romney win the election.  Now, any other year, I would have considered such threats as the ramblings of sore losers.  Indeed, threats to that effect are normally just bluster of dubious legality.

But this year, I'm slightly more inclined to lend credence to the threats.  The conditions seem conducive to trigger at least some incidents of violence for the following reasons.

1) President Barack Obama is the first black man in the White House.  Unfortunately for the country, opposition to him has been consistently (and abhorrently) white-washed as racist by his surrogates and supporters, no matter the substance or intent of said opposition.  This has inflamed racial tensions greatly over the past few years, particularly with the rise of the Tea Party and the vitriol hurled at it.  Considering the occurrences of race riots in the past, this seems like a perfect excuse to incite new ones.

2) On a related note, the constant demonizing of Mitt Romney has had a similar effect.  Many of his opponents don't view him as just opposed to Barack Obama.  Many see him as flat out evil.  They see him as a big business, "vulture capitalist" out to hurt people for his own benefit.  Or because he's a sadist.  Or something.  The end result, however, has been a sharp inflammation of class tension in the country.  That could also be a catalyst for violent reaction pending an Obama defeat.

Remember how these folks degenerated into a mindless mess?

3) Occupy Wall Street is still a recent phenomenon.  Although they professed not to be friends of the president, Obama is still far closer to their world view than Mitt Romney's.  Their constant calls for government assistance for their problems certainly indicates they are much farther away from conservatives much closer to progressives.  Additionally, their proclivity for the destruction of private property makes riots the perfect activity for them.  Finally, I may or may not be going out on a limb by saying that some former occupiers may be seeking out a reason to create a resurgence after the rather inglorious and quiet death their movement suffered earlier this year.

4) All of this ties into one unsettling fact that has become increasingly evident this campaign season: Liberals have come totally unhinged.  Not a day passes by where I don't see some (apparently insane) leftist cursing out conservatives and threatening their lives.  Stories of leftists vandalizing the signs and property of Romney supporters have become increasingly commonplace.  Threats against Mitt Romney's and Paul Ryan's lives are constant (and likely keeping the secret service occupied).  There are even children being booed live on national television.  While this most certainly has happened before, and the obviousness of these incidents may be amplified by social media, these incidents seem to be getting very little play in the media at large.  Thus, the incidents' significance is diminished when they would not have been had they been directed at Barack Obama instead.

This sort of behavior, in addition to being illegal and frightening on many levels, also indicates a higher level of tension among those who fear the president may lose.  I believe that many liberals and progressives are recognizing a possible collapse of their worldview in America.  After four years of President Obama, it has been demonstrated that economic stimulus doesn't work, no matter how many people say it "saved us from another depression."  The push for national healthcare is unpopular and the bankruptcy of European nations due to cradle-to-grave entitlements is proving it does not work.  Bigger government is being shown not to work and this is sending many of its advocates off the deep end.

Now, I pray that my fears after unfounded.  As I said before, this is not the first time people have threatened to do stupid or silly things in the event of an unfavorable election outcome.  Most who do just sink into a brief, sullen depression as their electoral hopes are crushed.  At the same time, I fear conditions are ripe for people to actually carry out their idiocy on the rest of society. 

All I can say?  Pray for America and hope I'm wrong.