[rjtavares]

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."

[vetinari]

"There are four boxes to be used in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order."

[psychlops]

Stalin empirically disproved that statement.

[cableshaft]

Fair point, so I guess if the leader gets really blatantly violent, along with enough government propaganda, it can stop a revolution.

[imtringued]

Luddites is also a good example. Oh, you are poor and starving and protesting on the streets? They start destroying machines? Time to arrest everyone, even those who did nothing.

[psychlops]

I'd also make the argument that it's easier to do with today's technology than when Stalin did it.

[rjtavares]

The propaganda is easier, the violence is harder. Don't know how that balances out...