[justinclift]

Sounds like a reasonable way to look at it.

How far along the path do you reckon the US is to the same kind of thing?

[s1artibartfast]

No clue. However if I were to speculate on a comparison, I think the us would skip the first Republic entirely and go straight to a repressive authoritarian police state fighting domestic terrorists.

I don't think any of the revolutionary elements can get enough support for governmental change, and the majority wold rather give up their freedoms than give in to terrorists.