There is another lesson to take from the history of revolutions and the rise of totalitarian dictatorships. They almost all are triggered by anarchist violence. There may be ideological divisions or not, but civil breakdown into disorder is the almost universal precursor.
It’s a fools game to argue about which is worse, Leftist or Rightist violence, AntiFa and BLM violence or White Supremacist and KKK violence; they both serve the same purpose — to break down civil order. The intention is to find opportunity in the disorder.
Civil violence often fails to form revolt unless there is already deep divisions and resentments in the society and deep distrust of the institutions and the government. It takes both, and the successful revolutionary prepares the ground before initiating anarchy.
You don’t have to look too hard to see those preparations gathering in the US. Those who think “it can’t happen here” are wrong. Perhaps it can’t happen soon, but it can happen. Several decades ago, the people of Venezuela didn’t think it would ever happen to them; now they are happy to find a bit of garbage to eat. It doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a gradual process. But the fuel for it is being poured into our society now.
