Denninger: Two Pieces, After Austin

Karl Denninger posted this piece after yesterday's attack in Austin.

He follows up today with this commentary on some polling results from Rasmussen:

Uh, This Is Not Good

From Rasmussen:

The founding document of the United States, the Declaration of Independence, states that governments derive “their just powers from the consent of the governed.” Today, however, just 21% of voters nationwide believe that the federal government enjoys the consent of the governed.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 61% disagree and say the government does not have the necessary consent. Eighteen percent (18%) of voters are not sure.

Uh, there is no way for Washington DC to force people to believe they have given consent. They can only act in a fashion that engenders willfully-given consent.

In light of what happened today in Austin TX, this ought to be resulting in sobering reflection among the "political class." It won't, but it should.

Why?

Historians have estimated that between 15 and 20 percent of the white population of the colonies were Loyalists.^[2] Historian Robert Middlekauff estimates that about 500,000 colonists, or 19 percent of the white population, remained loyal to Britain.^[3]

I had no idea the numbers were this bad at present, but I was aware that in 1776 about 20% of the population was in fact in support of Britain.

I think it's getting to be about time to.....