" -Despot or not - at the gut level - citizens are reacting to increased food prices and the end to subsidies for things they need to survive."

Parasite 101: Try not to kill the host. If as a despot my survival depended on keeping my slaves in a modicum of comfort; food, clothing and shelter then my 1st duty would be to those needs instead of squirrelling away the wealth of my nation in some offsite, Swiss or otherwise, bank account.

" - people act out of self preservation instincts."

I guess its that knowledge that causes me to reserve judgment.

"* People can act for their own greater good, but to disregard how revolutions, rebellions, etc. can be gamed IMO is just naive and dangerous at this point of history. I'm only speaking from a well-founded sense of distrust about the perception of what is going on - what in the past 10 years would cause a thinking person NOT to be questioning? I'm not suggesting I have come to a conclusion as to what I am bringing up or that I am right - I'm just speaking from my gut to add to this discussion. If I come off as "conspiratorial" to suggest people be extra vigilant when deciding whether events are what they are claimed to be, then so be it."

I'm not disputing the fact that revolutions can be manipulated, I believe we've agreed on that point; and if the catalyst for this current revolution had been something other than the ultimate sacrifice of simple citizens I might be inclined to belabor that point, but for now I choose to wait and see.

If memory serves, you used to be the optimistic one; no?