I'll call your BLM and raise you a Shays' Rebellion

Hmm. Indeed, there is nothing new under the sun. We appropriately bewail the extremist elements which cause disturbances to our State and sluggishly begin to rouse ourselves to its defense.

But we have been through worse patches before. Soon after the end of the American Revolution, while the independent states were still governed under the Articles of Confederation, western Massachusetts was roiled by Shays' Rebellion in 1787. It was the normal portfolio of grievances by ordinary citizens against bad governance, onerous taxes, and exclusion from the political system. Shays' Rebellion was certainly a catalyst for the replacement of the Articles of Confederation with the US Constitution just a year or two later.

During this period, Thomas Jefferson was the American Minister to France.

On 29 January 1787, Abigail Adams wrote him a letter that sounds very contemporary. Emphasis added.

My dear sir

I received by Col Franks Your obliging favour and am very sorry to find your wrist Still continues lame. I have known very Salutary effects produced by the use of British oil upon a spraind joint. I have Sent a Servant to See if I can procure some. You may rest assured that if it does no good: it will not do any injury.

With regard to the Tumults in my Native state which you inquire about, I wish I could say that report had exagerated them. It is too true Sir that they have been carried to so allarming a Height as to stop the Courts of Justice in several Counties. Ignorant, wrestless desperadoes, without conscience or principals, have led a deluded multitude to follow their standard, under pretence of grievences which have no existance but in their immaginations. Some of them were crying out for a paper currency, some for an equal distribution of property, some were for annihilating all debts, others complaning that the Senate was a useless Branch of Government, that the Court of common Pleas was unnecessary, and that the Sitting of the General Court in Boston was a grieveince. By this list you will see, the materials which compose this Rebellion, and the necessity there is of the wisest and most vigorous measures to quell and suppress it. Instead of that laudible Spirit which you approve, which makes a people watchfull over their Liberties and alert in the defence of them, these Mobish insurgents are for sapping the foundation, and distroying the whole fabrick at once. But as these people make only a small part of the State, when compared to the more Sensible and judicious, and altho they create a just allarm, and give much trouble and uneasiness, I cannot help flattering myself that they will prove Sallutary to the state at large, by leading to an investigation of the causes which have produced these commotions. Luxery and extravagance both in furniture and dress had pervaded all orders of our Countrymen and women, and was hastning fast to Sap their independance by involving every class of citizens in distress, and accumulating debts upon them which they were unable to discharge. Vanity was becoming a more powerfull principal than Patriotism. The lower order of the community were prest for taxes, and tho possest of landed property they were unable to answer the Demand. Whilst those who possesst Money were fearfull of lending, least the mad cry of the Mob should force the Legislature upon a measure very different from the touch of Midas.

Yes - we have it all, 233 years later.

Ignorant, wrestless desperadoes, without conscience or principals - Antifa

A deluded multitude to follow their standard - Urban rioters

Under pretence of grievences which have no existance but in their immaginations - Critical Theory and Social Justice.

Some were crying out for an equal distribution of property - Marxists

Some were for annihilating all debts - Student loan forgiveness.

Complaning that the Senate was a useless Branch of Government - Oh, and the Electoral College.

Court of common Pleas - Sentencing reform

The Sitting of the General Court in Boston was a grieveince - Social Justice not real Justice.

These Mobish insurgents are for sapping the foundation, and distroying the whole fabrick at once. - The desire of the Woke to remake America starting with defunding the police.

These people make only a small part of the State and altho they create a just allarm, and give much trouble and uneasiness - Antifa and the mainstream media.

Luxery and extravagance both in furniture and dress had pervaded all orders of our Countrymen - Living beyond our means.

Vanity was becoming a more powerfull principal than Patriotism. - Virtue signaling.

The lower order of the community were prest for taxes - All state governments at the moment.

Whilst those who possesst Money were fearfull of lending, least the mad cry of the Mob should force the Legislature upon a measure very different from the touch of Midas. - Mob rule and cancel culture.