Now that the street sweepers across the country have 86'd the signs and banners leftover from the tax-day tea parties, one is left to ask the unanswered question: what would have happened if anything had actually happened?

Yes, seeing a few thousand people dressed up as revolutionaries, a costumed Thomas Paine on YouTube, and the like was entertaining, but at the same time totally ineffective and completely forgotten on April 16, 2009. Much in the same way that the national excitement of Ron Paul’s Revolution which was fun to watch but was never able to translate into actual votes, or even a close third place finish.

In the most Liberty minded state, New Hampshire, with its motto of Live Free or Die, Paul came in 5th place with just over 18,000 votes, less than 9% of the total. Even though he ran as a Republican, his message was definitely Libertarian. At the very least, his campaign should have launched a surge in the number of registered voters in the Libertarian Party with the result of propelling Libertarian candidates into office across the country. But, as in past elections, not one Libertarian was elected to, or has ever been elected to any Congressional seat in the more than three decades since David Nolan founded the LP.

One could always blame the results on media’s lack of coverage of third parties, but with the increasing influence of the Internet and recent influx of political cable coverage, that doesn’t seem to be the case. One would think that those who were advocates of Liberty who consider themselves revolutionaries, would jump off the Republican and Democrat band wagons and race to join the Party of Principle. Libertarians who could actually work for freedom from Government that everyone publically claims to want and yet in the privacy of the voting booth, chicken out and vote the party line.

I use the term chicken because in spite of decades of political dissent, at the end of the day true freedom and liberty is a very frightening concept. Freedom means not only individual Liberty, but also individual responsibility as well.

Those of us who have raised, or have been teenagers at some time in our lives, have revolted against parental authority, yet once we leave home and enter the world of adulthood, most fail miserably. In many cases, we find that having rules and structure in our lives, even those we revolt against and do not wish to obey, is much easier than having none at all. Freedom is a frightening concept. For a majority of individuals, it is easier to be a follower than a leader, and while some may disagree with the course that leader chooses to take, few would chose to leave the flock and go off on their own.

The idiom 'better the devil you know than the devil you don't' means that it is often better to deal with someone or something you are familiar with and know, even if they are not ideal, than take a risk with an unknown person or thing. And although most know the definition of liberty few are comfortable with the actual concept.

So it’s no great mystery that while we all were entertained by the Ron Paul revolution, his campaign’s money bombs, the huge banners and supporters, when the smoke cleared and the votes were counted, the devils we knew of the Democrats and Republicans were elected in record numbers in every major race.

A true revolution comes about when people not only have something to fight against, but something to fight for and a solid plan to achieve that objective. After the last signature dried on the Declaration of Independence, I’m sure a small voice in the back of the room whispered; What do we do now?

After the Civil War was over and the slaves were freed, I’m certain there were more than a few voices in the cotton fields who also wondered what do we do now?

Liberty and freedom from taxes and government intrusion can only be achieved when there is an alternative in place. If we reduce or even eliminate taxes altogether, what is the plan to pay for those services the taxes pay for? If the Campaign for Liberty achieves its goal, and we are all set free by oppressive government laws, the masses will cry out What do we do now? and the response will be silence.

Until there is an intelligent and realistic answer to that question, and individuals who have the strength and the courage to not only lead, but to inspire voters to follow, all the cries for revolution will never be much more than noise and an occasional sound bite on Fox news.

Until the American public is willing to accept the responsibility that comes with true liberty we will only have the devils we know and the government we have.