The Guardian is running a story about a survey that indicates a large number of US citizens would support a military takeover of their govt. The survey shows 29% would support possible takeover while 41% said they could not imagine supporting such an event.

Republicans (43%) are more than twice as likely as Democrats (20%) to say that they could conceive of a situation in which they would support a military coup in the United States. Independents tend to say that they could not (38%) rather than could (29%) imagine supporting a coup.

The proportion of the country that would support a military takeover increases when people are asked whether they would hypothetically support the military stepping in to take control from a civilian government which is beginning to violate the constitution. 43% of Americans would support the military stepping in while 29% would be opposed. Apparently the thinking behind the poll is based upon disregard for self serving politicians and regard for military officers-

YouGov’s latest research shows, however, that officers in the military are held in much greater esteem than their civilian superiors, and that they are widely viewed as having the best interests of the country in mind instead of their own selfish concerns. 70% of Americans believe that military officers generally want what is best for the country. When it comes to Congressmen, however, 71% of Americans believe that they want what is best for themselves, along with 59% for local politicians.

The problem with any such move is always going to be timing. For example one school of thought in the US projects the idea that Obama if he is not deliberately pushing for an uprising, would welcome it as he knows he holds all of the cards.

Any uprising that he managed to quell would give him the power to declare martial law, postpone elections, remain in power and incarcerate rebels (or anyone he liked to declare a rebel). Game over for the US. For a long time.

So if there was any kind of uprising, it would need to be planned well enough to avoid that outcome. On a strategic basis, such a plan may have more chance of success if implemented when the Republicans held power.

Yougov polled 1000 people in the survey. You can read further here.