Can there ever be real political change without bloodshed?

I see people in my own country, metaphorically on board a lifeboat because they've been scuppered by our ruling elite. But the direction of that lifeboat is established by democratic vote, and those are onboard are convinced that the beam of light from the lighthouse represents safety, rather than danger. We democratically vote to head in it's direction. Only when rocks penetrate the hull will they realise their error.