G20 protests likened to Glastonbury

[bombfrog]

Plenty. I've experienced them steal money from me!

[shiveringsky]

Shiveringsky, excellent post!

[bombfrog]

What would you do, out of curiosity? Hypothetically, if G20 solved absolutely nothing, what do you think would be the most educated and targetted response?

Edited April 2, 2009 by bombfrog

[glastofun]

But that's exactly how some of them behave.

If I were the police I'd think it very sensible to keep the protesters away from certain buildings (e.g. banks) where people have to go to work today and probably feared for their personal safety.

Unfortunately, there is an element at Glastonbury that is just as bad, as evidenced by comments like this on this very forum....

Luckily, I've never seen anybody throwing stones at the police at Glastonbury or smashing in the windows of the wine bar

[bombfrog]

The more banks and bank employers disrupted by the protests, the better.....the few brave heros who attempted to wreck a few banks deserve our gratitude for at least trying to express the anger many feel at a plethora of human-made issues that are just not being dealt with.

[lovelessrapture]

I offer no absolute solutions because none of us have ultimate say over how the economy (or defence, or environmental policy etc.) is run.

However, I would say that taking an active part in mainstream politics rather than fringe politics is far more likely to produce results. The 600 or so people that sit in the house of commons every day are the people who can actually make a difference and they're only there because we put them there.

An enormous amount of people don't vote, so there's a starting point. How many people have written to their MP to let them know that they're not going to vote for them because of their lack of action on environmental issues, or the war in Iraq etc?

Over the next year, all parties will begin their campaign for the next election and the economy, the wars and the environment are going to be key factors in most people's decisions and all parties know that they're going to have to listen if they're going to win votes. So, make your opinions known in a constructive way, educate others and get them to make an informed vote.

[glastofun]

People with your attitude will never have any influence on real politics and policy making, and rightly so.

It's people like you that drag the constructive, peaceful protesters down.

[MJ2000`]

sorry for being a bit basic here, but I still don't understand the point of smashing windows? Someone will be paying for that damage, probably claimed back through insurance....more claims higher future premiums. Thanks

The police really should'nt be penning anyone in but if people start getting aggro what else are they supposed to do. I have only seen limited footage, but it would have only taken a minor spark from either side before things turned nasty.

The police showed they were unable to control a crowd and some protestors acted like idiots. Smashing a window is not going to change any policy nor will anyone take you seriously.

After this week and after the finance policy meetings (G20), we wont have got anywhere....we have been in recessions before and we have got out of them before. If we live in a capital state, then we got to take the highs with the lows. In the highs, just be prepared for when the lows arrive as they always do. In most of our lifetimes, this kind of financial crisis will happen a few times.

As I said to start, with apologies if these are basic views

[ivan]

On one of the photo's of the protesters you can see her festival bands !

One is def Glasto 2008 , the other I think is Big Chill , but I could be wrong !

[bombfrog]

You have no idea whether or not I already have an influence on 'real politics and policy making'.

[The Klumpster]

However, I would say that taking an active part in mainstream politics rather than fringe politics is far more likely to produce results. The 600 or so people that sit in the house of commons every day are the people who can actually make a difference and they're only there because we put them there.

Struggling to find enough time at work to really get fully involved in this thread but I just had to say, GOD BLESS YOU IN YOUR NAIVETY

They say ingnorance is bliss, you must be one happy chappy!

[MJ2000`]

well to be fair, they do pass the legislation and we do vote them in...

[504329lt]

Now we're getting to the nub of the problem. You have a personal beef with a particular bank so, in the abscence of any constuctive action you'd quite like to see anyone who works in a bank in London "get it"?

You sound very mature.

[The Klumpster]

well to be fair, they do pass the legislation and we do vote them in...

[MJ2000`]

as customers of high street banks are we allowed to ask them of their lending policy? As we are investing in them I would hazard a guess that we can. If that is the case, do we not then have a choice to where we place our money, ie where we believe to be the most secure. Put your money into a bank where they have a very conservative lending policy.

Yeah the banks got greedy and reckless, but anyone can change who they bank and invest with.

[glastofun]

I offer no absolute solutions because none of us have ultimate say over how the economy (or defence, or environmental policy etc.) is run.

However, I would say that taking an active part in mainstream politics rather than fringe politics is far more likely to produce results. The 600 or so people that sit in the house of commons every day are the people who can actually make a difference and they're only there because we put them there.

An enormous amount of people don't vote, so there's a starting point. How many people have written to their MP to let them know that they're not going to vote for them because of their lack of action on environmental issues, or the war in Iraq etc?

Over the next year, all parties will begin their campaign for the next election and the economy, the wars and the environment are going to be key factors in most people's decisions and all parties know that they're going to have to listen if they're going to win votes. So, make your opinions known in a constructive way, educate others and get them to make an informed vote.

[bombfrog]

Everyone one of them who tried to jump on the bandawgon and dive into the American sub prime market. They lent money they didn't have to people who couldn't pay it back on the basis they could cash in on repossessions.

[ivan]

On a lighter note , the protests do remind me a bit of the crush at the Brothers Bar , non violent of

course.

[bombfrog]

You seem to think that mainstream politics happens in some kind of cultural vacuum. Fringe politics is important in influencing public opinion, media discourse and then those mainstream parties.

[lovelessrapture]

A government can be voted back in with a minority of the votes because of our 'Parliamantary Democracy' system. They can be voted in on a manifesto that they then conveniently choose to forget and nobody can do anything about it for another five years. Reverting back to my first point, they might then fail to achieve the majority of votes and still be in power!!! You can call that democracy if you want, I call it an elected dictatorship.

[glastofun]

Prove me wrong.

I only quoted your own words right back at you and emboldened a few of them.

And it's people like you who usually fail to actually have any idea of how to go about it. Although, again, feel free to prove me wrong. I'd very much like to read your manifesto, if you'd like to share it with us?

[The Klumpster]

It's hardly a dicatorship. It's based upon each local seat being won individually and then that person having a vote in parliament (can't spell today). So in actuality which party has the greatest influence is controlled by about 10,000 people in these areas that are contested quite well between parties and they only win the seat by 3 or 4 votes. Which isn't an entirely fair system, but I don't think it would work any better with something like the american one. And besides, no government is going to suggest changing the system (although this has been brought up by Nick Clegg recently I think, but there's no way anybody would change anything that serves you're party)

[bombfrog]

It's hardly a dicatorship. It's based upon each local seat being won individually and then that person having a vote in parliament (can't spell today). So in actuality which party has the greatest influence is controlled by about 10,000 people in these areas that are contested quite well between parties and they only win the seat by 3 or 4 votes. Which isn't an entirely fair system, but I don't think it would work any better with something like the american one. And besides, no government is going to suggest changing the system (although this has been brought up by Nick Clegg recently I think, but there's no way anybody would change anything that serves you're party)

[Tugger2k]

The American system is even more complicated than ours, but generally speaking their system is fairly similar to ours and the system has worked for them in terms of letting the public oust the Replublicans and replace them with a party and a leader who is 1 million percent better than the last one.

The Lib Dems have always argued for proportional representation (and it's something I agree with them about) but I don't think it'll happen any time soon. Even with straight-talkers like Clegg and Cable at the helm I still don't think people take them seriously enough for them to win power any time soon.

[bombfrog]

I'm not entirely sure what the main arguments against proportional representation are. I assume it's mainly cost and effort?