Taking to the streets on March 26th - Cuts protest

[5co77ie]

So a more targeted approach might be the better option then. Organising people together to harangue their MPs and let them know personally what we think of these cuts as opposed to a nice family day out after which I suspect a lot of those marching will think they've done their bit.

Edited February 10, 2011 by 5co77ie

[5co77ie]

As posted in another thread: We're in this together:

http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2011/02/07/a-corporate-coup-detat/

Our political system protects and enriches a fantastically-wealthy elite, much of whose money is, as a result of their interesting tax and transfer arrangements, effectively stolen from poorer countries and poorer citizens of their own countries. Ours is a semi-criminal money-laundering economy, legitimised by the pomp of the Lord Mayor’s show and multiple layers of defence in government. Politically irrelevant, economically invisible, the rest of us inhabit the margins of the system. Governments ensure that we are thrown enough scraps to keep us quiet, while the ultra-rich get on with the serious business of looting the global economy and crushing attempts to hold them to account.

And this government? It has learnt the lesson that Thatcher never grasped. If you want to turn this country into another Mexico, where the ruling elite wallows in unimaginable, state-facilitated wealth while the rest can go to hell, you don’t declare war on society, you don’t lambast single mothers or refuse to apologise for Bloody Sunday. You assuage, reassure, conciliate, emote. Then you shaft us.

[eFestivals]

Thing is are the police all that happy about their cuts? At Tolpuddle last year a copper policing the march said to me - if things carry on like this we'll be joining you on this march next year.

it's just been announced that the Met are to get an increase in funding and an increase in officer numbers.

It doesn't take a genius to work out why.

[diddly-dee]

it's just been announced that the Met are to get an increase in funding and an increase in officer numbers.

It doesn't take a genius to work out why.

[TalkShow Bob]

has he stolen all the cakes again?

[TalkShow Bob]

turkeys don't vote for christmas.

[eFestivals]

Is that a refrence to ginger and pickles or has it gone over my head?

it's a joke based around Eric Pickles well-known appetite.

[TalkShow Bob]

it's a joke based around Eric Pickles well-known appetite.

[eFestivals]

No but them on the outskirts (eg Welsh LD) aren't very happy with the center. It really wouldnt suprise me if we saw the Welsh Lib Dems split off (I dont know Scottish politics but I guess its the same - maybe create some sort of celtic lib dems?) Actully surpsingly I also wouldnt be suprised if the Welsh Conservaties split from the center eather - not in such a dramatic manner but maybe demand a simmialar federal system. They are really not happy with centeral polcy and having a non welsh secutary of state imposed on them...

oh, I'm not thinking that a large part (how large? I'm not sure) of the party grasroots aren't very unhappy with how things have panned out, but the point is that they have panned out in that way and as a result the LibDems as a party are now stuck with the consequences of that - until something changes.

But one change that won't much change how the party is regarded by the public at large is leaving the coalition - not because that might be the wrong thing to do but because it won't restore the public's trust that they've largely lost.

To my mind, that trust can only be rebuilt to a reasonable extent by results rather than talk - and the results will come from the policies they've championed (if they work out well). But we don't get to know if they've worked out well until a few years from now - which means staying within the coalition.

None of that necessarily means they'll get completely slaughtered in the May local elections - if the only realistic chances of being elected in a council are tory or lib but not labour then enough of the anti-tories will grit their teeth and vote lib.

As far as any split might go, I think it's more likely (if there is a split) that a split will be to form a completely new party with a new name, otherwise they'll still carry enough of the libs reputation with them to cause them damage in any election.

[llcoolphil]

People should be harranging their MPs anyway. I'm constantly sending letters to my MP - he must be really pi**ed off - but give him his due he does reply to them all, and it keeps the postman busy

[Rachie]

We'll be there!! (me and blue_mondays)

Just sorted babysitters, booking the coach tomorrow.

Paul/scottie/ect - is there a meet at all? doesn't matter if not, just thought it might be nice to see you lot again.

[5co77ie]

We'll be at the Hyde Park do - probably best to try and meet then - probably best to do the number swapping thing and try and text. If not, I might end up in The Victoria, 10A Strathearn Pl, (W2 2NH) but that will depend what Mrs 5co77ie is doing

Edited February 11, 2011 by 5co77ie

[llcoolphil]

Good piece in today's Indy

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-when-will-the-souffl233-of-spin-collapse-2211002.html

[Sawdusty surfer]

and for anyone reading this who thinks that protesting is a waste of time...one word.....EGYPT

see you on the streets.

[eFestivals]

and for anyone reading this who thinks that protesting is a waste of time...one word.....EGYPT

see you on the streets.

It's swayed my view a fair bit.

But weighed against that are:

- the change of words from Dave Moron's mouth in the last few days about it, words that can't be turned back on him from protests here (which his earlier words can be).

- the words he spoke yesterday when interviewed. "You don't have a plan B do you Mr Cameron?". "Look, the problems in the country have been created because no one sticks to plan A. We'll stick to plan A come what may.

- yesterday an INCREASE in budget of £42M pounds was announced for the Metropolitan Police, and their recruitment freeze was removed.

- can you really see the British public staying on the streets for two-plus weeks in coldish March to force it to happen?

The place will have to get smashed up Poll Tax styleee for anything to happen. And even then I can't see it happening. But I probably now will be there.

[rabid]

and for anyone reading this who thinks that protesting is a waste of time...one word.....EGYPT

see you on the streets.

[Sawdusty surfer]

optimism vs pessimism, idealism vs realism. activism or apathy?

I'll still be there and so will many of my friends and family.

I guess many will be watching daytime tv instead.

[brighteyes]

Brighteyes - is it so wrong to trust the government to enact cuts for which they have no mandate, in some cases they fought an election on promises directly opposed to what they are now doing and in some cases for nothing other than ideology. Don't you worry yoir head about something as mundane as people's livliehoods, people's services and a generation if young people being lost to unemployment. No wonder the nhs is f**ked when the ignorant are working in it, are happy to be ignorant and don't give a f**k. First out last in is all I hope for you.

[llcoolphil]

Big whoop, a government u-turn. The only thing that really annoys me about them is that they'll never admit it's a u-turn, I'd have more respect for them if they did.

Actually I'm a very logical person and have probably saved the NHS a fair few bucks over the years, I'm not ignorant about the things I can affect and therefore actually care about. But the vast majority of stuff that happens outside my little life bubble doesn't tend to worry me. Of course, though, I need you lot to keep an eye on the establishment for me - the country wouldn't work if everyone was as apathetic as me. Or maybe it would be brilliant. Not sure.

[Snufflebutt]

and for anyone reading this who thinks that protesting is a waste of time...one word.....EGYPT

see you on the streets.

[TalkShow Bob]

Tbh does it matter if it dosent make a diffrence on goverment agenda. As much as the war happend - and im with Scottie on the fact that after the efford I put into the anti war protests that I was involved in I gave up on protest and politics for a while - Im massivly glad I helped organise some local and went to the big London protest registering my discust at what was happeing. Now the history books cant say 'The people of the UK backed the war' and even if we dont make policy diffrence in March its worth standing up and being counted as anti cuts pro public services.

Edited February 12, 2011 by TalkShow Bob

[brighteyes]

Sorry what is it you are trying to claim credit for here? We already know you're ignorant and don't give a f**k. You told us. Life doesn't exist outside you'd little bubble as far as your concerned. And? What is it you're trying to tell me? Ooh look I made a smart comment about apathy? You seem fairly intent on letting us know how much you don't care. Why? I hope you lose your job and can't find another. For ages. Don't forget to come and post again fhat you don't care. Just so we know

[eFestivals]

Not sure what I was trying to 'claim credit for', I was just taking a break from doing work and felt like replying. You seem fairly intent on making a tit out of yourself by wishing unhappiness on me. I'm not wishing unhappiness on anyone, I'm merely stating that I'd rather get on with my life then get hung up on the possible lack of free reading or swimming for my future children (I'll just buy them a f**king Kindle and take them to the beach, which is much more fun than a swimming pool anyway, unless it has slides, but the cheap ones don't seem to) etc.

How wonderfully selfless you are for protesting on my behalf, you bitter, spiteful tosser.

I'm not sticking up for phil's belittling, but....

The thing is, you're working from the basis that you'll always be able to 'buy' yourself out of any bad situation - as your 'kindle' comment shows.

The whole point of this march is that those who are marching have realised there's no guarantee of you or anyone else being in the position to buy yourself out of the bad situations that will result from these cuts.

The cuts aren't just to services that you may or may not want for yourself or for your children, they are also cuts to people's jobs - and yours might be one of those.

Just because you might not work for the public services doesn't mean that you're safe, because there's a huge pyramid of jobs built on top of the money that is currently going into public services, and far more than just those where an easily identifiable direct relationship can be made from spending on public services to jobs that directly serve those public services.

It's all very well taking the simple view of things that you have expressed above, but the reality is that things are just not that simple and straightforwards. Lots of people took the same view at the start of the eighties and came to hugely regret it - and these cuts are going to have a much greater impact than the cuts back then did.

[feral chile]

I'm not sticking up for phil's belittling, but....

The thing is, you're working from the basis that you'll always be able to 'buy' yourself out of any bad situation - as your 'kindle' comment shows.

The whole point of this march is that those who are marching have realised there's no guarantee of you or anyone else being in the position to buy yourself out of the bad situations that will result from these cuts.

The cuts aren't just to services that you may or may not want for yourself or for your children, they are also cuts to people's jobs - and yours might be one of those.

Just because you might not work for the public services doesn't mean that you're safe, because there's a huge pyramid of jobs built on top of the money that is currently going into public services, and far more than just those where an easily identifiable direct relationship can be made from spending on public services to jobs that directly serve those public services.

It's all very well taking the simple view of things that you have expressed above, but the reality is that things are just not that simple and straightforwards. Lots of people took the same view at the start of the eighties and came to hugely regret it - and these cuts are going to have a much greater impact than the cuts back then did.

[llcoolphil]

Not sure what I was trying to 'claim credit for', I was just taking a break from doing work and felt like replying. You seem fairly intent on making a tit out of yourself by wishing unhappiness on me. I'm not wishing unhappiness on anyone, I'm merely stating that I'd rather get on with my life then get hung up on the possible lack of free reading or swimming for my future children (I'll just buy them a f**king Kindle and take them to the beach, which is much more fun than a swimming pool anyway, unless it has slides, but the cheap ones don't seem to) etc.

How wonderfully selfless you are for protesting on my behalf, you bitter, spiteful tosser.