Anti-Austerity Demos

[SagaNorensLeatherTrousers]

Anyone planning on attending the big one happening June 20th? Or any local ones? Will be interesting to see how many go and what (if any) impact they will have.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

I am going to the London one :) and to pre-empt those who are going to jump on to the thread - no I won't be going to cause trouble. I will be going to march peacefully as is my democratic right. I may chant a little.

I know things won't change suddenly over night, but my hope is, that demonstrations like these will slowly help change the mindset that austerity - hitting those who need help most - is not the answer.

oxfam article

[Selks]

I would but have an already-arranged holiday.
And before anyone says, the demo is not specifically anti-Tory, is not anti-government or anti-democracy. It is anti-austerity.
A minority may express other sentiments (and get disproportionally more news coverage for that) but the vast majority of people will be there to protest peacefully about the devastating effect of 'austerity' on the lives of poor and disadvantaged people, while the divide between the poorest and wealthiest in this country continues to increase.

[headdeskmoment]

"hitting those who need help most - is not the answer. "

is that why anti austerity march attendees have insisted CAffe Nero don't buy milk from farmers in parts of Somerset and Gloucestershire?

Closing down farms will put many low paid agricultural workers out of a job.

[SagaNorensLeatherTrousers]

DH is going to the London one, and his/our sentiment is the same as above: a peaceful protest against austerity.

[Itchylegs]

I am going and so are many people I know. wild horses would not keep me away.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Well said Selks.

headdesk. I didn't know that and I will look into the reasons why - but remember that we are not one body governed by a constitution, but very many individuals and sometimes there will be actions or decisions taken by some that not all who support the cause agree with. That does not negate the overall message.

[headdeskmoment]

It's to do with the badger cull. It's so ignorant and cruel I can't quite get my head round it.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

The weather forecast is at present dry, but as you can imagine at this point it is swinging wildly. Yesterday I wondered whether we might be canoeing to Parliament square .

Will keep us updated.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

oh thats muddling issues some isn't it headdesk. Whilst I'm against the badger cull for practical as well as ethical reasons, boycotting farmers is not the way to do it, especially given the appallingly low prices so many are paid for milk.

[undoubtedly]

Ha good luck with that!

Half a million marched for the Countryside Alliance in the mid 90s and it made fuck all difference.

I'm done with marching...

[cdtaylornats]

If your boycotting British milk because of the badger cull don't forget to boycott Irish, French and German milk as well.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Remember the No War marches? That the government completely ignored...

Good for you for going though. Maybe one day something will change

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

I dont think any of us on this thread are boycotting milk? I have shifted away from supermarket milk because of the pricing. A seperate issue.

I was on the 'million' people stop the war march (amongst other marches at the time) I havent given up for standing up for what I believe in.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

ok, i had a look at the badger protestors. Its a small group of people who have decided to take advantage of the march for their own ends. Nothing to do with austerity in the slightest and not supported by the badger trust either.

There is absolutely no doubt that you will get a few small groups going for no reason other than to make trouble. the sad fact is, they will make the news far more than the thousands of peaceful marchers.

[SagaNorensLeatherTrousers]

When did this become the Boycott Milk thread?

Y,y like kitten says, gotta stand up for what you believe in. Even if nothing comes of it, we can say we tried.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Weather still holding ok :)

[sanfairyanne]

thank goodness a million people marched against the war. no it didnt stop it but at least looking back there is actual proof that a lot of people were very opposed to it. it cant be whitewashed as 'we all agreed'

[Isitmebut]

Generally speaking, a country’s national debt is paid down with government spending cuts and/or tax increases.

The UK has around £1,500,000,000,000 (£1.5 trillion) of national debt and still has an annual government budget deficit/overspend of around £80 billion.
www.nationaldebtclock.co.uk/

Do those marching have a final level of national debt in mind that they want to pass onto our children and children’s children, for THEM to have the even larger government spending cuts and tax rises in the future – so that those marching for today, didn’t have to pay the much lesser amount, today?

Just asking.

[sanfairyanne]

thats the wrong question isitmebut. how much inequality and difference in society between the richest and the poorest are the 99% able/willing to bear and the 1% willing to inflict

[Isitmebut]

sanfairyanne .... a noble statement, but if money/more debt was the answer, inequality wouldn't have risen over 13-years during a socialist government's administration, with £trillions to spend.

[telsa]

isitmebut seems to think that the debt is some reality. I know this will just spawn screeds of blah from him/her - but it has to be said. Money is just a 'meaningless accounting fiction', as any fule, including nobel winning economists, kno.

[howtorebuild]

I would like to attend. I am too scared a minority of troublemakers will get me hurt.

[sanfairyanne]

socialist government

hilarious!

look, we are ruled by the rich for the rich. some are more bastards than others, that is true, but all our parties in the uk are various shades of centrist/right of centre.

as for debt, i like keynes
â??If I owe you a pound, I have a problem; but if I owe you a million, the problem is yours.â??
-John Maynard Keynes

[Isitmebut]

telsa .... after your "Money is just a 'meaningless accounting fiction', as any fule, including nobel winning economists, kno." I need not offer "screeds of blah" - as in the main you've screwed yourself with that statement - does that work with your credit card provider?

Unfortunately there are irresponsible political parties saying the same, mainly for their own political ends e.g. the SNP with a same 'ol nationalist agenda offering citizens 'easy' ways out of recessions (for votes) others in Europe have done for over a century, that will increasingly look stupid as citizens realise just how difficult it is to service the interest/pay down, excessive national debt.

[Isitmebut]

sanfairyanne .... "look, we are ruled by the rich for the rich."

Hilarious, as no one else gets a look in, right?

And the ignorant have all the right answers that have worked sooo well elsewhere over many decades, right?

Looking at the two PMQT and the socialist SNP questions, the answers are let in more Middle East migrants in the interests of 'fairness' and pay your 5 million citizens a Living Wage, when another country with 56 million is providing your citizens more money per head to spend, than they spend per head on themselves.

Truly 'revolutionary' ideas there from McCuba trying to look all growed up, I'll look for more to piss my pants over, every Wednesday.