Campaigning ... why do people bother?!

[GeorginaA]

When it seems to make fuck all difference?

I seem to have written so many fucking letters recently on various different issues and if I'm bloody lucky I get a small rainforest response of why they're not going to consider any opinions. Today I just get a letter back from the planning office (they want to put a 3G mobile phone mast less than 400m from my front door when there are a lot more viable locations for the mast well away from such a large housing estate) with a terse "Thank you for your letter, the decision was to approve".

There's just no fucking point is there? Nothing makes a bloody difference. And they wonder why people feel disenfranchised from politics. The whole bunch of pond slime are a complete waste of space. And it's us who have to live with the crap that they pass down.

I'm currently oscillating between descending into apathy or going into full chain-myself-to-the-railings protest mode.

TWUNTS.

[GeorginaA]

(apologies for sweariness... red mist has descended)

[Jimjams]

couldn't agree more- I last wrote to my MP because my sons's statement was being ignored (he was recieving no SALT even though it was in his statement in the bit the LEA are legally obliged to meet - ie they were breaking the law) and I receievd a reply telling me unfortunately there were no speech therapists in the entire country and did I Know that labour had put x million into the NHS. Stupid cow. I enjoyed voting for the opposition.

Last demo I went on was because Scope are shutting down a special school to encourage inclusion (these are severely disbaled children who require 24 hour nursing care btw). The stupid Scope suits turned up in a fleet of BMW's and said there was no money....

[GeorginaA]

I just wish I could DO something, you know? I'm sitting here wondering whether I'm just making more stress for myself worrying about it when anything I do blatantly makes no difference whatsoever, but at the same time, I can't NOT do anything either.

Do you still campaign/go on demos/whatever? Is giving up just bowing to the inevitable or is it letting the bastards win?

Suffering a crisis of helplessness here and having a mini pity party.

[Podmog]

Message withdrawn

[Kidstrack2]

Georgina I had a fight on my hands just over 2yrs ago 3G tried putting thier mobile phone mast on top of our local church where ds nursery was held in. All the parents put up a fight and went to the local press and we got our MP on our side. Our war cry was that in many years to come what would be the side affects on our childrens lifes. 3G have now put the mast on top of the local radio station roof.

[Marina]

Railings, not apathy Georgina! Please don't give up. Thanks for that explanation of the situation ks. My proudest hour as a member of a PCC was being part of the vociferous minority that won the day on vetoeing a lucrative proposal to stick an aerial inside our church tower

[GeorginaA]

Yes, I'm sure half the problem here is that our MP is a total waste of space. I've yet to find out anything he does do apart from pontificate a lot in our local rag... Impressed that some of you did manage to fight this - just not sure if I have any fight left on this or any other issue that affects me.

[GeorginaA]

And then I see things like this and want to be a part of that. ARGH.

At what point do you say campaigning puts too great a strain on family life that you have to quit? (Yes, I know I'm going around in circles with this)