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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think todays protest was stupid and pointless

108 replies

Ryoko · 26/03/2011 22:22

All those that have gone before that have had an effect (admittedly there isn't many) have had 1 thing in common, a single point to rally around, a simple ideal that all can rally around sometimes with targeted violence at the thing you are angry about (targeting symbols of the government, council building and police during the poll tax revolt for example).

Todays protest, large as it was consisted of many voices who's only connection was one word in each of their points and that word was cuts, some where protesting against NHS cuts, some protesting that their should be no cuts at all, others that the cuts where unfairly affecting the poor.

Can any protest mean anything without a clear message I don't think so, today was just a collection of the disgruntled matching the streets without anyone really knowing what exactly they are disgruntled about, such things mean nothing and will effect nothing as the people where not really united and sent no coherent message to the powers that be.

Am I right or am I wrong?

OP posts:

orangeeyebrows · 26/03/2011 22:26

im like most people. i realise there have to be cuts but i dont want them to affect me

the people who cause the trouble arent anything to do with the reason for the protest, they just want a punchup

and the police are in the same boat as everyone else, having their pay frozen, increments stopped, pensions decimated so why pick on them to fight I dont know

FunnysInTheGarden · 26/03/2011 22:28

YABU as you know.

TaudrieTattoo · 26/03/2011 22:28

My ten year old pointed out that the protest was going to cost us a fortune in policing, etc. Couldn't think of an argument against that, tbh.

AimingForSerenity · 26/03/2011 22:32

Good point from a 10 year old!

The problem is, how long do people complain and mutter among themselves. If no-one ever stands up to be counted the government will think we all agree with them.

Personally I think apathy has taken such a hold of society we may well all sit and fiddle while Rome burns so to speak

AgentZigzag · 26/03/2011 22:34

I haven't seen any news about it, or read any other threads (yes, very useful AZZ ) but protests generally are a very important part of democracy.

What they're about is irrelevant, (in the scheme of things) and so is whether they're effective or not, because they're the voice of a selection of ordinary people.

Not representative of the population but louder than placing your vote, they show the people who think they hold all the power in the country they're mistaken if they think they can ignore the real power ie us.

Shoesytwoesy · 26/03/2011 22:36

yabu
if it made people feel they were getting their voice heard then good on them. I doubt if the shithead in charge will care, but at least they tried.

A1980 · 26/03/2011 22:37

Even if it acheives nothing, we should be remember that at least we have the right to protest and make ourselves heard.

Anyone remember Tianannmen Square?

Tryharder · 26/03/2011 22:37

I agree totally. I work in the public sector and have witnessed over the years the shocking way in which money has been squandered. The cuts have to be made unless people are prepared to pay more tax and clearly most are not.

I always think that these anti-Government protests always work in favour of the Government because the people protesting are often dislikeable and so people turn against them and their cause.

My own bugbear are "socialists" who have piss easy jobs in the public sector with a fat pension and who send their kids to private school.

usualsuspect · 26/03/2011 22:40

what all the people protesting are dislikeable?

every single one?

Tryharder ..err try harder

TaudrieTattoo · 26/03/2011 22:40

But...sorry, but we are in a democracy, aren't we? And although the govt is a bit shit (aren't they all?) it's the one the voters, er, voted for.

Do the protestors think we should do what they want instead?

Do they want mob rule?

usualsuspect · 26/03/2011 22:41

I never voted for them

I don't think many of the protesters did either

TaudrieTattoo · 26/03/2011 22:42

Why didn't anybody march against the govt when half of them were fiddling expenses? Can you do whatever the fuck you like in this country as long as it's in the name of the left?

adamschic · 26/03/2011 22:42

The protests are not stupid and pointless. This government are not going to change anything because of them but the effect they have are greater than that and will bring this shower of shit down sooner, cannot wait.

TaudrieTattoo · 26/03/2011 22:43

No, but I bet a lot of them voted lib dem.

I have to ask, were you really happy with the labour govt? Really?

usualsuspect · 26/03/2011 22:44

Power to the people I say

usualsuspect · 26/03/2011 22:45

well we all know the lib dems are a bunch of sell out lying twats

which makes the protests even more valid

TaudrieTattoo · 26/03/2011 22:46

Is someone on here comparing our present situation to China 20 odd years ago?

That would be China, the country that is now currently embracing, erm, capitalism?

NimpyWindowmash · 26/03/2011 22:46

Yes, Power to the people. The people who elected this government democratically. So let them get on with making the cuts and making our public services affordable.

adamschic · 26/03/2011 22:47

Many will have voted Lib Dem. I did to keep the Tory candidate out. At least we know better now.

A1980 · 26/03/2011 22:48

"I have to ask, were you really happy with the labour govt? Really?"

I wasn't happy with labour and I have always been a Tory supporter. But after seeing the Tory plans for the NHS i.e. to privatise it and break it up, I swear to god I will NEVER vote Tory again. Their stance on the NHS is enough to make me never vote for them again. Ever!

Thingumy · 26/03/2011 22:49

I voted lib dem too.

TaudrieTattoo · 26/03/2011 22:51

The lib dems came last in the election - if they'd won, their manifesto would have formed the basis of policy.

But they didn't.

The tories got more seats than anyone else.

Democracy. Twat, isn't it?

AgentZigzag · 26/03/2011 22:51

I've always wanted to go on a demo, the closest I've got is when I saw a poll tax march from the top of a bus

But one new years eve I went to celebrate midnight where there was loads of other people gathered.

I could feel the power of the mob, it was like everyone was as one, and it could have gone either way - good natured or tipping into violence, which made the police standing about a bit twitchy.

When people get together they're more than the sum of their parts, and shouldn't be underestimated.

TaudrieTattoo · 26/03/2011 22:52

'power to the people but only if the people agree with me'

usualsuspect · 26/03/2011 22:52

I marched against the poll tax

that worked

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