To think todays protest was stupid and pointless

[Ryoko]

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?

They shouted nothing tho, if they split it up and shouted there piece in different protests they would get more support, most people don't know the full extent of the cuts and frankly no one gives a damn unless it affects them directly, which is why I keep pointing out that the NHS should have done there own one alone to get the message across, a message about something that will ruin the service (it maybe shit now but we sure as hell don't want private companies involved).

Think it's legitimate...what on earth would be the alternative?

I agree we should have another election soon, but for the time being, the govt is legitimate. Thet're in charge, like it or not. I'm guessing not.

Private companies are already involved in nhs, were under labour.

Jacqueline, really, there is a big difference between my argument and screaming in a police officers face, I suggest you read my subsequent post and I don't care what you call me but I do find the term Chav offensive towards anyone and wouldn't have thought that any self respecting lefty would use the term.

'Yep, I'd ban football tomorrow.'

But where would all those (mostly) blokes (some angry blokes) be tawdry if they didn't get absorbed by football?

Noticing what the politicians are getting up to and demonstrating about it on the streets

Can I go to lean on a hatch on the bar like Del Boy please? Much funnier

Well said Rohanda.

tawdry - it ISN'T legitiate to restructure our society as a minority govt. There is no moral authority that a landslide victory would give. There is a real question of 'mandate to act' in proportion to it's Parliamentary position.

The march was pointless as it has no chance of changing the Governments mind on what to do. If the Government were to waiver then we would be battered by the bond market and would need the EU/IMF to save us.

Would they buggery - they'd be down the pub, probably falling through bars...

yes, byrel, bankers are holding the country to ransom.

Because a lot of them can't afford to! Small businesses are clinging on and large businesses couldn't afford to do it across the board if tgeyempliy 1000s of staff - look at private pensio provision, people were told pay more or it will go bust. Most people (like the public sector now) said, no we don't want to pay more and now a lot of schemes have gone under.

A very small proportion of our Government bonds are owned by banks so I don't think you can say that bankers are holding the country to random.

It is not a minority govt, it's a coalition. Countries throughout europe are permanently run by coalitions - should they never do anything?

I think you are mixing up minority with coalition.

'Would they buggery - they'd be down the pub, probably falling through bars...'

And spilling out brawling onto the streets for the police to sort.

Like any normal weekend.

OK, perhaps I went a bit far with them being into politics, but they've got to be occupied somehow.

no, I know the difference, ta. The electorate did not vote for this course of action. The govt doesn't have this mandate.

and yes byrel, the banking sector is behaving like bullies on the public purse. 'Give us these bonuses and profits or we will leave'. Rather like the right-wingers used to bleat about unions holding the country to ransom rubbish.

It was sections of the private sector that caused the global economic down turn, with their greed.

Yes some small private businesses are struggling and yes some employees within the private sector have no pensions etc. But so do lots and lots of public sector workers.

There are also masses of vulnerable people who have nothing and will never be able to have anything because of the cuts the government is making, or do they some how deserve it as well because the private sector is paying for it.

The thing is with a lot of the private sector it always appears to be when things are good they don't care about anyone else and when things are bad they really don't fucking care about anyone else.

The taxpayer will eventually make money when the shares are sold we already had a structural deficit before the banking crisis so it's unfair to completely blame banks for everything, especially as we will benefit it the long run.

Oh and I'm not against the private sectors, I have earned many a good wage from the private sectors but you take the good with the bad.

Point is, they do have the mandate. You can say they don't until you're blue in the face, but they do. Sorry...

no prinnie "we" won't benefit in the long run. by the time returns are realised, which 'the public' invested in, there won't be a 'public sector' to invest in if Mr Shiney face and his pals have their way.

don't apologise tawdry. I have already forgiven you.

the public sector has been fucked for yonks.

A lefty, being passive aggressive when they're in the wrong?

Blimey...time I went to bed. Lessons to plan (for free) tomorrow.

All of the "we pay public sector wages" thing always makes me wonder if I am therefore paying my own wages, since last time I looked, I also pay tax...

I didn't go on the protest march, and I do think it is likely to be ineffective in terms of changing anything, but I am glad people still have the get up and go to speak out when they feel it necessary. (I think I agree with Ryoko, but it's late and I may have the wrong poster's name).

I couldn't afford the train fare to go to the protest, personally, (as a taxpayer, I really should give myself a pay rise )

Rohanda- Why wouldn't we benefit if we sold the nationalised banks off at a profit, it would give the Government revenue which it could to cut taxes and/or increase spending