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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

morality police

173 replies

Mariez · 28/03/2011 13:52

I find it quite ironic how the police arrest and prosecute protested for smashing up windows on marches against massive companies not paying tax, but do they go in and arrest chairmen of these giant companies when they too are breaking the law?

No.

it seems the police are picking and choosing what law breakers they arrest....

stinks.

OP posts:
ShowOfHands · 28/03/2011 14:34

I've tried to relay your advice to dh (he is a copper). He is dithering. He's not sure whether to go out and arrest Tony Blair and the head of TopShop or phone work and tell them he's on strike. Could you rank these goals in order of preference for him. Until then he's polishing my piano for me.

I'm on the leftie anti-establishment bench with Shirley comparing hot faces and confused expressions.

merrywidow · 28/03/2011 14:35

I'm interested to know; do you contribute to or live off the state?

Original poster
Mariez · 28/03/2011 14:36

of course i voted

you know a few posters have said what i have posted seems childish or whatever...does that mean that people are not quite as (ahem) articulate as yourselves arent allowed to voice their opinions?

youl find more scum in parliament than in the protest!

OP posts:
Chil1234 · 28/03/2011 14:36

" there is no other way things will change." But change to what? It's valid to say 'I don't agree' but, right now, there is no-one saying what they would do differently. Everyone's good at saying 'we don't like this' but that's where it starts and finishes. Even Miliband stood there looking very out of his comfort zone on Saturday saying 'I'm right behind you'.... but if he's to be effective, he needs to be out front saying how he'd do things better.

Smashing stuff up and downing tools won't get you Plan B if there is no one with a clue what Plan B is in the first place.

Mamaz0n · 28/03/2011 14:37

make room for me too then Shirl & SoH.

AbsDuCroissant · 28/03/2011 14:37

Of course not - but if you're going to voice your opinion and be so fervent about it, at least try to respond to queries and come out with more than just random statements.

Original poster
Mariez · 28/03/2011 14:37

none of your business is the answer to that.

does either mean i would have less right to complain?

OP posts:
Mamaz0n · 28/03/2011 14:37

you don't need to be articulate. you just need to talk something other than bollocks

Chil1234 · 28/03/2011 14:38

How old are you Mariez, if you don't mind my asking?

Original poster
Mariez · 28/03/2011 14:38

plan B is a society based on socialism rather than capitalism.

OP posts:
PatriciaHolm · 28/03/2011 14:39

You're very welcome to voice your opinion. However, when having a debate, it helps if your opinion actually makes sense, and has some sort of point to it. You simply seem to be saying the government is crap (and scum?) and not actually suggesting anything practical other than protesting. Protesting is one thing, but you need to have something you are protesting for, not just against!

bemybebe · 28/03/2011 14:39

I was pondering long about the slogan "No representation without taxation!" I like it. I think it will work well. For both sides. Wink

Original poster
Mariez · 28/03/2011 14:40

if you dont like this thread, you do know you dont have to read it?

stupid belittling remarks about my education, age and occupation can be left in the playground.

OP posts:
edam · 28/03/2011 14:40

There were between 300,000 and half a million people on that march, depending on which figures you prefer. And a few dozen people took advantage of it to smash some windows. Idiots but hardly representative - it's like saying you can judge all coppers by that guy who was convicted recently of rape, or by the ones who fitted up the Birmingham Six and Guildford 4.

And the OP does have a point. Some wrong-doing is defined as a crime and the people who do it are tackled and brought before the courts. Wrong-doing by the rich and powerful is often not treated as a crime - because guess what, the people in parliament who make the laws include the rich and powerful. Tax dodgers and liars such as Lord Ashcroft who make the laws the rest of us have to live by, but don't bother paying their fair share of UK taxes and then lie about it. Even when it is defined as a crime, they are often not pursued with the same vigour. Look at Vodafone v. the Custom & Revenue's claims that they can't possibly afford to let pensioners off when the Revenue has wrongly underclaimed tax.

Some people are more equal than others, as George Orwell said. We shouldn't put up with it.

TandB · 28/03/2011 14:40

Ooh! I love protesting. Not in a specific, targeted way, obviously. Just by wandering around shouting "Booooo!" and "Down with stuff!"

We should definitely do it. Walk out. Protest. You know. Stuff like that.

Everyone off your lazy arses and Do Something About It.

Boooooo!

[shakes fist]

That what you had in mind, OP?

AbsDuCroissant · 28/03/2011 14:41

Okay, so socialism.

So you think that all enterprises should be state, rather than privately owned?

You do realise that socialism and communism have rarely worked in practice - just look at North Korea, the Soviet Union or China.

BaggedandTagged · 28/03/2011 14:41

"socialism rather than capitalism'

By that, do you mean something like Sweden, or something like Cuba?

ShowOfHands · 28/03/2011 14:41

I'm protesting for free gingerbread for all.

Who's with me? I'm willing to be flexible if you prefer a french fancy.

TandB · 28/03/2011 14:41

Add message | Report | Message poster Mariez Mon 28-Mar-11 14:40:05
if you dont like this thread, you do know you dont have to read it?

stupid belittling remarks about my education, age and occupation can be left in the playground.

Better not. You might trip over them on your way into class.

BlooferLady · 28/03/2011 14:41

I see Mariez joined MN about four hours ago

Show as an aside, pleased to meet a leftie MNer married to a cop. A rare breed indeed.

ShirleyKnot · 28/03/2011 14:42

Hmm though, can you back off the whole "do you live off the state" bollocks though please merrywidow?

Cos last time I checked, people claiming benefits still get the vote, are still allowed to voice an opinion and are still considered to be part of our society.

PatriciaHolm · 28/03/2011 14:42

Define socialism? (and yes I know the dictionary definition, part of my degree was in politics; but it's a catch-all term that means incredibly different things to different people and in different countries)

BaggedandTagged · 28/03/2011 14:42

Who's with me? I'm willing to be flexible if you prefer a french fancy.

Too late. I just smashed up the french fancy factory in protest because Mr Kipling is tory scum

MitchiestInge · 28/03/2011 14:42

I'm not interested in your age, occupation or education either, just your views on when it is and isn't ok to protest violently. We probably all have private degrees of provocation where we would cross the line?

ShowOfHands · 28/03/2011 14:43

edam, you're right. The op probably does have a point or you've extrapolated a point out of what s/he said. And yes something should be done (beggared if I know what). But I don't think ignoring vandalism or saying the police stink is where we should be starting.