to wonder how the occupy random places people

[Sevenfold]

can afford to do it.
if they work, are they on holiday? are they rich?
if on JS, don't they loose that as they are not looking for work......

So why are the "anti-capitalists" so keen to put a brick through their windows when it comes to the protest days i.e G20 and May Day etc. Starbucks always seemed to be up there with McDonalds as the root of all evil.

London,

I honestly do't get your point

Lobbyists do represent their lobbying group, even if not every member of the lobbying organisation is on-board with the issues being lobbied for. Unions also act on behalf of their members, even when there are some members who disagree.

Where does the Occupy movement say they represent every single citizen? I think you are just trying to find something, anything to argue about here...

Also, I think many people are not anti capitalism per se, but anti 'crony capitalism' where political leaders protect and serve the interests of a small group of economic elite. And in turn, the economic elite provide the funding and media support so that these politicians win elections.

It is very hard to break this type of vicious cycle, without a vigilant citizen body. Are you saying that citizens shouldn't protest and hold their governments accountable unless they are sure that every single citizen agrees with their cause...? I mean your arguments are so extreme, that it hard to have a decent debate.

This thread is intellectually and politically embarrassing, quite apart from falling into, whether accidentally or not, gender stereotypes - you said/I said/you said/strop.

My son - who was force fed anti-Starbucks/McDonalds/insert successful company following utilitarian principles to the letter propaganda in Geography at school - has been discussing Mumsnet and its perceived power in Politics.

He's been led to be anti it, for various reasons, as is my DP.

I railed and ordered them both to read some of the messages before judging, and they both read this thread.

Thanks all.

Your point is confusing, hells. Are you saying it is embarrassing that some women don't understand the Occupy movement? If you go on any general internet forum, you will find you said/I said/you said strops, it's not particularly gender specific?

I don't like the implication that your son and husband are the all-seeing eye that should make us look with shame on ourselves. It's a peculiarly sexist point.

In the US, Starbucks is widely seen as a company that has many very positive environmental and social policies - so perhaps the protesters are quite justified in drinking their coffee and using their wifi?

The people in head office are terrible bores obsessed with coffee, though ;)

eh? Your son is against MN and Starbucks because of being taught things in Geography at school (what kind of geography lessons are kids getting these days?) and your DP and son then read one thread on MN and it's politically and intellectually embarassing? Why? Because some random people on an internet forum do not support the Occupy movement, and some do?

what the hell are you on about?

Maybe it would be more valuable to teach your son to read, think and evaluate for himself and to develop a healthy level of cynicism, and to know that all sorts of people, all over the place, have differing levels of intelligence and a wide variety of political views.

and to be honest, I don't think Occupy movement even understands the occupy movement.