To wonder why there has been no revolution?

[DoctorTwo]

Even the Torygraph is mystified. Why are we not kicking the shit out of the thieving wankers that make up our parliament? Or burning down corporate headquarters and lynching the bosses? These bastards are making us poorer and blaming us for it.

Lol @ people too busy watching Downton Abbey.

Just saw this on Twitter - Downton Abbey depicts such an old fashioned world. They actually pay staff a living wage. No internships or zero hours contracts. So quaint.

I fear the chaos and potential consequences of revolution - more now I am a parent I feel v vulnerable.

I agree with primarynoodle - I'm almost 40 and my parents think that my interest in politics and environmentalism was something that I would grow out of once I had children. No, it's made me more concerned. They've also suggested that I was "just a bit disappointed" by the referendum result and, as my dad put it today, "it was hardly worth crying over." I completely disagree, I'm disgusted by the way the government, big business and the media blatantly colluded to ensure that the scottish cashcow didn't disappear and am more energised to make a stand than ever before. How to go about is the difficult bit.

What became clear to me during the last months of the referendum was that a lot of people just couldn't give a shit about anyone else. A lot of the yes campaigners and supporters talked of improving society/supporting the vulnerable/public ownership etc, while the no voters focused on what about my mortgage/my pension/my investments. Socialism versus me me me-ism. This is why the revolution isn't yet happening, too many people only care about themselves.

Interesting thread, thank you.

Apathy or just exhaustion?

Plus I know we've all been diddled and conned but we are too weak to speak up against the power if the PR machines.

McFox too many people only care about themselves.

What, 55% of people think they are better off with the status quo, so this actual provides a better position for society. That is how democracy works, you lost because you failed to convince over 50% of people you were correct. Accept you are wrong, rather than blame other people.

Gramsci will explain it all....

This is why the revolution isn't yet happening, too many people only care about themselves

Revolutions don't happen when people become altruistic.
They happen when enough people are desperate enough to reject the status quo and hope that the alternative will be better.
Revolutions are often led by people who are selfish - power hungry or money hungry.
People who want a revolution probably never went through one. It's open season as to who will hold power. It can easily go very very wrong. Not to mention the economic instability.
My parents went through one, a bloodless relatively mild one, and it was worrying. My mother remembers seeing people held at gunpoint in a small town. Politically and economically, it took years to reach some stability.

Violent rovulutions rarely work out well and many at the bottom of the economic pole had ancestors who suffered under them. If there truly is injustice and economic hardship, the best response is to stop breeding future slaves. I do believe many have responded in this manner.

Socialism versus me me me-ism

I think it's strange how our current economic system works: we have socialism for the banks and The City and me me me-ism for the rest of us. Or Thatcherism, if you will. There is a real race to the bottom and nothing will change until a sizeable minority rises up to occupy parliament and the financial institutions and installs a government that can implement a change of system.

Apparently Gidiot is to announce a benefit cap of £23k. This is from a man who claimed expenses for a fucking paddock an his 2nd home! They penalise us for having an extra bedroom yet expect us to pay for their second homes which they often flip and make money from. Their hypocrisy knows no bounds, and it crosses parties.

I saw reports that there was a demonstration in Edinburgh at the weekend, something that was not mentioned on the BBC. I'm somewhat surprised they're mentioning the demos in Hong Kong, they usually keep quiet about stuff like that. I mean, the recent marches in London weren't worth a mention despite the high participation levels, so whoever quoted Gil Scott Heron was right: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised because the media is manipulated to ignore it.

Revolutions do not tend to happen until the unemployment rate is high enough; I think the tipping point is somewhere around 25 - 30%.

If you at historical rates were revolutions have occurred they are almost always around this level.

In the UK we are no where near this. However there are parts of Europe which are close to the figure and concerns have been voiced as a result.

I suspect the vast majority of us on MN would be seen as the "haves" in any great revolution, not the "have nots". We'd be first against the wall, with our Internet connections, our homes and snuggly families, our AIBUs about whether we should hire cleaners etc.

"Yeah, revolution now, lets smash the government and the establishment.....after you comrade........no after you....no I insist you go first, after all I clicked on 'like' on the angry facebook page.........can we do it after Strictly........???"

Lweji's post above I think just about nails it.

I recently saw a survey about whether 16/17 yr olds should be able to vote in the next general election like they could in the Scottish referendum and 75% of people said no, with comments that they themselves were idiots at that age and so wouldn't trust anyone that young to vote If only old people are voting it's no wonder really

Aldous Huxley was right. People are too distracted by the 'feelies' to do anything.

Few reasons-
Apathy

Media has turned us all against one another so instead of aiming our anger at those who deserve it we aim it at the little man- those on benefits, immigrants and so forth.

We are, as somebody pointed out, too comfortable. The changes and cuts the government have made have undoubtedly rocked the boat but perhaps not enough. We need to be made to feel even more disillusioned. That's not going to happen overnight. If a Tory government get in next year this may happen, or worse still a Tory ukip coalition

Fear- revolutions are often bloody and hard work, nobody wants a war and riots on the streets. Also people are afraid to lose their jobs, livelihoods in the name of revolution.

There's no great figurehead calling for it. Russell Brand has no idea what he's talking about. He jumped on a bandwagon but doesn't understand the full logistics of a revolution. It needs to be someone people greatly respect, think Stephen Fry level, that understands what we need to do to achieve it and has answers for people.

TV. Especially the beeb. It's the great controller of all. Brilliant invention. What easier way to get propaganda to the people eh?

So yeah. That's why I think it hasn't happened. Plus a lot of young people are more interested in the distractions they're endlessly fed- anything to do with sex really which it's well known will distract hormonal youngsters extremely well...

Well said Lweji.

The Telegraph article really struck a chord with me. Not that I consider myself 'officer class' but he's right doesn't matter how middle class you think you, are you are 'workers' in the most old-fashioned Marxist sense of the word and the 0.1% are not interested in your prosperity.

However a revolution? Like Russia? One set of idealists replacing another years and years of failed experiments in imposing communism of millions of people followed by a kleptocracy

Be very carful what you wish for. Better to get people out to the ballot box.

Many, many people are absolutely blinded by the media. The Scottish referendum was a brilliant example. How can you possibly understand the bigger issues when the general media (where many people get their information from) is deliberately feeding you bullshit so you cannot see what is going on.

We are in a great position to bypass the mainstream media using social media and should continue to do so. There are some brilliant examples of groups of people taking action such as the focus E15 women in East London.

I think there will be a coordinated attempt at Revolution but sadly I think people will be too scared to get on board. It creates too much uncertainty doesn't it.

I think another issue might be that some of the more public figures who call for revolution might at times seem a little bit bonkers. I think though you would probably have to be to successfully lead a revolution and I'm more than happy with that

Agree Lweji.

A revolution is the last thing I would want for the UK. Having been through a referendum (which wasn't the joyous, energising event some people would have you believe) with the divisions and bitterness that caused, I wouldn't want to see anything resembling a real revolution.

OP - perhaps you might consider speaking to people who have lived through an actual, real-life revolution and see what they thought of it, and whether they would like to live through one again. It's not all Bob Dylan and hand-holding, you know.

Why? Because the cuts haven't hit the end user yet

This

Its hard to have a revolution when you have flat screen tvs, computers, enough food, a warm, dry home - which contrary to what you hear, most people do have. And when people from countries which don't have those opportunities are desperate to get here.

And an NHS, and free education, and a police service which isn't corrupt, and employment laws which prevent the horrendous abuse of workers - and any number of other amazing benefits that we take for granted as very fortunate citizens of the UK

there have been riots but they fizzled out (not that i approve of riots)

Lweji has said what I came onto this thread to say.

The idea of a revolution is terrifying: it can easily spiral into a civil war, and if anyone wants to know how they pan out, take a gander at our own: death rate comparable to WWI, and people starving in besieged towns, so hungry they were eating 'soape and candle' with their thatch gone to feed the soldiers' horses. Do you real think it would be better now that we have AK47s and cluster bombs?

And once it's over, then what? Yes, it would be lovely if 'real change' would happen, but all to often the aftermath involves a shit-tip of a country run by power-hungry, militaristic loons. Stalin, anyone?

I've lived in a virtual dictatorship, where the PM refused to step down at the end of his term of office. Attempted military coup, awkward government ministers having 'car crashes' in the mountains, the odd gun battle, parts of the capital in flames. No thanks.

It's all too easy to blame 'the media' for not telling us 'the truth'. Well, guys, we have freedom of speech. You can read blogs, you can subscribe to Socialist Worker, you can start your own political associations. That's the thing with democracy: we can influence what happens if enough people care. I'd vote for change via the ballot box, but not for 'revolution'.