To wonder why Brits aren't protesting in the streets?

[ponderingpaula]

I used to live in the U.K. and I can't for the life of me work out why the British people aren't protesting the government, given how utterly shafted you have all been by them, and how things have been getting worse and worse over the last few years.

Working people needing food banks and "warm houses" because the costs of living is so outrageous, the nhs is utterly broken unless it's an emergency and even then people have to wait hours for an ambulance, social care virtually doesn't exist now, transport is crap and constantly striking, there have been so many lies it's impossible to count, multiple leaders over a short time, u turn after u turn, prioritising the ultra rich, I mean this is just off the top of my head...

In any other country on earth people would take to the streets to protest or even riot... why don't Brits?

Extinction Rebellion have also kind off put people off protesting.

that is a good point

instead of protests, we currently have so many Strikes @ponderingpaula

Most of us can’t afford the time/effort/cost of protesting.

It’s the weather, if it was hot and sunny there would be rioting and all hell would break loose but because it’s cold and rainy people stay indoors, there are far more riots and protests during the summer months it’s a well known fact the weather keeps the protesters down.

YABU. DH has been going on strike, organising the pickets for the communication workers union. He's a postal worker.

Echoing others, the EIE campaign has had 1000s come out and protest. They are demanding decent pay, decent housing etc.

Various trades and occupations have been on strike, picketing, protesting. Even barristers. Wait for the teachers, lecturers, and nurses, and firefighters, they'll be along soon.

It's just that the media pay no attention except to tell them they are wrong.

Why? Is treating your workers with dignity not worth fighting for? Please explain.

@HellothereSH

Do you mean Royal Mail? Haven’t they just announced job cuts due to strikes and lower demand

People are using other outlets for delivery too

Because, despite news and hysteria to the contrary, lots of us are fine.

Don't worry, everyone will have ample opportunities to take to the streets in the next two years.🙈

Yes, my point exactly @pattihews. Even that protest had fuck-all effect on the government's decision.

Gakacktobereko, do you mean xr have put you off protesting? Because as far as I can see plenty of them still are

@MarshaBradyo The job cuts - restructuring - were scheduled anyway it’s just been conveniently placed at the door of the strikers. Royal mail have just won an enormous contract to deliver the NHS’s new Digitial prescription service, their profits will increase next year so I’m afraid of 2% pay rise doesn’t cut it.

The fable about the frog and the slowly boiling water springs to mind.

For me - I'm tired. I work for nhs and have had a hellish 2 years I just don't have the energy for this just now. But - I have voted to strike, so that's one contribution.

TwoTowels, I was pointing out that you'd vastly underestimated numbers.

The Royal Mail strikes haven't helped their cause IMO. We made quire a few purchases in the last month (Xmas shopping/I've been away etc) and noticed a lot of sellers (individuals and companies) are offering royal mail and other options, and stating item will take longer with royal mail.... each time I've selected non royal mail option, i imagine im not the only one.

The Royal Mail dip in traffic is quite simply one more result of the Tory obsession with competition. We are now inundated with different delivery firms all competing for custom. When it was just Royal Mail, you knew where you were, the postpersons knew where you lived. Is there any evidence at all that the competition has driven down prices? I do not see it. We are all just left with loads of different companies to deal with; ditto electricity; ditto gas.

This is what happens when blind political doctrine trumps common sense and a social conscience.

When it was just Royal Mail, you knew where you were, the postpersons knew where you lived

We had a lot of parcels go missing before there was competition. We have the same people delivering from each of the companies, they are super friendly and professional. I don’t know why competition is bad. Nobody thinks there should be only 1 supermarket!

@Whammyyammy yes same here. Why would we select the deliverer that took longer?

I've been thinking the same thing. I wondered if riots would happen sometime over winter. I'm in Germany and feel worried for family and friends with what I see and hear.

Last week I was witness to a bike crash here. Called an ambulance and it literally came 5 minutes later. My mum's reaction was shock, she couldn't believe the ambulance had come so quickly. Just one small example.

I totally agree with regard to the NHS. I wouldn’t expect an ambulance to arrive even in a life or death situation anymore.