Do you protest, and if so, how?

[DontMentionThePrunes]

Are there any effective ways of protesting any more?

Petitions and boycotts are everywhere but they feel so impotent. Demos can be minimised (as happened in Manchester recently). Voting feels like a cruel joke.

Do you have a feel for what is working? I would love to overthrow this shitty government (start small!) but feel pretty powerless and insignificant at the moment.

Start small indeed. I hear what you're saying, there are just so many causes out there!

I've gotten to know my local councillors very well, by going to their surgeries, safer neighbourhoods meetings, making sure I strike up a conversation if I bump into them, things like that. Not protest exactly, but I do feel like they might at least listen to what I have to say if there is a burning (local) issue. I have a few little examples, like the makeup and positioning of our local recycling depot, planning applications, little things like that. Getting involved in the democratic process.