I'm not quite a frothing berserker but I am getting rather cross with our government messing with the good stuff.

[KateMiddIeton]

Just off the top of my head:

• Student fees
• Public sector workers terms and conditions (otherwise known as moving the goal posts after the match has started)
• Women (Report on Fawcett legal challenge result here)
• Sure Start
• NHS
• Erosion of employment rights
• Removal of EMA
• Removal of universal child benefit
• Unfair changes to DLA
• Unfair changes to ESA assessment

I am getting more and more fed up that these decisions are being made to take away some of the things we should be most proud of and that took years to be achieved.

This thread is a safe haven for some ranting as I know some of us are feeling sick and tired of it all.

Thanks, Garlic.

Hmm, not sure thought that they take notice of twitter campaigns as such.

For instance, I have noticed that the Military Wives are sticking their # on the end of every tweet. I think it waters the strength of the # down when they do that.

Am happy to follow the majority though, if that is what the rest want to do.

Btw, it might be an idea to have a general plan who is posting when.

Is there someplace we can find out in advance what policy decisions are being made, so that we can plan who is going to write about it. It is good in a blog to have reasonably regular posts.

Have updated blog with the Tory HQ press tweet about the webchat.

I was FROTHING.

Don't think Ed is yet, but maybe when he reads that.

Ed, if you are reading do have a look at the blog to see what those wankers wrote right after the webchat.

Lies. Just lies.

toomanycuts.blogspot.com/2011/12/who-are-frothers.html

@LoquaciousMinx

Ok my pennyworth worth (Hully did leave me in charge so I am Making An Effort).

In my mind, this is what we are about:

1. A sanctuary and refuge for anyone who is concerned about what is happening to our welfare state. It is a place to vent, to say "You are not alone in thinking this is wrong". We are a-political. Everyone who feels things have gone too far are welcome. Levels of involvement are optional - including just talking on the threads (nobody must tweet or blog or sign petitions unless they choose to).

1. A source of information. A conduit for all the other groups, organisations and activist that are campaigning and highlighting issues. We are also going to put some of our own information out there too to make it personal and to sate the need of those to do something.

1. A place to coordinate action. For those who need to do something there will be links to petitions, coordinated action on social media and anything else we think is useful and valuable.

I think our blog.spot name should be our name for continuity. It should also be our Twitter and Facebook page names (we should have one each of these for coordinating things. We can auto-feed from the blog so not so much effort and it gives a good presence).

Any thoughts?

Twitter help required!

OK, experts, I'm now reluctantly tweeting so as to get a feed on the blog.
Does anybody know how I can automatically get all the #frothers posts into my feed, so I don't have to keep loggin in and retweeting you?

Do we need the tweets on the blog? I think a good clear mention of the hashtag would be good but I don't think we need specific tweets do we?

Is the pink bit under the title on the blog a sort of "about us" bit? Could we put it in there?? I don't know anything about blogging. Twitter and Facebook I'm ok with.

I think it's important to say which hashtags we are using, and if we are talking about a campaign by another group the hashtags THEY are using, so you can add some weight to their campaign + join up with other people thinking the same.

I have a feeling it's gonna be a good #ff on Twitter tomorrow.

#FrothyFriday more than a #FollowFriday

The tweets on the blog are fairly standard Kate, Most of us do it - it's another tool to reach further readers, and followers!

Wondering if you want my We Didn't Start the Fire post? You're welcome to it...but not bothered if you don't think it's quite right.

I've just seen the Tweet sidebar on the blog. It looks fantastic. I take it all back

All contributions to the blog that support the ethos are welcome I would think?

< clings to hully >

< cries >

I can't do any of this stuff. Twitter, blogspots, blogger, autoblogging ,can just about cope with FB. Really. I am a professional woman, but it's beyond me.

Please, you youngsters, don't keep saying "if I can do it, anyone can"

I can't. And I don't have the literal hours to spare to get me up to speed.

Can I make do with my sympathy, my warmth, my ranting, my rallying and my marching ? I can do them. I can do emails too. I have sent lots of them.

< sits in corner, twirling my hair >

garlicnutter - how do I sign in to the blog? It's asking me to sign in, but as well as my e-mail it's asking for a password. I think, in part, this is because it's assuming I'll sign in with my Google e-mail/password, but these are for a different e-mail address!

I can do Twitter, but I can't do blogs!!!

No problem AF - if you want owt tweeted, I can do it for you - same goes for you Hully.

Well, this thread has inspired me today - I've started a thread in campaigns (which I've been wanting to do forEVAH) about the CSA and the awful sitution many lone parents find themselves in...villified by the press and politicians, yet powerless (more or less) to get NRP to pay child support.

I'm hoping I'll have froth enough for both campaigns/threads!

Kate, it's all about visibility. The more things link to each other, the faster they come up in search results :)

Apart from which, we don't all love Twitter you know! I only see tweets when they're fed into another site. I bloody 'ate it, I do.

If only it wasn't my JOB, I'd be joining AF & Hully in the luddites corner right now
Especially if you're allowed to smoke there.

Oh, xpost! Thanks! :)

Don't worry AF I will make sure the blog has details of people to write to/email etc.

I'm sure there'll be more protests to spread info about as well.

Now. Any decisions on the first topic?

10th December is Global Human Rights day - so which cuts breaks our HR? (Probably a disability related one )

thanks , guys

Just wanted to add my support :)

Right - I now have a blog:

Now what?!

Gah - link is invisible!

50stillnifty.blogspot.com/2011/12/blimey-i-appear-to-have-blog.html

Love the tweet thing. Looks great.

Hi,
I was thinking today at work what else we can do and I decided to write to my MP about some of my concerns. I've done it a few times before and he did write back (not with particularly earth shattering responses), I suppose it raises their awareness of the issues and possibly makes them a little concerned for their seats It's worth a go at least.

I am going to send the following via the 'write to them' site. I will also add a 'finally' paragraph about some of my individual concerns:

"Following the Autumn Statement and the union action yesterday, I have a few questions that I would like to ask.

Firstly, it has been estimated that there is, up to, £120 billion in uncollected, avoided and evaded tax. For example, the tax loophole that allows premiership footballers to pay much reduced tax by taking 'loans' from companies set up for this purpose. What is the Government doing to close these tax loopholes, that often favour the rich, to ensure that all pay their taxes fairly? Could you also confirm the Government's official position on MPs who take advantage of these loopholes?

Secondly, as MPs receive a generous public sector pension, could you confirm what changes are being made to these public sector pensions?"

Right.

So we have a blog (I understand).

How is it going to work?

Garlic has asked me and some others to be administrators as a start. I have no idea how one goes about anything, but am prepared to have a go. Be very afraid. What should we do next?

BIWI and MMe Lindor you are terribly sensible and organised, are you administrating?

AF, you can gibber with me.

There is th eslight flaw that I'm not even signed up as my head exploded