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Brussels braces for huge anti-austerity protest
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Author:  paulzolo [ Wed Sep 29, 2010 9:49 am ]
Post subject:  Brussels braces for huge anti-austerity protest
And so it begins.

Image

Quote:
Thousands of people from across the EU are expected to march in Brussels to protest against sweeping austerity measures by many national governments.

The European Trade Union Confederation says its protest could be one of the biggest in Belgium's capital for years.

The union says EU workers could become the biggest victims of a financial crisis set off by bankers and traders.


Quote:
"We didn't cause this crisis. The bill has to be paid by banks, not by workers," Etuc (The European Trade Union Confederation) said.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11432579
Author:  Amnesia10 [ Wed Sep 29, 2010 11:44 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Brussels braces for huge anti-austerity protest
Quote:
"We didn't cause this crisis. The bill has to be paid by banks, not by workers," Etuc (The European Trade Union Confederation) said.


So true but they do not bribe the politicians enough. Banks have spent hundreds of millions bribing politicians around the world.

I expect a general strike or two. Riots galore, especially once the cuts happen.
Author:  paulzolo [ Wed Sep 29, 2010 11:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Brussels braces for huge anti-austerity protest
Amnesia10 wrote:
I expect a general strike or two. Riots galore, especially once the cuts happen.


+1

It’s going to hurt - and people don’t take this kind of thing lying down.
Author:  Amnesia10 [ Wed Sep 29, 2010 12:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Brussels braces for huge anti-austerity protest
No they won't. I expect at least a country or two in Europe to collapse into revolution. Ireland will collapse but not sure if the public will rise up. Several east European countries will collapse, and Greece will probably become a military dictatorship again to restore order. Hungary looks very vulnerable as well. Though once the revolutions start watch the coalition abandon austerity just long enough to avoid problems here.
Author:  JJW009 [ Wed Sep 29, 2010 12:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Brussels braces for huge anti-austerity protest
It may not be the fault of the "proletariat", but protesting isn't going to fix anything. If people riot, it will only precipitate a fall into total chaos.

Burning things down is not constructive. It's economic suicide. If you can't do anything constructive, at least don't make things worse!
Author:  rustybucket [ Wed Sep 29, 2010 12:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Brussels braces for huge anti-austerity protest
JJW009 wrote:
It may not be the fault of the "proletariat", but protesting isn't going to fix anything. If people riot, it will only precipitate a fall into total chaos.

Burning things down is not constructive. It's economic suicide. If you can't do anything constructive, at least don't make things worse!

Eton, Oxford University, NatWest Tower...

;)
Author:  Amnesia10 [ Wed Sep 29, 2010 4:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Brussels braces for huge anti-austerity protest
JJW009 wrote:
It may not be the fault of the "proletariat", but protesting isn't going to fix anything. If people riot, it will only precipitate a fall into total chaos.

Burning things down is not constructive. It's economic suicide. If you can't do anything constructive, at least don't make things worse!

Far from it. Austerity measures are what is destroying Ireland. The government pledge to guarantee Allied Irish Bank customers is what is doing a lot of the damage. Riots might end up burning a few buildings down but without it the economy will collapse under the austerity measures because they will be worse. Riots will make governments think about what they are doing.
Author:  okenobi [ Wed Sep 29, 2010 4:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Brussels braces for huge anti-austerity protest
JJ, chaos would be a nice change. The system is at fault here and the only way to change that is to not consent to the rules of the system. Rioting is one way to do that.

That said:

Amnesia10 wrote:
Riots will make governments think about what they are doing.


This is patently untrue at worst and massively optimistic at best.
Author:  Amnesia10 [ Wed Sep 29, 2010 4:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Brussels braces for huge anti-austerity protest
okenobi wrote:
JJ, chaos would be a nice change. The system is at fault here and the only way to change that is to not consent to the rules of the system. Rioting is one way to do that.

That said:

Amnesia10 wrote:
Riots will make governments think about what they are doing.


This is patently untrue at worst and massively optimistic at best.

It got rid of Maggie. I am not suggesting it as a course of action. I am just commentating.
Author:  rustybucket [ Wed Sep 29, 2010 4:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Brussels braces for huge anti-austerity protest
okenobi wrote:
Amnesia10 wrote:
Riots will make governments think about what they are doing.


This is patently untrue at worst and massively optimistic at best.

Surely it would depend on where you riot?

Burn Toxteth and nobody would bat an eyelid. Burn Tatton and Tunbridge Wells? That's a whole different pint of prawns...
Author:  JJW009 [ Wed Sep 29, 2010 5:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Brussels braces for huge anti-austerity protest
okenobi wrote:
JJ, chaos would be a nice change. The system is at fault here and the only way to change that is to not consent to the rules of the system. Rioting is one way to do that.

A strongly worded letter to The Times would probably be just as effective in "changing the system", and would not devastate the lives of hundred's of innocent individuals.
Author:  Amnesia10 [ Wed Sep 29, 2010 6:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Brussels braces for huge anti-austerity protest
JJW009 wrote:
okenobi wrote:
JJ, chaos would be a nice change. The system is at fault here and the only way to change that is to not consent to the rules of the system. Rioting is one way to do that.

A strongly worded letter to The Times would probably be just as effective in "changing the system", and would not devastate the lives of hundred's of innocent individuals.

Yes but do you honestly think that the coalition make policy depending on the contents of the Times letters page? What about the Viz letters page or what Nicola, 21 and 36DD from Dartford on Page three of the Sun? ;)
Author:  okenobi [ Wed Sep 29, 2010 6:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Brussels braces for huge anti-austerity protest
JJW009 wrote:
okenobi wrote:
JJ, chaos would be a nice change. The system is at fault here and the only way to change that is to not consent to the rules of the system. Rioting is one way to do that.

A strongly worded letter to The Times would probably be just as effective in "changing the system", and would not devastate the lives of hundred's of innocent individuals.


That's just the problem. The innocent individuals in question are dependent on the system. Just like people en masse aren't prepared to make the required sacrifices and alter their lives significantly enough to, for example, reduce oil consumption - they also aren't prepared to endure some sacrifice and rioting to get through to a new era.

There are 65 million of us and at most, several 10s of thousands of "them". If we chose together, to stop paying tax, or stop going to work, or whatever, there's no way they could stop us. We are each of us individuals and thousands of years ago, we didn't need governments or austerity measures or whatever. We lived our own lives however we wanted and worked in small teams to take care of our community's needs.

Now, everybody wants an iPad, a nice car and house etc. and they don't want anyone to rock their boat. The French revolution brought us a change from feudalism to capitalism and I'm beginning to wonder if another big change might be needed.....
Author:  jonbwfc [ Wed Sep 29, 2010 6:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Brussels braces for huge anti-austerity protest
Quote:
A little revolution now and then is a healthy thing, don't you think?

- Marko Ramius
Author:  okenobi [ Wed Sep 29, 2010 7:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Brussels braces for huge anti-austerity protest
jonbwfc wrote:
Quote:
A little revolution now and then is a healthy thing, don't you think?

- Marko Ramius


It's been a long time since I've heard from him, but it's always welcome :)
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