A protest outside Anglo (with video), the first one or the only one?

edanto

There has been a lot of talk here of people getting out on the street, and doing something.

This was just recorded a few minutes ago on Stephen's Green - at least one group of people are protesting outside Anglo.

Not a huge number of people, but personally I'm glad to see that someone is protesting!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5HSanIylDQ

Video description:
Lunchtime demonstration at Stephen's Green outside the headquarters of Anglo Irish Bank. One of the news stories this morning was that the bank does not expect to be repaid e105m of loans to its former directors, from a total of e155m that it loaned them. More importantly, huge amounts of taxpayer money are being plunged into the bank so that the bondholders (investors in the bank) will not have to lose money.

The bank is now nationalised, but very few people are interested in learning about the boring financial background to this mess. Google is one place to start, others are politics.ie, boards.ie and thestory.ie

jmayo

Some one abandonded a readmix truck outside the Galway office this morning.

http://www.politics.ie/current-affairs/127033-anglo-cement-truck.html

edanto

Quite a stylish protest, the truck. Though I'm sure whoever it is registered to will be in some kind of trouble. It's probably a criminal offence to abandon a truck like that. At least our lawmakers have made sure that reckless abandonment of a bank truck will be properly dealt with.

From a distance the Anglo protest looked like it was organised by someone like the SWP (one person with a megaphone and a red banner or two).

I imagine that association (and the irrational fear of socialists) put people off joining the protest.

I doubt people in the bank or department of finance even noticed the protest.

Was it a waste of time or worthwhile?

Dirk Gently

looks like the socialist party I think. Pretty sure that was Joe higgins when the camera zoomed in and a red socialist banner.

Biggins

clown bag wrote: »

looks like the socialist party I think. Pretty sure that was Joe higgins when the camera zoomed in and a red socialist banner.

Give credit where its due, he's certainly persistent.

BOZG

clown bag wrote: »

looks like the socialist party I think. Pretty sure that was Joe higgins when the camera zoomed in and a red socialist banner.

Yes, it was organised by the Socialist Party and Joe Higgins.

Considering it was organised on the basis of a short press release, it wasn't a bad turnout for a lunchtime protest.

bladespin

About time, the general public should take to the streets to show their dissatisfaction, no point muttering here about how bad the govt are.

dsmythy

bladespin wrote: »

About time, the general public should take to the streets to show their dissatisfaction, no point muttering here about how bad the govt are.

Socialists are not the general public. You'll find them protesting at pretty much everything.

Biggins

dsmythy wrote: »

Socialists are not the general public. You'll find them protesting at pretty much everything.

Their election? :eek:

edanto

So anyway I guess there's not much more to say about the protest, it happened. Not really a huge discussion point!

But who else today was doing something about the mess that is our economy? Seriously.

There were probably a few thousand people working the DofF/Civil Service/NAMA etc A thousand or so journalists. Thousands of legal and financial sector people scrambling to work out the permutations and the best options for their clients.

But where is the discussion in public about what those people are proposing and deciding?

After taping the demo out the office window, we were having a bit of a chat about the incredible lack of interest and detailed discussion about the financial mess we are in.

I'm pretty angry that because of these fuckers my family (future family that I hope to have!) will have to pay an extra E50,000 in tax over the next decade or so because some high and mighty suits played fast and loose with other peoples money.

I bought into and accepted that financial system because I thought they could only loose their own money. It's sickening and unacceptable that they will be taking opportunities from my kids. That E50,000 could go a long way.

Then again, I could be wrong. If this is the best way to solve this problem, I want the government to show me legislation that will make sure that any extra taxes we pay to sort out this mess are recouped properly over the next decade from the people and companies that are to blame..

Does anyone want to join me in a protest outside Anglo NEXT thursday to demand THAT?

Karma

Dont vote for ff & the greens. our goverment has failed us and what are you going to do about it...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBld-lkKu-w

probably nothing... please prove me wrong. I will be there on thursday.

Run_to_da_hills

I noticed a stationary red open top tourist bus in the back ground in the first video.

Is the Anglo Irish Bank headquarters now going to be a future tourist attraction for those that want to see a monument to the economic Stalingrad of Ireland.

fontanalis

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

I noticed a stationary red open top tourist bus in the back ground in the first video.

Is the Anglo Irish Bank headquarters now going to be a future tourist attraction for those that want to see a monument to the economic Stalingrad of Ireland.

It could be an alternative to a planetarium; the only black hole on the planet.

JonathanAnon

Joe Higgens said last nite on the Vincent Browne show that he would be doing this.

ZiX ZiX ZiX

Anglo are only on the bottom and 1st floor of that 6 floor building. I feel sorry for the rest of the staff being disrupted by that sh1te.

jmayo

ZiX ZiX ZiX wrote: »

Anglo are only on the bottom and 1st floor of that 6 floor building. I feel sorry for the rest of the staff being disrupted by that sh1te.

Of course citizens complaining that their taxes, probably their kids taxes, are going to be thrown down a hole with no apparent benefit to them or society is sh*te.
Maybe you will feel differently when you notice how screwed you also are thanks to the decisions being made by our so called government.

AlekSmart

Anglo are only on the bottom and 1st floor of that 6 floor building. I feel sorry for the rest of the staff being disrupted by that sh1te.

A truly christian attitude,however I`m sure many of those inside,even Anglo Staff,would have empathized with the protest itself.

However,once many people see the Socialist Workers Party trappings they turn on their heels and walk in the opposite direction.

Sadly for their (many and varied) causes the SWP`s willingness to embrace any kind of cause which kinda sounds socialistically worthwhile has led to a major dose of Cheesing Off from the general public.

Joe Higgins remains probably the most solidly commited Politician the country has,but he really does need to get his Party apparatus into a more marketable position vis-a-vis the ordinary decent punter !

Run_to_da_hills

ZiX ZiX ZiX wrote: »

Anglo are only on the bottom and 1st floor of that 6 floor building. I feel sorry for the rest of the staff being disrupted by that sh1te.

Such a small space for such a big bank.

When will they be moving into their new bigger building?

It can't be that much longer.

trishasaffron

If I had known in advance I'd have joined them - even if it was Joe Higgins.

I was only thinking this morning as I drove past that I'd love to throw some eggs at the window.

I knew of a few people who worked there - genuinely thought they were better than the rest - that they had found some uniquely clever way to make money. Yeah - soak the rest of the country while you live it up in luxury overprced houses, dining at our expense, golf tours worldwide etc etc etc

edanto

Lets park the discussion about the SWP for now.

Since I've just called for another demo next Thursday, I should probably make it clear that I've nothing to do with the socialist party and I want to demonstrate next Thursday to demand legeslation like I outlined above.

Anyone else with me?

LookingFor

AlekSmart wrote: »

A truly christian attitude,however I`m sure many of those inside,even Anglo Staff

I doubt it.

Well I doubt it, based on knowing one guy who works there. Hardly a statistical sampling, but going by him, Anglo workers blame the government for everything, are completely out of touch with the reality of the labour market and their attractiveness therein, and expect to be 'taken care of' by the government if things go tits up.

Mezcita

BOZG wrote: »

Yes, it was organised by the Socialist Party and Joe Higgins.

(Wanders off to different thread)

Hotblack Desiato

LookingFor wrote: »

and expect to be 'taken care of' by the government if things go tits up.

'if' ?

Hotblack Desiato

AlekSmart wrote: »

However,once many people see the Socialist Workers Party trappings they turn on their heels and walk in the opposite direction.

Excuse me, they're the People's Front of Judea, this was the Judean People's Front

All humour aside, the fact is that Uncle Joe is a communist, there are two reasons he doesn't describe himself as such (a) doesn't play well with electorate (b) describing someone as a communist is against Dail standing orders.

dsmythy

Biggins wrote: »

Their election? :eek:

Ha, It wouldn't shock me Biggins! Nah, that's when they'll hunt down rich people hang them upside down and shake the money out of them. There be no time for protesting during this post-election period.

edanto

See you all there.

Instead of getting confused with colours, parties, words like communist or capitalist, why don't we all just print out damn big banners that say exactly what it is each group of us wants to say to the government this Sunday?

dsmythy

Barname wrote: »

I see there is going to be a dignified protest on Sunday

more info going on here..



http://www.politicalworld.org/showthread.php?t=681&page=8

stay sitting or get moving...

After reading that thread I can't say I've much confidence in pretty much anything written there...

Barname

dsmythy wrote: »

After reading that thread I can't say I've much confidence in pretty much anything written there...

thats fine smythy, you save your confidence for Mr Cowen.

Taxipete29

Joe Higgins is not a member of the Socialist Workers Party. He is a member of The Socialist Party. They are not the same thing.

Amhran Nua

edanto wrote: »

Quite a stylish protest, the truck. Though I'm sure whoever it is registered to will be in some kind of trouble.

He came forward and handed the keys to the guards, no real problem I think.

edanto wrote: »

I imagine that association (and the irrational fear of socialists) put people off joining the protest.

Its not irrational fear of socialists, its not wanting to be seen anywhere near the brainwashed idiots in the SWP, whose entryist power grabs have wrecked more groups intent on genuine social good than anything else in the country. We had to run a few of them out of AN, and not before they caused quite a bit of damage.

Executive Steve

AlekSmart wrote: »

A truly christian attitude,however I`m sure many of those inside,even Anglo Staff,would have empathized with the protest itself.

However,once many people see the Socialist Workers Party trappings they turn on their heels and walk in the opposite direction.

Sadly for their (many and varied) causes the SWP`s willingness to embrace any kind of cause which kinda sounds socialistically worthwhile has led to a major dose of Cheesing Off from the general public.

Joe Higgins remains probably the most solidly commited Politician the country has,but he really does need to get his Party apparatus into a more marketable position vis-a-vis the ordinary decent punter !

Wasn't the SWP though, it was the Socialist Party.

AlekSmart

Wasn't the SWP though, it was the Socialist Party.

Thank`s Exec Steve......I`m always concerned about the inclusion of that "Workers" word in anything remotely connected with modern Irish society :eek: :eek: