Cairo and Tunisia : Could the same events repeat themselves in Europe or Ireland?

RepublicanEagle

We have all been following what has been happening in North Africa,people have taken the power onto themselves and have brought about the winds of change.

Could it happen to us and other European countries,goverments brought to their knees by the people, or are people too content?

spider guardian

We will get the opportunity to vote out the government without having to resort to anything remotely like what's going on in some of the Middle Eastern states. Same goes for the rest of Europe as well.

If anything what's going on there now is mirroring what happened in the old Communist bloc of Europe, the time has come for them to rise up.

Middle Eastern dictators are quaking in their boots

Einhard

RepublicanEagle wrote: »

Could it happen to us and other European countries,goverments brought to their knees by the people, or are people too content?

No, people are too aware of the fact that they get to choose, and remove their governments through the ballot box. That's not an option in either of the two countries, and to draw a comparison is facile and, I'd imagine, rather insulting to those who suffer imprisonment, torture, and face death for seeking to exercise rights which we all take for granted.

D1stant

Eh No

Couldnt be arsed. 'sides the missus is doing a nice Spag bol tonight. Might sit in and get bollocked on Vino laughing at VB instead

Sure protesting is for pedestrian pensioners

deise go deo

Why would it? Those country's were/are long term dictatorships, I think we would need another term of FF in power to qualify for that.

LeixlipRed

I hope so.

ArseBurger

Irish people are too stupid to protest. They'll just vote FF as they always do.

RussellTuring

I doubt it. People are happy enough to just vote for another party when they're told to and think it will actually change anything. If the rulers of these autocracies were really smart, they'd take turns in office to make it look like the people had a choice.

Shea O'Meara

Dictatorships are usually bad, but you have someone to point at and say, 'That's him, that's the bad guy!' Also any incidences of wrong doing are generally more immediate and dramatic.....imagine living in a country where the system is the bad guy and the face of the leadership changes at your whim, but ultimately you're left with the same set-up but as you get to choose the different face you are placated and unaware that nothing ever changes and those of you who are aware spout tripe like, 'Ah sure they're all the same', 'The other crowd are no better!', 'Sure I'm not going to bother voting.' so the cycle continues...is that not a long generational drawn out hell?

raymon

We can vote our kleptocrats out, no need for a riot

whoopdedoo

if we don't get change after the elections then yes there could be riots here imo

RussellTuring

Shea O'Meara wrote: »

Dictatorships are usually bad, but you have someone to point at and say, 'That's him, that's the bad guy!' Also any incidences of wrong doing are generally more immediate and dramatic.....imagine living in a country where the system is the bad guy and the face of the leadership changes at your whim, but ultimately you're left with the same set-up but as you get to choose the different face you are placated and unaware that nothing ever changes and those of you who are aware spout tripe like, 'Ah sure they're all the same', 'The other crowd are no better!', 'Sure I'm not going to bother voting.' so the cycle continues...is that not a long generational drawn out hell?

Yeah. I'd hate to live somewhere like that.

raymon wrote: »

We can vote our kleptocrats out, no need for a riot

Of course. And then vote in whom?

ei.sdraob

LeixlipRed wrote: »

I hope so.

Of course you do, all previous socialist/communist revolutions which you keep calling for ended up in oppression of the people and a on party dictatorship :rolleyes:

RussellTuring

whoopdedoo wrote: »

if we don't get change after the elections then yes there could be riots here imo

What would you consider "change"?

Tea drinker

Too many people are doing well out of the current system to consider this. Many Irish people simply LOVE parish politics and political dynasties.
Also we are a very beat down people, in general. More specifically I reckon the Gardai would kill a lot of people going by their heavy handed responses so far. So then you are left with the situation where protestors and activists will react. Next step is anyone's guess. But the number of people who want real change is low. Most will be happy with the same carry on under another sticker. Don't be deceived by people posting here, it's not representative of the local tools.
But the only way to fix the system is total change, it's so incestous. And no one wants that.

I hope to be proven badly wrong.

whoopdedoo

RussellTuring wrote: »

What would you consider "change"?

reduction in tds, abolish all waste in the public service etc etc!

if the newly elected think they can swan in and keep the same auld sh1te going on I hope they've got another coming

whoopdedoo

Tea drinker wrote: »

Too many people are doing well out of the current system to consider this. Many Irish people simply LOVE parish politics and political dynasties.
Also we are a very beat down people, in general. More specifically I reckon the Gardai would kill a lot of people going by their heavy handed responses so far. So then you are left with the situation where protestors and activists will react. Next step is anyone's guess. But the number of people who want real change is low. Most will be happy with the same carry on under another sticker. Don't be deceived by people posting here, it's not representative of the local tools.
But the only way to fix the system is total change, it's so incestous. And no one wants that.

I hope to be proven badly wrong.

you're underestimating the amount of illegal arms knocking around the country,

I reckon if the crims took to the streets against the state they'd be in for a fair fight

Tea drinker

whoopdedoo wrote: »

you're underestimating the amount of illegal arms knocking around the country,

I reckon if the crims took to the streets against the state they'd be in for a fair fight

The crims aren't interested in building a republic to be proud of.
Even some of the republicans are eyeing across the border and seem to believe some sort of Utopia will exist in a united Ireland, totally ignoring we can't run the 26 counties we have, nor haven't successfully since the foundation of the state.
The grassroots reform people in Ireland are typically from the most vulnerable in society, the middle class, and only a fraction of this class are interested in buidling a new Republic.
Besides, I'm touching on the class divide in Ireland which needs erosion for us to be a successful society. Again, most not interested.

LeixlipRed

ei.sdraob wrote: »

Of course you do, all previous socialist/communist revolutions which you keep calling for ended up in oppression of the people and a on party dictatorship :rolleyes:

Yawn. What are you on about? I'm only calling for one revolution And I argue that we do have oppression of the people and a one party dictatorship, or as close as one can get to it, here.

marienbad

LeixlipRed wrote: »

Yawn. What are you on about? I'm only calling for one revolution And I argue that we do have oppression of the people and a one party dictatorship, or as close as one can get to it, here.

''as close as one can get to it here'' is'nt nearly close enough. This sort of hyperbole makes a mockery of the risks those people in Egypt and Tunisia are taking.

We will have a new government next month and the only marching required is the march to the polling station.

And before anymore weekend warriors say its more of the same, then do something , get out there, campaign, join a party.

The people of the middle -east can only look on in envy.