A protest that allows for no excuses?

Dannyboy83

al28283 wrote: »

OK. The OP is looking for a way to organise a neutral protest, not associated with any particular interest group in the hope that it will encourage more people to protest.
This is not possible. You can't just motivate people to get out on the streets demanding some non-specific changes be made.
To get people out on to the streets in force you need an issue to protest.
It can be schools, hospitals, spending cuts, tax increases, Croke park even off licence opening hours and wheelie bins or any and all of the above. As soon as you attach an issue to this protest it is no longer neutral, it's either for or against and the parties and interest groups et al will not stay away and keep quiet about it.

I agree with you to an extent.
Only hardliners will protest over abstract issues. JoeSoap won't avert his gaze from the Rugby.

The reason I think our stupid economic strategy would cross the divide tho, is because
A) It affects all taxpayers (It crosses the Public/Private divide)
There is a clear alternative
C) The party came to power claiming they would pursue a different strategy.
D) The current strategy is immoral/unethical (that is, take even more money off those who work, both public and private, instead of eliminating wasteful government spending e.g. Social Welfare Fraud, Public Sector mismanagement, Colm McCarthy Report and so on)

For most issues tho, I think your point is accurate; People protest about specific issues. e.g Yes/No to Divorce/Abortion etc.

Inverse to the power of one!

al28283 wrote: »

OK. The OP is looking for a way to organise a neutral protest, not associated with any particular interest group in the hope that it will encourage more people to protest.
This is not possible. You can't just motivate people to get out on the streets demanding some non-specific changes be made.
To get people out on to the streets in force you need an issue to protest.
It can be schools, hospitals, spending cuts, tax increases, Croke park even off licence opening hours and wheelie bins or any and all of the above. As soon as you attach an issue to this protest it is no longer neutral, it's either for or against and the parties and interest groups et al will not stay away and keep quiet about it.

I sure did F'up that OP

I was more in mind of a neutral(not the best description) organiser as opposed to a neutral protest. Basically finding the magic umbrella people can feel comfortable to join close to what DannyBoy is suggesting.

I finally took a read of the article posted by Nesf from the Economist, it kinda does highlight what we are missing which is for the public simply to show some indignity towards the actions of a government who promised far different then what they are supplying.

Son Of A Vidic

The Waltzing Consumer wrote: »

You do know we had an election this year, in February. No offense but I really hate this " I'm just looking for a way for people to get over the usual excuses and just do something for a change" sort of stuff. People had their democratic right to change things, they did that, only six months ago. They did something for a change, they voted!!! That's the change, just cause you may not like it, does not mean it is illegitimate or undemocratic.

Apathy should not be acceptable, but what is worse is people thinking they are superior and ignoring the actual democratic process that occurred, six months ago!!!

Protest is our democratic right and just because we had a recent election does not mean we should be rendered silent. A lot of people in Roscommon would not have voted for Finn Gael, if they knew about the dramatic U-turn that was coming on RCH. Sadly, Irish politicians have an amazing track record for such duplicity. But apparently the people just never learn.

Dannyboy83

Inverse to the power of one! wrote: »

I was more in mind of a neutral(not the best description) organiser as opposed to a neutral protest. Basically finding the magic umbrella people can feel comfortable to join close to what DannyBoy is suggesting.

I agree with this.
There has been a distinct lack of a neutral (in that context) organisation behind any protest.
In fact, I can't remember any protest which has even represented my views - not to mind an inclusive protest - all of the protests so far have come from the left.

Dannyboy83

Corvus Maximus wrote: »

Protest is our democratic right and just because we had a recent election does not mean we should be rendered silent. A lot of people in Roscommon would not have voted for Finn Gael, if they knew about the dramatic U-turn that was coming on RCH.

Agree.

Sadly, Irish politicians have an amazing track record for such duplicity. But apparently the people just never learn.

It's not the electorate who have to learn.
They can only vote for what is offered.

The problem is our broken political system, which, where it should hold our politicians accountable, instead rewards them for dishonest tactics.

The people of Roscommon have to hope that the politicians in their constituency who lied, will do the decent thing and resign.
This is wrong.

The people of Roscommon should be able to vote on a recall of that politician and if successful, have a by-election.

It is our political system which is malfunctioning, not the electorate.

Son Of A Vidic

Corvus Maximus wrote: »

Sadly, Irish politicians have an amazing track record for such duplicity. But apparently the people just never learn.

Dannyboy83 wrote: »

It's not the electorate who have to learn.
They can only vote for what is offered.

The problem is our broken political system, which, where it should hold our politicians accountable, instead rewards them for dishonest tactics.

The people of Roscommon have to hope that the politicians in their constituency who lied, will do the decent thing and resign.
This is wrong.

The people of Roscommon should be able to vote on a recall of that politician and if successful, have a by-election.

It is our political system which is malfunctioning, not the electorate.

I absolutely agree with you on our broken political system and it's lack of accountability. But I fear that this change will never come from the inside. Only public pressure will instigate it, that was my point really. People have to realise that it has to come from them, because we can't really trust the 'shower' in the Dáil.

But I totally see the OP's point, I know a lot of people who are put off by protests affiliated with one party ect. We don't need control from a political party to direct or guide protest. But unfortunately it's next to impossible extracting them from popular protest platforms.

nesf

Cavehill Red wrote: »

Er, default on the bank guarantee and renege on repaying debt that this state did not accrue.

Would most of us agree to this though? I know I wouldn't and many/most of the people I know wouldn't.

hatrickpatrick

al28283 wrote: »

WHAT needs to happen? Oppose or Correct what? What exactly is it you have a problem with? The state of the country? You cannot rally a large amount of people to protest on the streets about something you can't even verbalise.

The fact that gamblers are being repaid after losing bets, with taxpayers money.

Fergus_Nash

Hey guys I just joined today:Dso I'm new, etc. and I was wondering if there was anyway that a group could be set up for those who support protest, irrespective of political ideology.

For example, I have right-wing views (cut Social Welfare, cut the minimum wage, don't tax the bejasus out of the wealthy and things like that) but I agree with

Cavehill Red wrote: »

Er, default on the bank guarantee and renege on repaying debt that this state did not accrue.

This is obviously an odd situation because such a viewpoint is linked with The Left but it is the case and if you were to take the examples of Shane Ross and David McWilliams actively promote default. This is just one instance where those nasty lefties:pand us normal capitalists can find common ground.

Or how about the fact that our wonderful and hard-working elected representatives are about to get a nice break during the "Summer Recess".

Or how about we get all the various protest groups (Roscommon A&E, stop the cutbacks of the SNA's, the Enough! campaign, etc.) to join in one huge day out in Dublin during the next few weeks. That may not be the easiest to do but it is just a suggestion!

However I do go back to my original point that we should try to set up a group - if possible - to organise these protests and then use the various forums to debate.

If a group like the one that I have just described has been set up then do please link it to me.

Anyway that's my two cents:)