Occupy Galway Group (mod note added)

Ah sure lookit!

Let them off, who are they hurting? They want a voice, and they want to stand up for what they think is right without violence, and in this day and age it's very tough to get people to listen unless you do something drastic.

Now if a couple of people mount a peaceful protest in Eyre Square for a few days or even a few weeks, who are we to hold it against them?

It shouldn't bother us if they aren't at work when they are supposed to, or maintaining a tidy/clean home while they camp out.

They have taken over, what is it ? Like 15feet x 15feet of concrete that isn't actually in anyones way, and being so peaceful that bar a few signs, you wouldnt even know they were there.

Let them off, if we care that much, sure we can pitch a tent beside them and counter protest, rather than bashing them on a forum just for the sake of it.

Skopzz wrote: »

-Vega- wrote: »

Like 15feet x 15feet

We normally use Metres here.

In common conversation, not always. Depends on your age.

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

Yeah im from Galway. Im not having a go at them but TBH i think most of these people are way too idealistic for the real world. We are lumped with a massive debt, you me and every other working person has to pay it off whether we like it or not. And while we are doing it these people sitting on the square wont change that one iota.

Too idealistic? I can't really argue with you there but remember, if you're trying to negotiate it's always better to start high and come down.

It's not just the working people who are paying off the debt, a lot of people are out of work because of the debt crisis and many people who were already on the bread line are now below it.

Irishgoatman wrote: »

Too idealistic? I can't really argue with you there but remember, if you're trying to negotiate it's always better to start high and come down.

It's not just the working people who are paying off the debt, a lot of people are out of work because of the debt crisis and many people who were already on the bread line are now below it.

I agree with you 100%, the ordinary people have to carry the can for mistakes the last Government made. I dont remember the last recession in the 80s as i was just a kid but this one must be worse.

Irishgoatman wrote: »

Too idealistic? I can't really argue with you there but remember, if you're trying to negotiate it's always better to start high and come down.

Negotiate, are you seriously suggesting that these people are in a position to negotiate! The only thing this is doing is bringing some extra media awareness (as if that's needed anyway, it's not like the media don't talk about the economic problems). They are not negotiating with anyone, their demands are unattainable, much like a 5 year old child asking for a ferrari from Santa. Idealistically it would be wonderful, but no chance in a realistic world. They can keep demanding, but it will not change anything.

First one:
They want the IMF out
- Ok, if they leave do they take their money with them?
Yes
- Who pays for the running of the country then?
Take the money back out of the banks
- Firstly that is no longer possible, its not "in" the banks, secondly if you could do that all banks in the country would go to the wall. Where would we get our money from then?
errr, ummm, ahhh, err
- exactly!

Next one:
Government does not represent the people
- but they were elected by democratic elections a year ago
But they dont represent everyone, if they did they would be doing more to help
- like what
debt forgivness for people in arrears
- so if there is debt forgiveness, what happens to that debt
its written off
- but who takes the loss?
the banks
- so you're saying that the loss-making banks which require billions of aid to stay afloat should take more losses
yes, screw 'em
- you do realise that if that is done it will result in the banks requiring billions more in aid
errr, ummm, err
- exactly!

Exactly the problem. We are dealing with a bunch of activists with no real understanding of how the economy actually operates. Their so called demands would actually destroy the country, cause even more severe joblessness and have a lot more people on the breadline. I'll lend my ear to educated economists rather than the ramblings of unknowledgable tent dwellers who insanely think they're in a position to actually change policy with their crazy suggestions.

Completely agree.While we all empathise with their cause in some way or another, and can see to a certain extent what they are trying to achieve, I can't see how occupying Eyre Square is going to help anyone. What's the point? Eyre Square has got nothing to do with anything. Most of the banks in Galway are small branches(in regional terms) so I fail to see what this localised campaign is going to gain. It seems to me to be just an idealistic copy of the arab spring movement. We all know neither situation is comparable. It's slowly going to become an eyesore on our beloved Square. Imagine if members of the travelling community decided to set up camp there demanding recognition for their way of life? There would be rí-rá and ruaille buaille from the whole town I'm sure. I also fail to see the whole 99% argument. How can you purport to represent the 99% when you can’t even get a 1,000 likes on Facebook? (Galway has about 71,240 registered Facebook users.) You’re going to need a massive sign-up to come anywhere near the 99% argument. It’s just a clever little PR ploy that may be applicable in capitalist, tax-breaks-for-the-rich US or somewhere, but really has nothing to do with Galway. There is no question that the government has the majority of the blame to shoulder for our situation, the Irish economy owes it's downfall primarily to it's over reliance on the property market. When you look at our history, land, and it's ownership, is at the centre of society. Think of the Bull mcCabe in the field, or all the famine years where the threat of eviction or emigration was always hanging over us. A man wasn't a man until he owned his own plot/house. This unfortunately got ingrained in our DNA and left us pre-disposed to getting caught up in a property bubble when cheap credit became available. This is what makes us slightly different from everywhere else.

this thread is just becoming boring, nothing will be gained by this group in Eyre Square no matter how long they stay there, its a complete waste of time , just look at the war in Iraq what was gained by all the World wide protests it still went ahead. I think the Square is like a small hardstand its not the place to have this protest.

Irishgoatman wrote: »

I'm sure that most people realised that when I used the term "negotiate" it was meant to mean being flexible and open minded.

My point was not about the negotiating either, the focus was on the ever changing demands. Regardless of what they are, the demands are complete nonsense, we cannot kick the IMF out nor can we pull the liquidity from the banks. I'd be very supportive of this protest/movement if they actually protested for viable changes but right now it's little more than a circus act. When they pack up and go home, there will still be no change and the protests will be quickly forgotten for the side show that they were and some of this group will go back to their regular spots of protesting shell at rossport and protesting israel on shop street etc. Before you argue the toss with me i know a few of these protesters and YES, they are serial protestors, jumping on all the populous bandwagons. For them anti-goverenment anti-corporate, anti-capalist, anti-zion protests are a hobby and way of life. If the protestors put this much time and effort into job hunting they wouldn't have the free time to go around doing things like this. I don't have time to camp out and have craic for a few weeks on Eyre Square as i'm busy earning a wage that pays taxes that goes towards the social welfare payments most of these protestors pick up!!! I'll go down there and pick up a placard and join in if they add and prioritise heavy welfare spending cuts to the list of demands......but we all know they would never ask for that becuase that would be counter productive to their needs even though it's completely viable and would help the country greatly out of the mess we are in by reducing taxation needs on middle and lower income workers

Storm 10 wrote: »

this thread is just becoming boring, nothing will be gained by this group in Eyre Square no matter how long they stay there, its a complete waste of time , just look at the war in Iraq what was gained by all the World wide protests it still went ahead. I think the Square is like a small hardstand its not the place to have this protest.

In fairness, I think while we can cite examples of protests that didn't work, we can also think of as many tiny ones that ended up having a significant impact. there's no way of knowing.

inisboffin wrote: »

In fairness, I think while we can cite examples of protests that didn't work, we can also think of as many tiny ones that ended up having a significant impact. there's no way of knowing.

So you think there's a chance that a dozen or so tent dwellers on Eyre square might cause the government to replan their current fiscal policies? :rolleyes:

inisboffin wrote: »

Yes.

Roll eyes all you want, but world politics are way more interconnected that many people seem to think, so it's actually quite a few more than a dozen tents.

Okay, place cite actual relevant examples of tiny minority group protests that have affected national and global fiscal policy in a major way during this current economic crash. (P.S. Remember i said RELEVANT ECONOMIC examples!) I roll my eyes because the group is too small to have an affect and most people i talk to commended the protesters for their stance initially but now to most that i know it's turned into a bit of a joke after a week of having craic on Eyre Square with ZERO effect!

biko wrote: »

Not to forget that this is an offshoot from a larger group in Dublin which in turn is an offshoot from an even larger group in NYC.
This group can pressurise, not world govs, but local politicians to make better local decisions.

Tbh, when I read some of the "ah sure, what can you do" posts around boards I can see how people were led into this mess in the first place.
You don't have to camp out in the square to make a difference. Just supporting them in text or speech is better than nothing.

I'd admire a man more for saying that they're wrong rather than the lax "it won't work" attitude. Have some conviction folks

+1

Travellers in tents, that'll never happen.