'Day of Action and Solidarity' across EU against austerity (except Ireland)

mike65 wrote: »

In what way will a march expedite a solution to the current fiscal hole Ireland sits in?

It'd probably do nothing at all just as the protests here have been largely ineffective but something happened here during the week - large amounts of people have been protesting outside the properties of people who've been evicted from their home by banks. Last week the banks announced that they would delay evictions in extreme cases. This is a HUGE victory for the protestors.

Sometimes civil marches can bring about change and it has done in the past. It's worth a shot anyway.


And I suppose demonstrations like this raise awareness among the general population that all is not well. It was the catalyst for my interest in Spanish politics and encouraged me to question those who are leading us here. I've become more politically aware as a result. People want to vent their anger (circumstances are very bad here) and feel less impotent hence why they march here. I understand that feeling.

Just to say, I only protest because I live here and it's happening. I'd probably do nothing in Ireland, unfortunately.

I stopped reading after "Trade union members"

Hippies! wrote: »

Sounds good to me :pac:

Damn crusties...

Madam_X wrote: »

Damn those trade unions protecting workers! Seriously, that's what they are, whether there are corrupt members or not. The anti trade union bandwagon is seriously knee-jerk.

Trade unions are outdated and no longer required in this day and age. They are corrupt to the core and need to be taken out.

AEDIC wrote: »

Another uprising? About what?

And who will start it?

The trade unions eg Jack O Connor are still receiving nice, healthy pay packs. Why in the holy name of god is he going to organise protests like that with work stoppages, and disruption and marches? If the government listens his pay is going to be hit.

ejmaztec wrote: »

I'm revolting, who's with me?

Do you really want an answer to that?:D:D

As more and more people start getting evicted from homes due to foreclosure (so far there have been lots of foreclosures, but evictions have been held back), and the effects of unemployment (and in some cases homelessness as a result) on people come to public attention more, there is going to (finally) be more action against austerity; it's only going to get worse (and far worse) at this rate, as we're still only at the first half of the crisis really, so it's a matter of time primarily.

As said in another thread, so far the entire narrative has been captured by the There Is No Alternative argument, that austerity is the only option, when it really is not; we gave up sovereign control over our currency to the EU, and the policymakers in the EU are now using that to indirectly control our national policies (through enforced budget limitations), forcing us into austerity, mass unemployment and decimation of our public services.
This is a problem at the EU level, and there is no need at all for us to be undergoing austerity, or to have such wide-scale unemployment; there needs to be new stimulus, but this time not going into the banks, but to people and business, to spur demand and reinflate the economy.

There's no principal reason why a job guarantee program, funded by money creation, can not be done, while also carefully managing its potential effects on inflation; this can get us out of the current recession, whereas austerity is going to keep ploughing our economy into the ground, forcing critical services to be sold off to private interests, for their benefit/profit by charging rent on services, above and beyond with they would cost publicly.

That alternative/solution is there, loads of prominent and well-respected economists are screaming for an end to austerity, but it is being forced on us by those in control in the EU (who we have no real democratic control over).