Are peaceful protests a waste of time?

Not really - no accountability with the politicans of this country just plenty of lies many people fall for time and time again. Even if Joe Bloggs Lab gets voted out in favour of Joe Bloggs Con the former knows chances are the electorate will turf the latter out at the next election - so no accountability really just musical chairs.

No - because the careers of those indiviidual politicians are likely to be over. They won't care much if some other guy representing the party gets elected next time.

I don't think anyone who pays any attention to politics in this country can have any doubt that politicians are terrified of the electorate - that is, of something penetrating their numbness and stirring them into life.

Is that why Tony Blair is making a comeback?
Despite being discredited with Iraq etc he is gradually worming his way back into British politics after being passed over for the European Commisioner job.
Millibrand can't be that terrified of the electorate if he is considering giving TB rein at the next Labour party conference.
Just a circus for the masses.

Dear gilleoes....you are a hoot!

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It is pure propaganda that this country want to keep these royal benefit scroungers, we like to celebrate our country sometimes, not them! How many turned up to protest against the Iraq War, about the same as turned up for this Royal Pageant. Let us have a vote, then you can talk for the so called massive majority who want these parasites kept on the payroll. There is no clear evidence that they are wanted either.

Dear David....not willing to debate eh?...naughty boy!

David....please answer the question...what experience do you have of peaceful demonstrations?

Molly...well said....the Fount cheers loudly!!!!!!!!!

OH DEAR.

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Dear Groomoes....the thread is about whether peaceful demonstrations are any use...I have been on about fifty.....none made any difference...you?

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David....however I have been on two marches which did make a difference and attended numerous actions that stopped things from going ahead...ie hunting, shooting.....so I do get what I want...

Hi Molly,
As always - well said.
Our Dear Queen; The Richest Woman in the World, largest Land owner, major Share holder in various World Financial Instititions, Petrochemical Industry, and Mineral and Mining industries - Worth at the last conservative estimated 33 trillion plus.., yet we have to pay for the priviledge of having her as our Monarch. The fact is if she cared anything at all for the plebs; as we are brainwashed to believe; then she would admit that she has more than enough and would recommend that the money taken from us fpr her upkeep, be returned to pay for Education, National Health and Care of our Elderly.

And the only reason that people don't vote is because they know for a fact that they are of no interest at all to Career Politicians and people in High Places, who are ALL quite clearly in the same club...... Regardless of what it is called this year.
They are all controlled by the same Monied Elite masters, and have no concern about losing their jobs, because as has been shown by War Criminal Blair and Yates of the Yard, they use their time in 'Power' to lucratively line their nests, just in case....
I posted you the Blair portfolio last week, and here's one about Yates, and how to deal with protesters..

John Yates, the former assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, has moved to the Gulf kingdom of Bahrain to spearhead an overhaul of policing as its ''front line struggles to handle bitter clashes with a youthful protest movement.''
The attempt to clean up the service faces its first test tomorrow 14th February, when the island marks the first anniversary of the 'Arab Spring protests' by largely 'impoverished' Bahrainis.
Thousands of members of the security forces have been deployed on the streets ahead of the expected protests.
The former Yates of the Yard, who resigned from the Met last year (when he got the nod that he was going to be investigated?) was appointed an adviser to King Hamad on police reform in December, and told The Daily Telegraph that techniques had been introduced to ensure peaceful handling of the demonstrations. "The police have a pretty well rehearsed plan to deal with what will happen on Feb 14, which will be a huge date," he said. "The concept of reasonable reaction to provocation has been reinforced.''
"Unless they face extraordinary provocation like last year, it will be about allowing people to gather and containment. It's about learning techniques from other places like kettling - that would work really well around here." (like it did in the London riots then?)

WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED...........
The 2011-2012 Bahraini uprising, sometimes called the 14 February Revolution is a series of demonstrations, amounting to a sustained campaign of civil resistance, in the Persian Gulf country of Bahrain. As part of the revolutionary wave of protests in the Middle East and North Africa following the self-immolation of Mohammed Bouazizi in Tunisia, the Bahraini protests were initially aimed at 'achieving greater political freedom and equality' for the 'majority' Shia population, and expanded to a call to end the monarchy of King Hamad[ following a 'deadly night raid' on 17 February 2011 against protesters at the Pearl Roundabout in Manama, known locally as the Bloody Thursday.
Protesters in Manama camped for days at the Pearl Roundabout, which functioned as the centre point of protests. After a month, the government requested troops and police from the Gulf Cooperation Council, which arrived on 14 March.
A day later, the king of Bahrain declared martial law and a three-month state of emergency. Pearl Roundabout was cleared of protesters and the iconic statue at its center was destroyed. Smaller-scale protests and clashes have continued to occur almost daily, mostly in areas outside Manama's business districts, with some rare marches in the center of the capital city. On 9 March 2012, protesters staged what they called "the biggest march in our history".
A ''Reuters'' photographer estimated the number of protesters as more than 100,000 while opposition activists estimated the number to be between 100,000 and 250,000
The police response has been described as a "brutal" crackdown on ''peaceful and unarmed protestors, including doctors and bloggers'' The police carried out 'midnight house raids' in Shia neighbourhoods, 'beatings at checkpoints', and 'denial of medical care' in a campaign of intimidation. More than 2,929 people have been arrested, and at least 'five people died due to torture' while in police custody.
In June, King Hamad established a commission of inquiry composed of 'international independent figures' to assess the incidents. The report was released on 23 November and confirmed the Bahraini government's use of systematic torture and other forms of physical and psychological abuse on detainees, as well as other human rights violations. It also rejected the government's claims that the protests were instigated by Shi'a Iran. It has been criticised for not disclosing the names of individual perpetrators of abuses and extending accountability only to those who actively carried out HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS.
So Yates is doing a grand job then?

Free Speach? As long as you don't ruffle too many feathers. Peaceful protests? It doesn't matter how peaceful you protest... if you get any where near the truth and begin to gather supporters you will be marked and vilified.
I believe Yates may have given the game away......
Mx

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Deary me....this is baby stuff Davy boy....fifty peaceful marches....two that were not...not sure what the maths problem is.....language not your strong point eh?

Simon TFB,

'Deary me....this is baby stuff Davy boy....fifty peaceful marches....two that were not...not sure what the maths problem is.....language not your strong point eh? '

Oh dear, you've been on 50 marches and none made a difference, but you've been on two that did. You do the maths, but zero does not equal 2! Thinking doesn't seem to be your strong point.

Hello David

I think Simon is saying he has been to 50 peaceful demos and had no success but has been to 2 non peaceful ones which had it's desired effect

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That's fine David, and I'm not taking sides but Simons arguement thread is about whether peaceful ones work

Keyboard Knight,

'That's fine David, and I'm not taking sides but Simons arguement thread is about whether peaceful ones work '

True and its a pity that all he could do is make a silly comment about a serious point made. For that reason I do not believe he has any desire to debate anything and so fell quite free to say whatever amuses me, without bothering to stick too close to the subject. I can't help it if he doesn't 'do' the English language too well.

Then perhaps it would be better to bow out with a moral victory rather then use your energy to argue with someone where no there is no room to be wrong.

I used to be a bit rude to Simon myself because I felt he was being a troll, but he has calmed down about the PFC a lot and makes some interesting points and posts, and when I make a point where he feels I'm wrong he let's me know politely as well.

David...this is what I typed...oooopsss reddy facey time for Groomy!

Dear Groomoes....the thread is about whether peaceful demonstrations are any use...I have been on about fifty.....none made any difference...you?

David....as you will see you did not read what I typed properly. Go back and read more carefully...