Not much anarchy in the UK
Zoe Slater 5:49pm
Given the newspaper headlines over the last few days, one could have been forgiven for thinking the UK, or at least the City of London, had been taken over by anarchists. Wherever you looked there were dramatic images of broken windows and bloodied and angry protesters. But the give-away is that in every snap there are about 8 photographers. It can’t be much of a riot, if there are that many cameras recording every act of violence.
The anti-capitalists couldn’t have had better circumstances. The whole country is annoyed with the bankers, with even the most mild-mannered individuals calling for their blood. The entire capitalist system has taken a beating. But the anti-capitalists couldn’t get even one eighth as many people on the streets as the Seattle riots did in 1999.
In Seattle, the police had to impose curfews and a state of emergency was declared. In London the number of police roughly matched the number of protesters, which just goes to show how much bigger they were expecting the whole thing. One can only assume that the protesters themselves had planned to bring more people out onto the streets too. If this is the high water mark of anti-capitalist protest in this country then there really isn’t much to worry about.
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William Blake's Ghost
April 3rd, 2009 6:53pm Report this commentWell that's alright then.
So logically we should ignore the outrageous kettling policy, the random nature that the police dished out their own brand of violence and used riot police in what were inappropriate ways with no regard for peaceful protesters and innocent bystanders.
We should forget that people were held against their will in conditions (denial of water or toilet facilities) that would not be countenanced in police stations or HM Prisons?
We should forget that someone died in questionable circumstances?
The problem is that people in this country still have too much respect for this failing Government and its agencies, comparing them to what preceeded them and probably too much faith in the democracy that envisage will rid us of this foul Government. Hopefully they are right.
Otherwise we might find that when the masses do turn to demonstration then they will have to face worse than the current tactics from Jacqui Smith's stormtroopers.
Grunston
April 3rd, 2009 7:17pm Report this commentThe irony is that while the Home Secretary is doing a hard job reasonably well, expenses scandals are threatening to derail her career.
John Jones
April 3rd, 2009 8:05pm Report this commentre Grunston 7.17. Is that you again Mr Timney. Shouldnt you declare yourself?. You don't want to get caught out again like that unfortunate business with the local paper.
Hysteria
April 3rd, 2009 9:28pm Report this commentAnarchy ? like - whatever....
David Ossitt
April 4th, 2009 4:50pm Report this commentGrunston.
"The irony is that while the Home Secretary is doing a hard job reasonably well, expenses scandals are threatening to derail her career".
John Jones; your in the right area, indeed a very near miss but it is obvious it is Jacqui Smith herself.
The clue is right there in the statement, "doing a hard job reasonably well" neither friend nor foe think that of her.
Everone including the onanist are acutely aware that she never was; is now or ever could be a fit and proper person to hold high office.
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