"Let em protest. It's not going to affect us."

[Willinois]

Do protests matter?

I thought this was one of the most revealing lines from Wisconsin Governor Walker's taped phone conversation with the Koch impersonator.

My only fear would be is if there was a ruckus caused, is that that would scare the public into thinking that maybe the governor has got to settle to avoid all these problems. Where as I’ve said, hey, ya know, we can handle this, people can protest, this is Madison, ya know, full of the 60s liberals, let ‘em protest.

It’s not going to affect us and as long as we go back to our homes and the majority of people are telling us we’re doing the right thing. So, that’s my gut reaction, is I think it’s actually good if they’re constant, they’re noisy, but they’re quiet, nothing happens, cause sooner or later the media stops finding them interesting.

Many have asked, "What if Egypt happened here?"

The answer is pretty simple.  The police would keep the protests in a limited area, most people would be nonviolent, and if a few stragglers get out of hand then the police will handle it away from the cameras.  If any police violence is captured on film they know that the press will either ignore it or blame it on the protesters anyway.

After a while everyone will go home and no one in power will care.  There are no more '68 Democratic conventions.  Seattle 2000 was an oddity. Those in power have learned how to handle protests.  They will let everyone have their fun, wait for people to go home, and then not give a shit.

Protest rallies play a roll.  They can bring people together, help build momentum, and sometimes they attract media attention.  In other words, a good protest is something to build on but it's not an end to itself.

I'll give the tea party credit.  After their protests, they sent people home to recruit candidates for office, bug elected officials and organize in their community. The left has a few too many people who think protests alone will magically pressure politicians. Sorry. That doesn't work anymore unless you follow up with something extra.

One of two things will need to happen if the Madison protests are going to affect those in power.

1) The protests need to be less passive and more resistive in a way that forces Walker to respond.

2) When people go home they need to do follow up organizing in their community.

Or both. Otherwise people are just going to Madison for a good time at a protest. I may join them. But I'll also be busy organizing back home.

[Hekate]

Very, very true.

The people have the right to petition their government, but their government (in the form of Gov Walker) has stopped listening. Their government (state and federal) has learned how to herd the masses. I watched this happen with Bush Jr. and it was horrifying. I knew in my gut it was not going to go away just because Jr.'s term finally ended.

Collectively, Americans have not yet reached the breaking point, no matter what wingnuts left and right may say. Individuals yes, the country, no. The herding continues.

I hope the people of Wisconsin persist. As someone else has already pointed out, Wisconsin is only the tip of the iceberg.

[Willinois]

(02-24-2011 01:43 PM)Hekate Wrote:  Their government (state and federal) has learned how to herd the masses. I watched this happen with Bush Jr. and it was horrifying. I knew in my gut it was not going to go away just because Jr.'s term finally ended.

Collectively, Americans have not yet reached the breaking point, no matter what wingnuts left and right may say. Individuals yes, the country, no. The herding continues.

It does continue. But one thing that frustrates me is that Obama never got any kind of credit for changing Bush's policy towards protesters.

When Obama made a visit not far from me the tea partiers made a huge stink about the "threatening" police presence near them as they protested across the street from Obama's event. Basically, the tea party nuts were allowed to protest wherever they wanted and all the police did was stand around in riot gear. Several press outlets picked up their griping.

And I was thinking, "across the street!" I protested Bush and Cheney 8 times and they never let us within 6 blocks of their events. We were penned up in distant "free speech" zones and anyone who went outside that area with a sign was arrested. Not one media outlet acknowledged Obama's restoration of the right to assemble. Just like they ignored Bush trampling those rights in the first place.

The press gets real preachy about 1st amendment rights when it applies to reporters but they don't seem to care much about the average person having those rights taken away.

[buyingfreeze.org]

targeted Boycotts will work.

[There Is No Spoon]

(02-24-2011 10:55 PM)buyingfreeze.org Wrote:  targeted Boycotts will work.

Will you explain this statement and the mission of your website?

[Joan Ruaiz]

(02-24-2011 10:55 PM)buyingfreeze.org Wrote:  targeted Boycotts will work.

I agree that we have to do something. However, I'm starting to believe that we need to refine our aim at who exactly we need to boycott.

[Change Happens]

They don't care about the wroking people, they really don't care.