The fury level certainly was ratcheted up in me whilst listening to this.

These unspeakable yahs are frothingly, barkingly, quite quite mad.

Still... plenty of fun to be had at seeing the Establishment getting it right where it hurts, at long last - and there's not a damn thing they can do about it, despite (what they thought were) their own sorts having wrested back the reins of power.

Despicable, mendacious, delusional liars.

I was on the tube during one of the countryside alliance type marches in the late 90's, didn't know it was on and was a bit surprised to find the train crammed with people holding banners and posters on sticks claiming that because they didn't live in a city they deserved special treatment.

Was very please when the train pulled into the Westminster station and they couldn't figure out that they needed to press a button to get the doors open.

Weren't very observant were they? If you ride in any form of transport take time to look at how people disembark.

I don't get the "punishment" mentality of protests like this. It's like being on the playground again, isn't it? I can't really comment too deeply about the situation in the UK, but it seems similar to the class warfare being fanned here. Someone has to make money in order to be able to hire us to work for them. I certainly don't want to work for the government. I'd rather work for a company out to make money. If I need more money, I find another job or do a sideline job or cut unneeded expenses. My problem is my problem, it doesn't solve anything to blame my problem on someone else.

For a high unemployment state (we're at 12% now) I see an awful lot of Help Wanted signs. So who's choosy? The prospective employer or the prospective employee? I've been there myself working at a low paying job and being unable to look for another job properly. But with the internet, that shouldn't be the case anymore. You can file for unemployment via the web, why can't you look for a job via the web? If you explain to the people you apply to it will be difficult to show up for an interview because of work, they wouldn't hold that against you.

I understand some people cannot work so they need help from welfare, but when I see healthy, robust people complaining that the rich have sucked all their opportunities credibility just flies out the window

I didn't listen to the programme that heads up this thread.....I was afraid that if I did my radio would eventually go flying through the nearest window.

The pro-hunting crowd put it about that they had the support of the majority of rural dwellers. This was simply untrue. The poll in our local community centre (ie, the pub in a neighbouring village) resulted in a figure of 59% against hunting. It was also said that a ban would result in a loss of jobs - rubbish; the three farriers who live and work locally are as busy as they ever were, and the two tack supply and repair shops are still in business.

What really bugs me is the way that the "Countryside Alliance" allowed themselves to be hijacked by the voiciferous few who (with the aid of an ignorant press - BBC included) managed to swamp the voices of the majority who - like me - were far more interested in preserving rural post offices and bus routes.


Sorry about the rant.......can't say its made me feel any better though.

I'm NOT paranoid......thats just what THEY want you to think!!!

While not wishing to denigrate this topic, may I introduce a little lightness with my favourite YouTube clip by Denny Willis.




From that site, you can also go Star Trekkin', but that is definitely OT.

. Ivor



The original and real cat with the swishy tail.
Accept no imitations.

The trouble is honest rants get hijacked by people with different agendas. Around here we have a tradition of protests, especially in Berkeley and San Francisco. At one time they were even sweet and naive protests. But when the protesters started getting paid for what they do (the want ads still have openings for Activists) you wonder how honest the protests really are?

Yeah, I think that's a local pastime for y'all, Mars.

Yeah, that's a Sunday outing sorted....

Actually the last protest I agreed with were the tree sitters in Berkeley a couple of years back. They were protecting a grove of California oak which stood in the way of the construction of a new athletic center. Unfortunately the protesters lost that one. That grove was one of my favorite places to study when I was a callow youth attending UC.

We have them here too, but not to the degree of The Bay Area. Ours are usually for/against gay rights (we have a pretty well organized gay, as well as some bible thump-ish religious communities here, so they usually go at it at least once or twice a year), the for/against the war, for/against marijuana legalization, the weird Tea Party people and hikes in school fees (I think this was the most recent) or the cause de jour when the elections roll around.

I think my last one was to stop them damming-up the Rogers Crossing area when my (now) husband I were in the Sierra Club, waaaay back in the day (which we won). But that was really more of a fund raiser.

"The fury level certainly was ratcheted up in me whilst listening to this. "

Don't you mean 'furry level' ?

Forgot to thank Jan for singling out the weird Tea Party People, because some are far out there. There are extremists and purists in all groups, even the ones you agree with.

I think most of them are probably just fed-up conservatives but some of those Tea Party folks are one step away from being downright fascists. They scare the h*ll outta me.

The ones you describe don't sound like true conservatives to me, Jan, maybe they're just using a conservative group or mantle to give themselves legitimacy. That's the danger of the TEA Party movement. They have a stated platform, but they aren't a nationally organized group. Each area in states have a number of groups. This is truly a grass roots movement, there is no one spokesperson. I don't think the TEA Party can be called a political party, it's a very disorganized group at this point. The degree of conservatism varies from the coasts to fly over country.

I don't know when it became the vogue to call conservatives facists or nazis, but it certainly has stuck. The original Facists and Nazis were far left fringe groups. For my part, I've never met a godless conservative. Maybe that's the problem some people have with conservatives, that they carry God on their sleeves, but it's not as if they are going to knock you over the head and evangelize you forceably in the deep woods or something. They know when to back off with the preaching and evangelization. Conservatives just want the government out of their lives, not telling them what they can eat, drive or what ligth bulb they can use in the privacy of their own homes, etc. What government should provide is law and order as well as security through police and military plus firefighting services and maintaining infrastructure. Any more government involvement than that is a dangerously over reaching government.

I think you've misunderstood me, Mars. I wasn't trying to say that conservatives are fascists. I wasn't even trying to imply that all the Tea Party people are that extreme. I do actually know some of them, and I believe that most of the Tea Party folks are just frustrated conservatives. What I was trying to say is that there is an element in the Tea Party movement who, imo, are dangerously close to being fascists.

By no means to I believe that Republicans are "Nazis" any more than I believe that Democrats are "Commies". That's just ridiculous. I apologize if I wasn't clear and gave you that impression, and I hope you give me a little more credit than that.

Frankly, ideologically speaking, I think both parties want basically the same things they just disagree on how to get there. I mean, really, who doesn't want good schools, good jobs, healthcare, safety, etc.... I think people all over the world basically want the same thing.

I think the biggest problem we have is division. It's been building for the last twenty-years and it seems to be finally coming to a head.

There is no compromise. It's almost like it's a dirty word. For the life of me cannot understand that mindset. Not only can they not work together but there seems to be true hatred of the other side in many cases and it seems to be bleeding over into the country as a whole.

I have heard people that I know, Republicans and Democrats alike, saying some pretty horrible things about one another and reaching a personal level that I've never experienced before, simply because of their politics. I'm completely flummoxed.

To me, the one time it's absolutely critical to pull together, is when times are bad. That's the only way you can survive it.

But.....what do I know.

Exactly. I know there are flaws in both sides and no one is perfect.

Sorry to misunderstand your meaning, but that is something that's been in my craw for most of my adult life. I understand the need to rebel against our elders, but to carry it to an extreme level can get dangerous. It's graduated past name calling at this point.

There is supposed to be a "Day of Rage" tomorrow in the US. Not sure what will happen or if people even turn out, In some cities it doesn't matter if the local team wins or loses, everyone goes out to riot, well loot mostly. Sort of takes the air out of the protest when you see people breaking into stores walking out with swag.

There is supposed to be a "Day of Rage" tomorrow in the US

Really? Jiminey Christmas!


I think we'd be better off if we made our "Day of Rage" election day and vote 'em all out and start all over again.



By the by, have you heard about American's Elect yet? It's a grassroots effort to get a direct presidential nominee. Seemed like an interesting idea from the little I heard. I haven't had a chance to check it out yet, but at this point, I'm willing to take a look at anything as none of the current bunch is floatin' my boat.

If you get a chance to check it out let me know what you think. I'll post back when I've checked it out, too.

Provided we don't get Ron Paul, at least we won't have Yosemite Sam (sans the mustache) as the Republican candidate this time around. Will look into that site to see what it's all about.

Funny how the pundits are now telling people it's hopeless to vote Republican in CA since most people are registered Democrats. They don't want even a hint of a rebellion.here seeing we have a 12% unemployment rate and the unemployment rate among young black men is 50% or there abouts...I can't wait to hear how the the Republicans are obstructionists here in a Democrat run state.