What's with the riots?

[Ghost of Electricity]

The last several days have seen riots in London, Rome, Moscow, and Athens. All for different reasons. What the f*ck is up?

[Duck-Billed Catechist]

Well, aren't most of them connected with the bad economy?

[Reni]

"Off with their heads!"

[-seven]

I think we need to riot more here. We just sit and take it.

[lamradio]

I think we need to riot more here. We just sit and take it.

 

[The High Heat]

We could riot in every state capital. Where should we start? Dover?

[Ghost of Electricity]

Well, aren't most of them connected with the bad economy?

No.

 

In Greece they are. In London, it's about the gov't tripling university fees, so I guess you could relate that to the economy.

 

In Moscow it's a mixture of ethnic tension and football hooliganism.

 

In Rome it's because Berlusconi survived his vote of no-confidence.

[PopTodd]

When on my honeymoon, I stayed about a block from the Italian Parliament building. I love that city and I can picture exactly where these riots are taking place. It makes me incredibly sad.

[Sweet Papa Crimbo]

I think we need to riot more here. We just sit and take it.

 

Yeah..there's nothing that works like a little senseless violence and vandalism in changing people's minds.

[froggie]

the simple answer is "people have nothing better to do"

[-seven]

Yeah..there's nothing that works like a little senseless violence and vandalism in changing people's minds.

 

Well I didn't mean actual rioting, but we very rarely protest anything. That was my point.

[Guest Jules]

No.

 

In Greece they are. In London, it's about the gov't tripling university fees, so I guess you could relate that to the economy.

 

In Moscow it's a mixture of ethnic tension and football hooliganism.

 

In Rome it's because Berlusconi survived his vote of no-confidence.

If you knew, then why did you ask?

[Guest Speed Racer]

At the U of MN some snarky SOB just wrote in the paper that they are too busy to riot, because the campus is "strategically engineering" to keep students as far as way from their next class as possible, and that the excess of student groups placates busy students with many intersts, so they can't possible riot about the fees.

 

Also, I was cruising around their law school site the other day and it said the following:

 

Tuition: $28,000

Mandatory student fees: $3,560 (excluding laptop [$1,700] and health insurance [$2,000])

 

So public is about $100 less than the most expensive private school I applied to.

[Sir Stewart]

If you knew, then why did you ask?

 

Ghost wasn't asking for that information.

[bjorn_skurj]

We used to be quite a riotous people, but then we calmed down quite a bit. At this point in history, probably the only thing that would get people onto the streets would be the announcement that Social Security and Medicare will be discontinued and the trust funds turned over to the rich. Or if the draft came back. But maybe not even then.

[Doug C]

If you knew, then why did you ask?

Ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!! Thanks. I honestly laughed out loud. At that moment, you were a quick witted bastard. Kudos and my mind is changing regarding having a drink with you.

 

Though I guess that the royalty guy is correct. I still think it was funny.

[Ghost of Electricity]

I think there's a comfort threshold that needs to be crossed before people are compelled to action. For some reason the threshold has been lowered in the States. The economic crisis came close to it, but not close enough to inspire people to do anything other than vote for Obama.

 

Maybe people in Europe have a better understanding that change has to come from the bottom up, not the top down. That said, I am not a proponent of achieving change through violence.

[Good Old Neon]

Well, we do have the tea party – the difference, unfortunately, is that Europeans take to the streets in response to real problems, while here in the US, people assemble to rally against our black radical, socialist, communist, Marxist, Muslim terrorist of a president, who, among being all those other things, is probably also a closeted gay, atheist pedophile.

[Guest Jules]

Since Obama is basically Bush now, I'm ok with him.

[Good Old Neon]

There's a fair amount of truth to that - which is why we need a viable, reality-based third party...with balls.

[Ghost of Electricity]

There's a fair amount of truth to that - which is why we need a viable, reality-based third party...with balls.

What are the chances of you finding one of those under the tree next week?

[Tweedling]

Wellllll obviously these people want FREE education

 

and these people HATE this building

[The High Heat]

Maybe we should hold a peaceful disturbance and call it Quiet Riot.

[Sweet Papa Crimbo]

Well I didn't mean actual rioting, but we very rarely protest anything. That was my point.

I think we need to riot more here. We just sit and take it.

 

I think you were pretty clear.

[Sweet Papa Crimbo]

Wellllll obviously these people want FREE education

 

and these people HATE this building

 

The Euro leftists have had a long fascination with anarchy. Nothing like a bunch of spoiled, rich kids marching in the street to get my sense of irony and loathing for the spawn of the middle class in full force.