Revolution ongoing in Europe?

[BCEmporium]

It has started 15th May, and has already start to spread from Spain to Lisbon, Paris, Athens, London, Dublin, Amsterdam...
Are we about to see a new order to surface?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCoF3j_RcHg

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[Dansker]

There is no revolution, just some protests about austerity measures in SOME european countries.

[caveden]

People asking for more free lunches. I wonder when they will understand that there's no such thing...

[BCEmporium]

I don't think this is the usual "leftist" under their usual flag of "everything should be free because I'm not willing to work to pay"...

After all the so called crisis come from several bank "schemes", such as convert private debt into public debt, high-risk credit, governments over expenses - it's not uncommon to see things like a small cabana, which a private would do for a couple of hundred euros, with a sign that will cost several millions if it's made by the State. Let's see what this turns out to be...

[Vandroiy]

What kind of political opinion do you expect from a mob? I doubt it's even able to form any consensus beyond the slogans they shout.

I've seen this often enough. Government does hated action X. People demonstrate against X. Everyone's on the street, students can skip lessons, leftists can call for communism, and somewhere along a group offers free hugs. Still, the group appears homogeneous and united from the outside -- as long as it fights against X.

When the government gets annoyed by the demonstrators, it removes X. Then, everybody goes home or returns to endless debates, splitting into tiny sub-groups or dancing for some lobby. The outcome is that of democracy. It was before, and it is afterwards. With luck, they manage to get rid of some of the corruption, but mostly the mob hardly even figures out they ever had a corruption problem.

[FreeMoney]

People asking for more free lunches. I wonder when they will understand that there's no such thing...

Maybe after they've killed the people who promised them.

[BCEmporium]

You know Vandroiy, maybe I'm too hopeful, but I start to see some changes.
It's no longer "issue X" to be addressed, people is expanding towards a new shape of Democracy. Maybe this one will fail, but it's a seed.
I don't see any longer people to go like sheep after party X or Y, falling to the old "Split to conquer" political plot. Those old "brainless" folks are now less in numbers - those who wear a political party as a football jersey, not even knowing what it stands for and using political positions as adjectives; like the "commies" calling anyone as "fascists" whereas 99% of them clearly doesn't even know what fascism is all about.

Maybe not yet, but in due time this may lead to shifts in power.

[jcannon98188]

Nope BCE, those people are still in number. Atleast here in the United States, people still follow the same party they always have, because they were told to. I have met countless people who claim to be the staunchest of democrats, only to find out they support nothing in the democrat party. I would assume the same scenario happens in Europe, else America really is doomed -_-

[BCEmporium]

jcannon;

Same thing here. Late developments they got a "name"; Political Hooligans. They wave flags, make noise, but barely or not all know what that "party" really stands for or supports. 

[Findeton]

What kind of political opinion do you expect from a mob? I doubt it's even able to form any consensus beyond the slogans they shout.

I've seen this often enough. Government does hated action X. People demonstrate against X. Everyone's on the street, students can skip lessons, leftists can call for communism, and somewhere along a group offers free hugs. Still, the group appears homogeneous and united from the outside -- as long as it fights against X.

When the government gets annoyed by the demonstrators, it removes X. Then, everybody goes home or returns to endless debates, splitting into tiny sub-groups or dancing for some lobby. The outcome is that of democracy. It was before, and it is afterwards. With luck, they manage to get rid of some of the corruption, but mostly the mob hardly even figures out they ever had a corruption problem.

I'm from Spain. The "mob" demands more direct democracy (political parties A and B don't represent them) and to end corruption. Yes, perhaps it looks like it's too much to ask for. That's i'm taking part in a direct democracy (one system that allows you to delegate your vote too) political party too.

[goatpig]

Idiots demanding for more democracy... oh the irony...

[speeder]

I believe the reason the people want Democracy, is because they think they really  get power.

Like, a sort of red herring.


More honest, are those that claim for a strong authoritarian figure.

[BCEmporium]

Under the theory of the "Aristos", nowadays those claiming for strong authoritarianism (dictatorships) are having a hard time...
The shifts on power depends on how many are entitle and capable to have it; a society of ignorants rather go to authoritarian paternalistic figures, as they will have a hard time either to rule or even to find a ruler, a society where almost anyone is suitable to rule however doesn't need political abuses as they've no real issue on replace abusive rulers.

Just like a "market", the more "merchandise" you've, the cheaper it gets.

@Findeton:

Saludos y fuerza desde Portugal. Ya escribí sobre la Democracia Participativa/Semi-Directa (la directa no es practica, no te puedes seguir votando a todo el momento ya que así ningun@ hacia nada más que votar) en el 12 de Marzo, fue una idea que gaño fuerza en Portugal también. A ver, se Iberia se mueve! 

[Coma]

They will all go back home as winter approaches.

[Bimmerhead]

Let us know when they protest for less government spending and less government intrusion.  That will be news.

[realnowhereman]

Democracy is the tyranny of the majority.  Protestors demanding more of that will get exactly what they deserve.  The only problem is that I'll get exactly what they deserve as well.

What I want is more freedom, not more democracy.

[speeder]

They will all go back home as winter approaches.

On the northern hemisphere I think winter is like 7 months away... So, if they go home only when winter approaches, that is actually good

[BCEmporium]

There will always be "someone's tyranny", everyone wants to be the tyrant himself and call such as "freedom" (to himself that is). Democracy has the advantage that no one in particular is the tyrant, thus also not give that "one-side-only freedom".
As we're a social animal, I'm ok with Democracy...

[speeder]

I am against Democracy when it results in situations like my country.

The best way to describe my country is:

2 wolves and a sheep voting for dinner.

[Findeton]

Let us know when they protest for less government spending and less government intrusion.  That will be news.

We need more government.