Internet Protest?

I was walking around the other day by my local "Federal Building" and there were about 15 people gathered with signs that said "Impeach Bush" ect. They asked me if I had time to stop and hold a sign. I said I didn't but I supported the cause. So she handed me a flyer and I promised to read it. They were all supporting a grassroots effort called 1000 people a day. It was an article that raised an interesting point.

It basically said how our protest are all on the internet. Moveon and Impeachbush.com have thousands of supporters who sign petitions and donate money. However all these people do not get together and protest for days on end. Do you think that the British would still rule India if Gandhi had peacefully organized 300,000 people on the internet? There are very many more examples of radical things being acheived by peaceful (and violent) protests through out history. It just seems that the chance of anything being changed won't come about no matter how many people are organized online.

Don't get me wrong, the internet is a great tool for organizing. It's great to find out there are so many like minded people. It's just we need to actually go outside and hold a sign or do what ever to speak up.

Anyways I was wondering what you guys have to say about this...

 

You are absolutely correct. In order to foster change, we have to leave our homes and offices, get out on the street and demand change. Unfortunately, our lives are so overburdened by day to day pressures that it is difficult or impossible for most people to react effectively. (Keep raising prices and taxes and people have to struggle to get by - no time to do anything but survive.)

Good plan on the part of the Neocons...

 

I think that means we jst have to work harder to get out there and pound the pavement to make up for those of us not on the street.

 

It's just so easy to sign a petition (in person or on the internet) and forget about it. "Yes, I'm against boiling puppies alive for their nose hairs! Sign me up!" But then once you've signed it and clicked onto another site, you forget about it completely. I've signed thousands of petitions over the years, but can only really recall a couple.

But the times you actually get out there, hold a sign, sing a ballad, shout a slogan... THOSE things you remember!

 

The internet can be a great tool for organizing people though. The politicians have discovered that and they all start their campaigns on the net now. But gatherings of actual humans make the situation much more real. Besides they can be fun and you can make a lot of friends, since those that come together share similar interests.

 

indeed. but we still lack large scale protests in many cities for many days at a time. Of course i'm sitting here typing this... guess i should grab my sign and join up with 1000 people a day.

 

What would impeaching Bush achieve?

 

There would just be another "Puppet" to take his place...

 

That's not the point.
The point is the only mass organizations of people we have are on the internet and not in the streets, and they need to be in the streets before anything will be acheived.

 

Impeaching Bush would show that the people (via their elected representatives) still have some say in their government. Even if his replacement is another tool, it would be a less painfully intrusive tool. It would also show that they need 485 tools rather than just one. Plus, the hearing and trial would be a better reality TV show than anything currently on the air.

 

Our votes mean nothing.

Bush Senior,Bill Clinton,Little Bush,and now there are talks of Hillary Clinton running for president next time around...Something doesn't seem right here.All Bushes & Clintons as presidents for 20+years?Or should we just keep our mouths shut and do nothing about this rigged bullshit!?

 

Our votes mean nothing????

It doesn't matter who is on your planning board or school board?

Gee, the people here seem to think that their vote will decide whether a Target will be allowed to be built at the east end of 2nd street. That's probably because a couple of elections ago, their vote kept a development (including a Trader Joe's) from happening at Covell & Pole Line.

Our non-votes means nothing.

 

Your vote always counts even if it's only to you. That's something! Don't fall into the apathy game, that's how the other side always finds a way to win.

 

rock the vote!

 

Our votes mean nothing because the elections ARE RIGGED

 

Tell that to Target and Trader Joe's.

 

Well maybe the votes are rigged, but if people get out and make their point (be it by vote or protest or whatever) that may change. Sooner or later people will not be able to deny that people aren't liking what's in the offices and they'll change.

 

if voting doesn't mean anything, you will to find another way to express your feelings about what should happen to your country--> massive non-violent protests

 

If voting did something it would be illegal, DUH!

-crimethinc

This quote means exactly what many of you feel. Voting doesn't do shit, I'm surprised protests aren't outlawed yet. Give it 10 years and they will be with one tyrant superceding another.