Police clash with anti-capitalist protesters in Brighton

Police clash with anti-capitalist protesters in Brighton

www.timesonline.co.uk

Anti-capitalist protesters brought Bank Holiday chaos to Brighton yesterday.

Mounted police were forced to retreat as masked demonstrators among a 2,000-strong crowd hurled bricks and bottles. Several missiles were seen to hit police officers and their horses.

Three officers suffered minor injuries and a man in his twenties was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer.

The arrest was filmed by about a dozen people, some of whom shouted abuse at police relating to the death of...

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They expected a summer of rage, and though it's no quite summer in the U.K, it looks like that's what they're going to get. What annoys me most is that non of this was reported yesterday when it happened (at least I didn't see, hear or read about it on the TV, the Net or the radio until today).

I don't quite understand why people complain about capitalism, I don't think capitalism is the cause of our present problems; I blame the general lack of personal responsibility, acceptance of our own failings, for causing so many people to be so angry; but I have to say it's about time people fought back like this.

As they say, push an Englishman too far and he will rile-up like few others; how many more riots will we experience over th next few weeks and months? When the police no longer police but enforce government will against the peoples' wishes, and when people have no peaceful means of workable and effective protest then what else can be expected but violence?

There have been a few riots in Europe over the past week, you can't tell me they're not being orchestrated; and if so, by whom?

www.timesonline.co.uk
(visit the link for the full news article)

[edit on 5/5/09 by Rapacity]

I agree capitalism is not the problem... corruption is. I'm afraid we will see more and more of this. The police in this case seemed to be on their best behavior which is a good thing.

And this is why I can't stand protesters..

If you have a cause you want to protest then do so without pushing yourself onto the public around you. Not everyone cares about the cause you are protesting.

The domination of a "financial oligarchy" is inevitable under a capitalist system, as it rewards corruption and penalises morality.

There are always these kind of demos at this time of year, the mayday/reclaim the streets type ones and there newer versions tend to be the larger ones. It's nothing unusual really.

Originally posted by The Last Man on Earth
The domination of a "financial oligarchy" is inevitable under a capitalist system, as it rewards corruption and penalises morality.

Capitalism can only become as corrupt as we collectively let it become. If we don't like the way somebody does business then we have the legs to walk i.e we have the ability to not sponsor them by not buying products and not investing in businesses that use ethically dubious methods.

When I was at school in the 80's, everybody wanted the most expensive, named brand products: the guys who wore cheap shoes and clothes were ridiculed and made to feel small and worthless; the guys who had the most expensive gear were praised and raised in status. Some of us lead and others followed the path that took us to the big everybody-thinks-they're-happy city where we all struggle to spend ever more unrealistic prices for products that were worth only a fraction of their price.

The reason we have so much corruption and unfair pricing is that too many people think along the lines of "well I don't like what they're doing but I want that item so I'm going to buy it anyway; somebody else can sort them out." and "Well it's legal and everybody else is doing it; I'll look stupid if I don't..." The only three ways to deter corruption (within businesses) in any economy be it capitalist, socialist or other is for a, people to develop some integrity and accept that they can control their economic environment by doing business with those they feel deserve their business, b, for prices to be regulated so that no product can be traded for more than a set (universal) profit margin (e.g 50% over production cost), or c, for trade of all kinds to be outlawed. If consumers don't take the initiative of buying with integrity and ethics then businesses can not be blamed for doing (some would say "getting away with") as consumers encourage they do.

Here's a nice quote:

If you think of yourself as helpless and ineffectual, it is certain that you will create a despotic government to be your master. The wise despot, therefore, maintains among his subjects a popular sense that they are helpless and ineffectual. Frank Herbert.

The less control you think you have, the more control you cede to government, the less control you will actually have.

People need to stop winging and start using their power - their legs and money. If you don't like something then take your money elsewhere: businesses adapt according to consumer demand and market forces; there is no difference than with any other social relationship.

[edit on 5/5/09 by Rapacity]

Capitalism breeds corruption. If I were there, I'd bring in some of my own rage, too.