# So, how goes your May Day protest ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 1, 2001, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-goes-your-may-day-protest/63949 "2001-05-01T12:07:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2001, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-goes-your-may-day-protest/63949/21 "2001-05-01T21:06:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by scout1222 \* > **I was just discussing this with a coworker. I’ve been reading about the various events worldwide. Why is this something we Americans have not embraced?** Well, there have been some pretty rowdy American May Day protests in the past…Haymarket Square comes to mind. As to why there isn’t much going on now, May Day is a socialist holiday, and as there isn’t a big socialst party in the U.S… ---
**Author:** ![Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/258eb7/32.png) [@Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wonko_The_Sane)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2001, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-goes-your-may-day-protest/63949/22 "2001-05-01T21:11:38Z")
I went to work naked… under my clothes that is. That’ll show them! ---
**Author:** ![Tretiak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a88e57/32.png) [@Tretiak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tretiak)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2001, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-goes-your-may-day-protest/63949/23 "2001-05-01T21:26:53Z")
I purchased many consumer goods with income I had earned exhanging my labor for money! ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2001, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-goes-your-may-day-protest/63949/24 "2001-05-01T21:37:38Z")
…and that **Tretiak** is what its all about I suppose. You were only paid a portion of the wealth that you produced, the rest went to those who had little direct input,they just simply sat on their backsides and let you do it all for them 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tretiak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a88e57/32.png) [@Tretiak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tretiak)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2001, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-goes-your-may-day-protest/63949/25 "2001-05-01T21:53:09Z")
Pretty ironic, huh? ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2001, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-goes-your-may-day-protest/63949/26 "2001-05-02T11:33:39Z")
“I should clarify – I’m looking at New Scotland Yard, not from NSY” - My mistake, **jr8**. Apologies! Post-Mortem: I thought the whole thing went very well in London. Firstly, I can’t imagine a more sophisticated police action. The job of controlling and containing a demo that began in so many different locations (potential trouble spots) and had no clearly coordinated single objective was damn difficult. Sure they had very considerable resources but nonetheless the concept of policing ‘organic’ demos is pretty new so I think they did a good job. More than a slight concern over the suspension of normal civil liberties but I suspect _not_ getting out of control ultimately serves the cause better. On the demo’s side, I think the day raised the profile another notch – the more serious media did give considerable time to further discussing the issues and, in consequence, public opinion was better informed. As always with these things, the people on the street are but the tip of the iceberg. IMHO, the hugely diverse alliance of special interest groups is a reflection of a far greater disquiet in the wider society. For example, I’m still a little agog at how Greenpeace’s Direct Action coupled with the Daily Mail (middle of the road tabloid) and Women’s Institute (a more sober group it’s difficult to imagine) to get GM foods off the supermarket shelves (whether or not you agree with GM’s, the action proved public opinion fundamentally affects how corporations operate). I believe the cause was served well. As well as further informing opinion, it reminded the multi-nationals that there is deep seated and popular support for more control of their actions. Capitalism isn’t like the weather, it can and should be controlled and multi nationals should be held fully account for the consequences of their actions. Right on. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2001, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-goes-your-may-day-protest/63949/27 "2001-05-02T13:45:22Z")
I don’t think throwing rocks will “do” any good. How about taking one whole day and Not Buying Anything Bet That would make a statement. ---
**Author:** ![Tretiak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a88e57/32.png) [@Tretiak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tretiak)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2001, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-goes-your-may-day-protest/63949/28 "2001-05-02T14:54:59Z")
I wish this thread was in the BBQ Pit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-goes-your-may-day-protest/63949.md?page=1)