Well, we vote for Representatives and Senators. How do you disagree with that? Some of them are indeed jerks, but they are democratically elected.
It is not uncommon for the candidate who got less popular votes to be elected, also gerrymandering means that politicians select their voters, not the other way around. America is an oligarchy with the trappings of a democracy…
I doubt that many Canadians know that there are unfilled judicial vacancies. And those who do know, don’t care.
Canadians are very good at protesting, and if needs warrant, rioting. See, for example, the G7 protests in Toronto back in 2010 or so, and the Vancouver hockey riot after the Canucks’ Stanley Cup loss to Boston in 2011.
“Unfilled judicial vacancies” just doesn’t rise to quite the same level of outrage.
If I’m going to protest, it’s going to be with the idea that there’s some possibility of succeeding in whatever cause I’m protesting for or against. IMHO there’s only two ways of accomplishing that.
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Through physical violence that leads to a change in government. There’s no ongoing injustices so great that violently overthrowing the government would mean a better outcome. When a government is overthrown really bad things happen, which means that the underlying problem that’s trying to be corrected had better be REALLY BAD before such a thing is justified. There’s nothing anywhere close to that bad going on in the current day United States.
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By political change, AKA voting out the people who support whatever you’re against (or are against whatever you support). Protesting will only accomplish this when the underlying reason political change hasn’t happened is due to lack of awareness. You aren’t going to get people to change their fundamental beliefs by going out there and blocking a street while holding up a sign and yelling loudly. Back in the 50s and 60s there were a lot of racist white folks who were racist out of ignorance. That can be (and obviously was) corrected by protesting. These days the racists and such are that way due to the hate in their hearts. That’s not going to be changed by protesting.
Yes. Of all the problems facing Canada specifically, and the world in general, this is quite far down on the list of things I care about.
Plus, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a “protest” that actually did very much to change anything. I’d much rather get the vote out during an election. The biggest problem in my political life right now is that Doug Ford won an unassailable majority in the Ontario legislature, largely because a large majority of Ontario voters couldn’t be arsed to get out and vote in the last election. Compared to that, what are judges?
Maybe. Are they necessary starting points or just a symptom of social upheaval? How would we measure that?
They indicate some people want something changed, and care enough to seek out others of like mind. At the Occupy gathering in my city, among signs calling for radical change, from “Eat the Rich!” to “Living Wage for All!” was a sign that read, “Legalize the Sale of Unpasteurized Milk!” Which of these is about social upheaval? If any are going to succeed, they need more people, and a protest in the street is one important way to let others know what you’re trying to do. Such protests are nothing like going to the barricades in 1848 or the Paris Commune. They are an early tactic, a first step, in acknowledging the issue, making it public, and finding allies. If nothing else follows from that, they are nothing more.
These days, Proudhon asks for the right not to wear a mask during an epidemic. Fourier argues that giving addiction treatment to those living in downtown parks can be an abuse of power and privilege.
But earlier you called them necessary starting points. Did you mean that social movements can’t start without them? That’s what I thought @Spice_Weasel was questioning—though I can’t tell for sure whether I’m interpreting either of you correctly.
That’s an argument about the content of some recent protests, not the point of protesting. That there is little sign of a strong and thoughtful left leaves lots of hurt and angry people with nowhere to go and no place to learn, and there are always people who will take advantage of that. See e.g., Italy, 1920s, etc. And some people are doofuses.
There are lots of actions happening across North America that are much more useful and progressive than the anti-vaxers et al. They are often less dramatic and covering them is often of less interest to the media, but there are all sorts of things happening. Focus, new tactics, and theory may be missing, but as I say, first steps.
I stand to be corrected, but I am not sure either Proudhon or Fourier put much stock, or themselves, in street protests.
I’m confused myself–operator error! Just wanted to note that social movements start somewhere, and they need to be public and street protests are a common starting point, and thus probably necessary because other options are limited. And though they require a great deal of work, they are relatively easy to pull off. Relative to the long haul work, that is.
I think a bigger, more immediate concern is the fact that the electric rates have more than doubled in just the last year here in Alberta. Food prices are through the roof, and gas prices keep ratcheting up. Salaries, though, don’t seem to be moving at all.
We just don’t have the time or energy to protest. We’re too busy trying to survive.
(personally, I just accepted a job in the US that will allow me to keep living here but will increase my salary by 30%, so maybe I’ll protest next year.)
Successful protest also takes organization, and organizing requires, learning, practice, and education. Leftwing organizations and labour unions used to literally hold classes in how to organize, and were stronger and more visible. They also had things like newspapers, halls, recreation facilities, and clubs that don’t exist in the same way now. The lack of such institutions is part of the reason people don’t protest in the streets. And communities are very different now, not based around work and jobs or ethnicity, and leisure is often more private and individualistic. These are some reasons more of us aren’t protesting in the streets: who would we go with to the demo?
National Post is a right wing rag that likes to promote anything to make the current federal government look bad whether they deserve it or not. I’ll pass on the protest over this “issue”.
Because it’s too hot.
But my wife has joined several protest marches in downtown Phoenix. Quite the turnout!
Last time I protested in the streets was in 2017 during Trump’s inauguration. Flew to New York City for it. Was actually a lot of fun even though the reason for the protest was not fun.
Good for you.
My ‘street’ is actually just a step up from a jeep trail. One other couple lives on it and we share the same ideals.
If Trump somehow gets elected and pardons himself (accepting a pardon is an admission of guilt) I may have some traveling to do.