tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23292180.post1920032847219528475..comments2024-03-29T04:13:44.353-04:00Comments on BigCityLib Strikes Back: The American Left Will Be In Power For A Long Timebigcitylibhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05081538803991095825noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23292180.post-91557275965266998122009-02-20T21:49:00.000-05:002009-02-20T21:49:00.000-05:00As Leeky suggests, the freedom to assemble is esse...As Leeky suggests, the freedom to assemble is essential for democracy. That said, the right to get together with whomever you please in public doesn't mean that protesting is always your best political tactic.<BR/><BR/>The great protestor Saul Alinsky even suggested in Rules for Radicals even believed you need to adjust your tactics. Rule #7 is: "A tactic that drags on for too long becomes a drag. Commitment may become ritualistic as people turn to other issues." (Details <A HREF="http://www.vcn.bc.ca/citizens-handbook/rules.html" REL="nofollow">here</A>.)<BR/><BR/>Protests worked a few decades ago, and that's precisely the reason why they don't work now. They are a bit too predictable, what with the signs and the chanting and such. It's easy to tune out a protest because it's a familiar scene. There's nothing inherently wrong with them as a tactic, though. I'm sure after a few years of distance-based protest, getting together IRL will be the hep thing to do.Partisan Hobohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04123756141745963312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23292180.post-14583178272304666772009-02-18T16:09:00.000-05:002009-02-18T16:09:00.000-05:00At least they're not hurting anyone.That's why the...<I>At least they're not hurting anyone.</I><BR/><BR/>That's why they're largely ineffective. If protests aren't at least <I>menacing</I>, the authorities won't take them seriously.Ti-Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06620550471437012866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23292180.post-2753135013922133922009-02-18T14:02:00.000-05:002009-02-18T14:02:00.000-05:00Street protests are a by-product of a democratic s...Street protests are a by-product of a democratic society. Are they effective? Maybe...maybe not. <BR/><BR/>At least they're not hurting anyone.Mr. Lornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13520591510834267209noreply@blogger.com