G20 protestors smashing up bank. Mindless violence or righteous fury?

[B Whale]

RBS, the British bank and the centre of the financial crisis in the UK (AIG equivalent) was smashed up yesterday by protestors.

They smashed windows, threw computers out the windows and tried to set it on fire. The building was empty.

No other property, buildings or shops were touched during the protests, only RBS.

Was this justified or was it mindless violence that does nothing for the protests and public at large?

[skooooo]

1. Mindless righteous fury? nt

[leftstreet]

3. furious mindless righteousness? n/t

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

2. Political theater.

You notice they did it directly in front of cameras and were even in full costume.

[B Whale]

10. Missed the costumes. However you couldn't move for photographers

they often outnumbered the protestors at the front of the lines, so doing it in front of the cameras would have been anywhere.

[Mike 03]

4. Ignorance. Depending upon whether they are employed or not, or what their retirement status is

they may be simply attacking the institutions that currently or eventually will feed and clothe them in their old age, which would not surprise me at all, given the stupendous level of ignorance about the financial crisis--globally, that is.

[B Whale]

11. Not sure what to make of that comment considering

the banks have destroyed my parents pensions and turfed millions out of their jobs.

[girl gone mad]

21. This comment is ignorant..

In fact the opposite of what you describe is transpiring. It's the taxpayers who are now feeding and clothing the bankers who have gambled away vast quantities of wealth.

[Forkboy]

5. Both

[OhioChick]

6. While I did not see it, nor do I condone it....

People are getting really damn frustrated everywhere.

[Truth2Tell]

7. It was a good start. nt

[scarletwoman]

12. +1

At some point, the masses are going to have to strike some righteous fear into the hearts of the "Masters of the Universe".

Stuff (buidlings, computers, etc.) isn't sacred, people's lives ARE.

sw

[TBF]

13. Yes, that's exactly how I feel about it.

[leftstreet]

17. Exactly

:thumbsup:

[GoesTo11]

8. Mindful violence

These criminals don't do progressive causes any good.

[B Whale]

15. Mindful violence sounds quite purposeful though

I agree with you in a way, but the mob have always played a part ion a democracy and i can't remember the streets being as angry as this since the miners strike and poll tax riots of the 80s.

[Hannah Bell]

9. agents provocateurs.

[B Whale]

14. they were certainly there but

it wasn't them smashing it up. they wouldn't have chosen something the public would agree with, because over here no-one gives a shit that its been smashed up. I think people feel as if their angers been vented a little bit.

Genuine anger on the streets at the moment though

[EVDebs]

16. Well, if you figure hurricanes and wars actually improve GDP...

Well, if you figure hurricanes and war etc. actually improves GDP, due to increased demand and ensuing production, you have to figure this is akin to same. Plus the bank may have been insured and, if so, you have to look into the possibility of fraud and that those protesters could have been agent provacateurs. Just saying.

[Oregone]

18. Neither really. Maybe both

Its just what happens. Its may be ugly, but its necessary for social beauty.

[omega minimo]

19. Who wants to know?

[girl gone mad]

20. The ex-CEO has already had his car vandalized, too.

The problem is he gets a million a year pension, now paid for by taxpayers since he bankrupted the company. RBS is loathed above all others over there.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

22. If it was up to me, we would be chopping the bankers heads off

So maybe I'm the wrong person to ask.

[B Whale]

23. Here Here. The

peseants revolt against bankers has a long and distinguished history.

It was directly targeted at the bank most responsible for the mess in the UK, the crowd was full of people who've lost their jobs. i ain't gonna lose much sleep over that. (as a nice adition they graffitied 'THIEVES' on the walls as well)