If we could mobilize protest like in India, we could disassemble DC.

[benburch]

WOW!

They sure know how to get protesters in the street.

If we could do the same here, we could disassemble the city of Washington DC stick by stick, stone by stone, by hand, and there would not be a force that could stop us.

WHY can't we manage to stage a protest that is even slightly effective?

[marmar]

1. The exercise of democracy seems to work everywhere...

except in the so-called world's greatest democracy.

[Orsino]

2. Let's be careful about advocating anything...

...that sounds violent.

But I believe I agree that there's nothing Americans couldn't accomplish if we wanted it as badly. With the weight of numbers, peaceful reform can be achieved.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

5. too true these days.

Not even a joke. These maniacs are evil and are waiting for a chance to do critics harm.

[OhioChick]

3. They are impressive there......

However, sadly enough.......I don't think that the majority of the population here cares.

[MadMaddie]

4. I agree...

The key is to get all of the Democratic Organizations to push the idea and support it together.....

We could do it.... a peaceful yet large and loud protest....

The media would be a problem because they would report false attendence numbers so my idea to counter that would be to have massive crowds picketing the media headquarters and reporters on the same day at the same time.....they would have to report it......

[leveymg]

6. Rove would love a violent anti-Bush protest in DC.

Just dust off the old Nixon-Agnew speeches about "anti-war leftwing rioters", and voila, Instant Silent Majority Backlash.

Please stay away from DC, or anywhere else there might be TV cameras. They would all be turned on with the first flying rock, and we'd never see anything else. No thank you.

[Cleita]

7. I thought that we had done so when the first salvo for war

was fired. It didn't change any of their already made up minds. What we need to do is something more along the lines of civil disobedience, like Cindy did in Crawford and MLK did in the civil rights movement of the sixties. That gets their attention.

[leveymg]

8. Yes, it does get their attention. Please talk off-line, in private.

Like in the Nike commercial. Just .. .. If you want to plan, take long walks in the fresh outdoor air with your friends.

[Cleita]

15. If we have to be that afraid of them, we are already lost. n/t

[Obamarama]

9. Because the sheeple won't think its "polite" or "the right thing to do"

I see protests (generally PEACEFUL protests, I might add) all over the world. But here? Shit, we have to plan months ahead of time to coordinate massive protests/rallies here.

I have strong ties to France and visit there quite often. When something upsets the French concerning the government, you can count on THOUSANDS gathering at the Place de la Bastille in pretty damned short order and taking to the streets in a very large, but peaceful, protest. It's just their MO.

Us? We remain silent until we can get all the arrangements and planning right. Protesting and voicing dissent does not equal violent protest, nor should it. But too many of our fellow citizens aren't quite what sure what to do with their 1st ammendment rights.

[sinkingfeeling]

10. We were there last September 25 & 26. Hundreds of thousands of

us....you missed it because there was only a tiny bit of media coverage.

[MountainLaurel]

11. Could you leave my place alone?

It's in DC, but it's small, but it's the only home we've got. Although I can lend you the One Springer of the Apocalypse -- destruction is one of her strong suits.

[genie_weenie]

12. Here's a question for you Ben

And this is not sarcastic or in an insulting way.

What percentage of Americans who currently do not have a family member in Iraq/Afghanistan/Horn of Africa give a shit about the troops or peace?

And I have little doubt the government will resort to force and violence if a protest is ever mounted...

[benburch]

13. My guess is that about a third of the peoople give a shit...

And I *know* they will resort to violence.

[genie_weenie]

16. Yeah, I concur

with your estimate and your comment. Although I'm tempted to believe it's less (20-25)%, but that's the hardened Cynic in me.

[hunter]

14. It will happen here like a dam breaking.

There's no telling what will set it off.