You can't just protest. You need to get out, canvass, call, get signatures, etc.

[RBInMaine]

Protest is generally a very ineffective means of changing anything. It can shine some light if done long and large enough, but there is very little impact on policy especially in the short term. Look at the Vietnam protests. Very little effect, especially in the short run. No effect with all the anti-Iraq protests.

Despite the huge protests in Madison, WI, the anti union bill still passed.

ALL those protesters MUST take their anger to the phones, the vote canvasses, to GOTV operations, and to the voting booth themselves. If all those protesters WORKED ON THE RECALL CAMPAIGNS then they would make something REAL happen. I hope they do.

[elocs]

1. The anti union bill got passed because Walker & so many Republicans got elected

last fall. GOTV last November would have solved a lot of this. The old ounce of prevention routine. Pretty simple.

Something real is going to happen, but thanks for the advice. It would be huge if every one eligible to sign a recall petition would do so and then actually follow through and vote in the recall election. As far as I know there is no problem in getting signatures.

[RBInMaine]

5. The protesters need to become real political activists. That means the real work of phoning, canvass

ing, etc.

[whosinpower]

2. Look at Egypt.

Protest can change - if done long enough and if the majority are determined to see it through.
Your right - weekend rallies are nice - but not effective if all the people go home and are just weekend warriors....but if they stay...and if there is a general strike - which is rumbling along the undercurrent of revolt....then the politicians must face their own intransigence to the will of the people.

[RBInMaine]

3. History is repleat with examples of most protests having very little effect. Electoral organizing

is FAR more effective. These protesters need to become real political activists, not just mere protesters. They need to form a real political action movement.

[RBInMaine]

4. That was massive and national in scope, and remember, there is still a long long way to go there.

They are by no means a perfect democracy now. We'll see. MOST protests aren't very effective.

[backscatter712]

8. Egypt was a protest turned into a general strike.

They shut the entire country down.

That's what you have to do. Screaming in the streets is easy. Getting enough of a critical mass together that not only can you walk off the job, but you've got enough people with you to keep everyone else from working, that's harder.

We're going to have to do that.

[whosinpower]

11. It IS very hard - but

After the Wisconsin fiasco - I have heard more calls for a general strike in the last few days - than ever before. I admit it is still a ways away, but do not think it is as far away as one would think or as far fetched as some would hope.

And it is not just Wisconsin - but Michigan as well...and allot of states are seeing protests increasing in size and scope as the austerity measures begin to work their way through houses of government.

You can only beat up on Main street for so long before it wakes up angry. Angry enough to do something about it.

[Mimosa]

6. And no matter how hard we work the Power people will get their way.

I have learned that the hard way.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

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[struggle4progress]

9. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

[lamp_shade]

10. Well said, RB. I point my finger directly at those who unrecced this post.