[soipguibbom]

I think that arguing that the world's 20 biggest economies are obviously doing it all wrong just means you are ignoring substantial empirical evidence (that they managed to become the 20 biggest), and burning cars won't help your case that you aren't an ignorant fool (at least to me).

[dalnecymync]

I think that arguing that the world's 20 biggest economies are obviously doing it all wrong just means you are ignoring substantial empirical evidence (that they managed to become the 20 biggest), and burning cars won't help your case that you aren't an ignorant fool (at least to me).

I'm not defending them at all, but I fear you're missing their point. They hate that those economies are so large. They don't think it's a good thing.

[UriyVlasov]

It's similar to football hooligans (fortunately a dying breed) - many don't care what happens on the pitch, and only travel for the fighting.

If they really want to travel and fight then strolling round the centre of Glasgow with "All Scotsmen are gay" t-shirts could be a nice alternative for them.

[gerturiotf]

(random threadjack thought)

Doritos Mr. Dragon's Fire Chips are awesome.

[Triiooman]

(random threadjack thought)

Doritos Mr. Dragon's Fire Chips are awesome.

That was pathetic. From out of the blue, some random freak remark.
Don't you need to be working on your homemade Lincoln mannequin?

[VrQsgM7c]

I've never been able to discern any coherent position or cohesive message from the G8/G20/etc protesters. They fail. And they know they fail. Yet they continue. I can only assume they need an outlet for their anger. But at least it's something the host cities can plan for.

Or maybe I'm just hopelessly naive and ill-informed. I probably read the the wrong websites...

[Gofthooxdix]

yes to all of your questions

the best way to react to political violence is pay no attention at all to the "protestors" if the police handles them

[grattperret]

(random threadjack thought)

There's a robin outside on my patio right now.

[Qynvtlur]

(random threadjack thought)

Doritos Mr. Dragon's Fire Chips are awesome.

I find the font and idiotic package design to be reprehensible and offensive.

[wrewsTear]

Another side benefit of living in the first world: not being prey to frequent life-threatening social upheavals, like much of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Oh, and being able to pay for an adequate defence, like South Korea.

Oh, and being able to find careers that are satisfying instead of substinence farming.

****ing hippies. They should get goddamn jobs.

[InsManKV]

The police Chief is under pressure to explain how with thousands of cops and a $1B budget a couple hundred trouble makers got the best of him.

Another note about "asshats": The police held a press conference today to display the "weapons" they seized from the protesters. Front and center were a crossbow and chainsaw. Pretty disturbing items to be sure, but nowhere near as disturbing as the fact these items were NOT seized from G20 protesters (they were taken the prior week in an unrelated event). Never let truth get in the way of a good photo op.

[ASSESTYTEAH]

I suspect that was the problem.

[DioraMoostebeers]

you'd think that with $1billion they could do both, no?

Sure, but I think they were more worried about seriously injuring people. When they're running around swinging hammers and firebombing cars, they could rush in and try to arrest them right away but I'm sure that'd escalate the situation.

[Sarah Armstrong]

It was the lack of willingness to do anything about the troublemakers outside the designated zones that has pissed people off. It really was a small number of actual "criminals".

[derisgun]

Flubber -

But before he gets to that apology, Blair should apologize first to the merchants of Yonge St., who were left alone Saturday to fend for themselves while police were everywhere else in massive numbers.

The way I see it, his response Saturday was an under-reaction to violence and criminal activity happening right in front of the 19,000 police officers under his command. On Sunday, it was a gross over-reaction to arrest more than 900 people to make up for the embarrassing whipping he took from some goofy black-shirted kids Saturday.

http://www.torontosun.com/news/colum.../14549421.html

A police reporter (generally supportive) in a right wing paper.

What happened Saturday (and Sunday for that matter) was a disgrace of policing.

[HRS1H7gO]

THats always been my take as well yet EVERY time there seem to be a fairly large number of them-- larger than would be accounted for by the truly lunatic fringe. All they seem to do is bump up the security cost of the conference and break a few things.

Whuile some might have a "message" it gets lumped in with so many other messages as to become a babble.

When the g8 was in Calgary I talked to a few protesters and was surprised at how many couldn't articulate much beyond a distaste for "globalization", 'big corporations" or "government waste"

There are a lot of people who read things like No Logo, which is a very good rallying cry for the anti-globalisation movement though notable for its lack of any practical solutions. When the industralised nations get together they're perceived as personifying the supposed unspoken supporters poverty and corporatist injustice. It's a big pitfall of a lot of the anti-globalisation movement.

The vocal pro-globalisation movement isn't much better by the way, there's a lot of patronising arrogance towards some genuine concerns of the globalisation movement which are brushed off as being unintelligent or misinformed. A lot of the criticism Naomi Klein got after No Logo was published was unnecessary and most unfortunate.

There is a need for a debate on the effects of globalisation, but plainly neither side is mature enough to have it yet. Frankly, they could both do with growing up and acquiring the ability of empathy.

[emuffette]

[CializCialiscsqw]

Loot himself? Those Asians are crazy.