G-20 protesters break into Royal Bank of Scotland

[Sapiens]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090401/...u/g20_protests

...

"Every job I apply for there's already 150 people who have also applied," said protester Nathan Dean, 35, who lost his information technology job three weeks ago. "I have had to sign on to the dole (welfare) for the first time in my life. You end up having to pay your mortgage on your credit card and you fall into debt twice over."

Demonstrators hoisted effigies of the "four horsemen of the apocalypse," representing war, climate chaos, financial crimes and homelessness.

"The greed that is driving people is tearing us apart," said Steve Lamont, 45, flanked by his family and protesters who were banging on bells, playing drums and blowing whistles.

One police officer lost his helmet and demonstrators tossed it around like a trophy and chanted slogans.

Fearing they would be targeted by protesters, some bankers swapped their pinstripe suits for casual wear and others stayed home. Bolder financial workers leaned out their office windows Wednesday, taunting demonstrators and waving 10 pound notes at them.

Especially in Britain, bankers have been lambasted as being greedy and blamed for the recession that is making jobless ranks soar.

...

ROFL!!!

[GRG55]

Re: G-20 protesters break into Royal Bank of Scotland

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090401/...u/g20_protests
ROFL!!!

"The greed that is driving people is tearing us apart," said Steve Lamont, 45, flanked by his family and protesters who were banging on bells, playing drums and blowing whistles.

It was so much easier to keep the masses quiet when they were glued to the telly watching all those shows explaining how to climb the "property ladder"...

[halcyon]

Re: G-20 protesters break into Royal Bank of Scotland

For better or worse...

Bankers may still be laughing, but there's an ill wind blowing.

The Lynch mob is growing bigger and angrier.

Pretty soon somebody will spill some beans and then people will want heads on a plate (how's that for mixing metaphors).

Really, I think bankers will fall rapidly below lawyers on the list of most hated professions before this D-process is over.

And to some extent, they perhaps should.

[Sapiens]

Re: G-20 protesters break into Royal Bank of Scotland

For better or worse...

Bankers may still be laughing, but there's an ill wind blowing.

The Lynch mob is growing bigger and angrier.

Pretty soon somebody will spill some beans and then people will want heads on a plate (how's that for mixing metaphors).

Really, I think bankers will fall rapidly below lawyers on the list of most hated professions before this D-process is over.

And to some extent, they perhaps should.

There is nothing new under the Sun. The only difference now is that people can better comprehend the effects of debt on their lives. With the advent of the Internet the secret of usury is no longer limited to the esoteric few. Like I have said before, be prepared for the radical changes that will take place to the law of Property. Regarding the article, I do find amusing the stupidity of the financial workers by taunting the protesters; they have no idea how fast the protesters can turn into a lynch mob.

[Andreuccio]

Re: G-20 protesters break into Royal Bank of Scotland

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090401/...u/g20_protests

Bolder financial workers leaned out their office windows Wednesday, taunting demonstrators and waving 10 pound notes at them.

Nothing beats good old fashioned sensitivity when it comes to bridging gaps and overcoming differences. :rolleyes:

[Starving Steve]

Re: G-20 protesters break into Royal Bank of Scotland

Beware, especially in hard economic times like we are in now, that there is a fine line of distinction between protestors marching in front of a bank and a lynch mob marching in front of a bank. Another fine line seperates the distinction between a lynch mob marching in front of a bank and a group of black-shirted nazis marching with torches, beating-up Jews, and burning books.

If economic times worsen, we may see these fine lines crossed in the days ahead. No-one should assert that world history has not shown what could happen next.

[don]

Re: G-20 protesters break into Royal Bank of Scotland

For better or worse...

Pretty soon somebody will spill some beans and then people will want heads on a plate (how's that for mixing metaphors).

No, you're channeling Hannibal Lector. Fava beans, I believe, are preferred.

[don]

Re: G-20 protesters break into Royal Bank of Scotland

In followup coverage, reports that rioters were emerging from the bank empty handed were widespread.

"It's just like we thought, mate" shouted one ski-masked participant.

[Chris]

Re: G-20 protesters break into Royal Bank of Scotland

Nothing beats good old fashioned sensitivity when it comes to bridging gaps and overcoming differences. :rolleyes:

I agree. So does he:

http://www.order-order.com/2009/04/t...capitalists-0/

However, the 2005 match saw the anti-capitalists take their worst beating so far. This post match report from The Times gives a flavour:

WHEN 35 Greenpeace protesters stormed the International Petroleum Exchange (IPE) yesterday they had planned the operation in great detail. What they were not prepared for was the post-prandial aggression of oil traders who kicked and punched them back on to the pavement. “We bit off more than we could chew. They were just Cockney barrow boy spivs. Total thugs,” one protester said, rubbing his bruised skull. “I’ve never seen anyone less amenable to listening to our point of view.”

Another said: “I took on a Texan Swat team at Esso last year and they were angels compared with this lot.” Behind him, on the balcony of the pub opposite the IPE, a bleary-eyed trader, pint in hand, yelled: “Sod off, Swampy.”

Protesters conceded that mounting the operation after lunch may not have been the best plan. “The violence was instant,” Jon Beresford, 39, an electrical engineer from Nottingham, said. They were set upon by traders, most of whom were under the age of 25. “They were kicking and punching men and women indiscriminately,” a photographer said. “It was really ugly, but Greenpeace did not fight back.”

Mr Beresford said: “They followed the guys into the lobby and kept kicking and punching them there. They literally kicked them on to the pavement.” Last night Greenpeace said two protesters were in hospital, one with a suspected broken jaw, the other with concussion.

[karim0028]

Re: G-20 protesters break into Royal Bank of Scotland

Bolder financial workers leaned out their office windows Wednesday, taunting demonstrators and waving 10 pound notes at them.

The bankers shall inherit the earth ;) God, what a bunch of dick wads...

[Master Shake]

Re: G-20 protesters break into Royal Bank of Scotland

One police officer lost his helmet and demonstrators tossed it around like a trophy and chanted slogans.

One of the slogans was "Down with money!"

Where's the water cannon when you need it?

[*T*]

Re: G-20 protesters break into Royal Bank of Scotland

The Guardian is doing a pretty good job with people on the scene:
Live blog with reporters on the scene
Twitter feed of reporters on scene

In pictures <<--- recommended

Take-aways:
Mostly peaceful, a few nutters storming RBS office, police baton-charging a peaceful sit-down, some injuries (mainly caused by the police).
Police doing their usual tactic of "kettling": fencing off protesters and not allowing them to leave or move on (don't know why they do it but they do).
The British police love a scrap, by the way, and are willing to start one if they can't find one...

[halcyon]

Re: G-20 protesters break into Royal Bank of Scotland

If economic times worsen, we may see these fine lines crossed in the days ahead. No-one should assert that world history has not shown what could happen next.

They'd have to be bad for quite some time.

Things had been bad in Italy, Japan and Germany already before the great depression of the 30s.

Mussolini and the National Socialist party were already in power in Italy and Germany respectively by the time depression hit.

Now in none such exists in any of the OECD nations. Hell, even USA has gotten rid of it's evil dictator

It'd take several years of hardship, landslide victory in elections and then things could turn really bad.

Say 6-8 years.

Let's hope this one doesn't last that long.

PS Paul Kennedy has written/spoken about this issue. He's clearly more optimistic about the situation now, compared to 30s - in political terms.

[metalman]

Are We Idiots... Revisited

Are We Idiots?

Deloitte Research chief economist doth protest too much

by Eric Janszen

"Are they seething with righteous anger with pitch forks and torches in hand? Are they ready to storm the bastions of so-called housing boosters like the closing scene in some modern day Frankenstein movie? Or does the ‘I’ in iTulip actually stand for idiot?"
- Carl Steidtmann, chief economist and director, Consumer Business - Deloitte Research - April 11, 2007)

It was inevitable. As the housing bubble collapses and the credibility of housing bubble boosters melts like a popsicle in the Texas summer sun, those of us who have been critical of them will become objects of their derision. Still, it's surprising to be called out in this way–with name calling–and by none less than Deloitte Research's chief economist and a director of Consumer Business Research, and on such a weak pretext.

[cjppjc]

Re: G-20 protesters break into Royal Bank of Scotland

I took that as the insult it was intended as. I wish I had been around in 07. Or 06 for that matter.

FRED iTulip Administrator Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3,217

Re: Are We Idiots? Quote: Originally Posted by jk time for an interview with Carl Steidtmann, chief economist and director, Consumer Business - Deloitte Research? maybe he can cheer us up. Great idea! Even if he doesn't accept, it'll be fun sending him letters.

Fred: Did you ever try? Oh the hubris. Of Carl Steidmann.