The London demonstrations yesterday, where a reported 500,000 people took to the streets to protest the austerity cuts, will not change government strategy according to Liberal democrat minister Vince Cable. "No government - coalition, Labour or any other - would change its fundamental economic policy simply in response to a demonstration of that kind," he said.
Police arrested 201 people and charged 149 according to the BBC. Police reported that 145 of the arrests were in connection with the group UK Uncut, which occupied luxury grocery store Fortnum & Mason in Piccadilly in protest over alleged tax avoidance by the business's part owners. BBC is reporting 84 injuries, including at least 31 police, with 11 officers requiring hospital treatment.
UK Uncut has posted alternatives to the government's austerity measures:
One alternative is to clamp down on tax dodging by corporations and the rich, estimated to cost the state £95bn a year
Another is to make the banks pay for a crisis they created: last year they paid out over £7bn in bonuses and just four banks made £24bn in profit
The tax avoided and evaded in a single year could pay for the £81bn, four-year cuts programme.
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A sorry commentary on British democracy,,??
When half a million people commit their presence to protest against an unsanctioned government action, and that government declares their voices irrelevant. Perhaps, as is the case everywhere, the people will find the government irrelevant. We pay for management services, not wealth transfers to the corporate elite.
It would be so fitting, if one day Egypt is held up to the snotty British government as an example of good governance.
Austerity
Many people in Western countries could do with less, if we had any faith that our frugality would help future generations. But when such 'belt tightening' only serves to pay the interest on the ever increasing 'Debt Burden' with which our governments enslave us, then there is no incentive to participate in the exercise.
At this point 'austerity' serves only to increase the wealth disparity. Those of us with little disposable income cannot hope to participate in the benifits of lower prices, as all income goes to survival.
Austerity programs only serve to further shrink the economy and reduce services.