No, I expected it. I also realize that they don’t just represent one single issue. There are 20 countries with problems being represented at these talks. That means a cause for every reason. CA

Why should any thinking person be more worried about the economy because there are some of the people with the stiff upper lip acting out?

No disrespect to the British, my sister lives in Britain. I have wanted to take to the streets many times in the past year with a pitch fork and run amuck jabbing any banker I see who contributed to this mess our country and others across the globe are in.

Our President is at a meeting right now and has to listen to PM Brown make slurs against our country. Well, as long as the money was flowing they, the bankers in his country, did not mind buying bad loans from our greedy bankers.

I still feel like taking a pitch fork, joining Cobert Nation and running amuck. 

After watching a barrage of media reports, I felt a little bewildered, as many of those protestors in London had no clue as to why they were actually protesting.  Many also seemed to be more so followers than true leaders, not realizing the implications of very bad behavior.  The local officials or authorities did not act any better.  They seemed to throw fuel on an already fiery situation.  The initial violence on the part of the police was uncalled for.

No, I’m not more worried about the economy, given the protests in London. I don’t think the protests have anything to do with it. (I wish I had taken to the streets myself, during the last eight years… I’m sure the media would have come out in full force to film me in one of those out of the way fenced off protest areas.)

I’m not worried about the economy. Sure, I’m concerned; I’m aware. Our business has taken a hit; our customer/client base is affected by the economy, and therefore our business is. We are having to be real creative in our efforts to grow the business right now. And at home, I’m cutting back on spending, etc. like everyone else. 

However, I know that President Obama "gets it" and I have every confidence in him that things will get better. It will be hard for a long time, but having him as my President gives me strength. If he can get up every day and fight his miserable fight, I can surely sacrifice for as long as it takes.           

Am I MORE worried about the economy because of protests in London?  I am already terrified about unemployment, working people who are homeless, significant rise in crime—many Americans don’t understand that this is a global problem we have exacerbated.  Protests are the least of our problems. 

I dont see why protestors in London would make anyone here in the US more worried about our economy…They are protesting, good for them, hate that they are destroying property in the process and making life for their own harder but we have our own fights here and if people want to take to the streets here, they can get their permits and do the same but if your going to do that, at least have enough sense not to destroy others property in the process. 

Hah. Shows you what I know - I hadn’t yet heard of these protests. Then again, I got my own sh!t to be worried about and see no reason to get caught up in something across the pond.

But I wish I was allowed to pick more than one answer; I’m SURE the protestors are blowing things out of proportion. That is, essentially, what protesting IS. Or has become, rather.

"Protests in London? Those aren’t protests. Those are just miscreants looking for an excuse to act like idiots."

Absolutely, 100% correct! 

But, I should add that I was a demonstrator in my youth because I thought that demonstrating would achieve something.  I was at the barricades, nose to nose with the police; I carried the banner at the head of the march.  I believed fervently that my actions would make a difference.  Now I understand that what little change can be achieved by an individual has to be achieved "within the system."  I’ve been an elected official for six years and an appointed one for five and I have, finally, on a few occasions, been able to make a difference.

My youth in politics fired me up; my old age in politics has calmed me down :)

"Protests in London? Those aren’t protests. Those are just miscreants looking for an excuse to act like idiots."

By Sam Mirando on 04/02/2009 9:04 am Says it all for me!

Anytime there is an international economic meeting, the hooligan element has to make their prescence known.  It can happen in DC, Zurich; indeed when my brother-in-law would have to attend World Bank meetings, he dreaded the noisy ones, and that was years ago.  Nothing new.

But, the attendants of these meetings are very well insulated from the excitement.  And, all of the leaders have brought their economic experts with them.  I have seen pictures of Geitner and his group, Sec’y Clinton is there as well as the President of the World Bank and the IMF.  So, in the long run, I strongly believe everyone there at those meetings are very aware of the demonstrators, but it’s not going to affect the outcome of their decisions, given the fact that they have been negotiating these for quite some time now.  And, they knew this was going to happen; it always does.