Angry Europe

Austerity is underway in Europe but the people of that fair continent appear not to like it. Not. One. Bit.

Today brings a raft of news about unrest and general protest in Europe, some of it violent. It is important to remember that Europeans are often more publically expressive of their ire than their counterparts in other parts of the world, and large protests involving five- and even six-figure numbers of people are almost common. So I am not suggesting that this is evidence that Europe is teetering on the brink of a sea change here. Nevertheless, the uptick in civil unrest these last few days is eyebrow-raising to say the least, and bears careful attention in the days ahead.

Exhibit A:

• 72000 march in Madrid
  
• 22000 demonstrate in Barcelona
  
• Protests in London, Brussels, and Lisbon
  

Exhibit B

Italian anarchists kneecap nuclear executive and threaten more shootings

An anarchist group claimed responsibility on Friday for kneecapping an Italian nuclear engineering executive and warned it would strike another seven times at the firm's parent company, Finmeccanica.
In a four-page letter sent to an Italian newspaper, the group, calling itself the Olga Nucleus of the Informal Anarchist Federation-International Revolutionary Front, said two of its members had shot Roberto Adinolfi, the CEO of Ansaldo Nucleare, in Genoa on Monday.

Europe has been in a tailspin for quite a while now, our politicians each following their own adgenda have kicked the can down the road for as long as possible. They are running out of road and luckily (For them) the majority are too blind to see or simply refuse to acknowlege the looming wall of uncertainty and chaos in their path.

What worries me personally is not the impending financial collapse or the implosion of the entire linked European financial system.
It is the measures that TPTB will instigate to deflect such a catastrophe to protect their own interests and ensure their own continuation at all costs.

The house of cards is about to fall. The illusion of democracy that we all laboured under is crumbling like the Parthenon.
The worst part of all this huge mess is the complete absence of hope. I'm all out.
Bring it on, whatever may come.

Originally posted by HumansEh
Europe has been in a tailspin for quite a while now, our politicians each following their own adgenda have kicked the can down the road for as long as possible. They are running out of road and luckily (For them) the majority are too blind to see or simply refuse to acknowlege the looming wall of uncertainty and chaos in their path.

What worries me personally is not the impending financial collapse or the implosion of the entire linked European financial system.
It is the measures that TPTB will instigate to deflect such a catastrophe to protect their own interests and ensure their own continuation at all costs.

The house of cards is about to fall. The illusion of democracy that we all laboured under is crumbling like the Parthenon.
The worst part of all this huge mess is the complete absence of hope. I'm all out.
Bring it on, whatever may come.

This is a ridiculous and over dramatic post. Elections will resolve these issues as is already becoming evident.

According to several comments I've seen from GOP pundits this week on a few different news networks, the latest political spin in that there is NO austerity currently being done in Europe, just increases on taxes on the rich.

Gover Nordquist claimed on Bill Maher the other night that there were currently ZERO CUTS taking place in Europe to any services, and I've seen Bill O'Reilly and Glenn Beck claim the same thing too.

GOP are trying to say that spending cuts in Europe haven't taken place yet and don't work, and that tax increases on the rich are the only thing that people are protesting against, and it's tax decreases on the rich that actually stabalize the economies of those coutries where protests are taking place.

In at least a couple of countries, there are DECREASES on taxes on the rich (most notably in the UK where rates went from 50% ro 45% in the last budget) even while they are accelerating deep cuts on programs the middle and lower classes depend on.

I'm not sure if the GOP shills actually believe the stuff they've been saying.

There are big changes happening in Europe atm.

France rejected austerity and elected a socialist.

Greece rejected austerity and seemed to vote for anyone BUT pro european parties.

In Germany Merkel is losing political ground.

( www.bbc.co.uk... )

Here In Britain - especially in Scotland which despises the conservatives - there is growing discontent at the conservative party who are so out of touch with reality it is unbelievable. They are the very definition of elitists.

Russia had mass protests when they felt that the elections were rigged.

More and more people are raising the middle fingers to the governments and banks who expect US to clean up THEIR mess.

It's an exciting time, and I hope us europeans purge them from our lands.

reply to post by spacedog1973


If you actually believe elections,can actually take out corruptions (fruitfully),Then you are quite dead wrong.
And to add the OP.
He should add in that Greece elected Neo Nazi's.
Link is here,so as to increase the thread's scope on the breaking in Europe.
my two cents,and suggestion.

Greece didn't elect Neo-Nazis, no one gained a majority and it seems likely that there will be new elections as they seem unable to form a coalition.

Looks like things are getting hectic in Italy. The country appears to be on high alert after various recent troubles. 20,000 is a lot of LEOs

Italy deploys 20,000 to protect sensitive targets

ROME — Italy increased security Thursday at 14,000 sites, and assigned bodyguards to protect 550 individuals after a nuclear energy company official was shot and letter bombs directed to the tax collection agency.

.Under the enhanced measures, Interior Minister Anna Maria Cancellieri deployed 20,000 law enforcement officers to protect individuals and sensitive sites. In addition, 4,200 military personnel already assigned throughout Italy will be redeployed according to new priorities.

reply to post by babybunnies

In at least a couple of countries, there are DECREASES on taxes on the rich (most notably in the UK where rates went from 50% ro 45% in the last budget) even while they are accelerating deep cuts on programs the middle and lower classes depend on.

And contrary to what you may believe that is pissing a hell of a lot of people off here in the UK.

There is absolutely no evidence whatsoever to suggest that the upper level tax cut will have any positive effect whatsoever on the UK economy and all it will do is legitamise the tax fiddling those who fall into that tax bracket already do.

Whilst the austerity cuts are beginning to affect many ordinary people the wealthy elite are in fact becoming richer, something that is beginning to alienate whole sections of UK society.

reply to post by SaltireWarrior

Here In Britain - especially in Scotland which despises the conservatives - there is growing discontent at the conservative party who are so out of touch with reality it is unbelievable. They are the very definition of elitists.

Scotland is by no means unique in the UK.
The Tories are despised here in North East England and aren't exactly loved in Yorkshire and the North West.
And large areas in the Midlands feel the same.

The North East has been shat on by Westminster for decades, if not centuries and all always faces the brunt of all it's policies.

Do not mistake London and it's surrounding areas as being representative of the English.

To coin a phrase, we need a full reboot; radical reform of our electoral and parliamentary procedures abolishing outdated, dogmatic and unrepresentative party politics and giving the people a real say in both local and national issues.

reply to post by spacedog1973
who says: "This is a ridiculous and over dramatic post. Elections will resolve these issues as is already becoming evident."


When exactly have elections ever solved any real problems anywhere?
Those days of temporary fixes are over. Most of the people are now wise to those tricks.

Here's a nice flowchart of what could happen in various Europocalyptic scenarios....


Source for image: Zero Hedge