Blackspot

The Summer of Rage

Will a tsunami of middle-class dissent wash away governments worldwide?

Iceland was first and now Latvia has become the second European government to collapse as a direct result of the protests sparked by the global economic crisis (source). In Dublin, more than 120,000 workers protested outside of the Irish Parliament in a campaign organizers say is inspired by what was done to Iceland's government (source). And in the UK, the head of the Metropolitan police's public order branch, is warning of a 'Summer of Rage' that will involve mass protests by middle-class citizens fed up with the economic situation (source). A tsunami of dissent is coming and it is not clear what will remain and what will be remade.

The economic recession is now impacting the majority of people in most countries in the world. There is a growing sense of global solidarity among the people who see their governments spending billions of dollars to rescue the banks who are to blame for the crisis. With the visible success of protesters in Iceland and Latvia - who managed to topple their governments relatively nonviolently - the realm of possibility seems to be expanding.

It feels like the the time may be approaching for a global movement to take hold which intends to rethink capitalism and the systems of world governance. Instead of demanding the resignation of a Prime Minister, what if this global movement demanded the resignation of the whole system?

Does the moment feel ripe in your town? What would you like to see as a result of the global protests?

Micah M. White is a Contributing Editor at Adbusters Magazine and an independent activist. www.micahmwhite.com

56 comments on the article “The Summer of Rage”

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Anonymous

The USA will have to get a lot more uncomfortable for anyone to lift a finger to riot. The switch to DTV is a good start--people might get off the couch and make some noise when it affects their viewing habits. But really, we're a far cry from the kinds of issues that affect people directly. Get enough people out of work and milling around, enough people not living the lives they've become comforatable with, enough people not being able to afford necessities, and maybe, maybe people will take to the streets. Stolen elections, fake wars, looting the treasury, and even expensive gas hasn't done the trick yet...

Anonymous

The USA will have to get a lot more uncomfortable for anyone to lift a finger to riot. The switch to DTV is a good start--people might get off the couch and make some noise when it affects their viewing habits. But really, we're a far cry from the kinds of issues that affect people directly. Get enough people out of work and milling around, enough people not living the lives they've become comforatable with, enough people not being able to afford necessities, and maybe, maybe people will take to the streets. Stolen elections, fake wars, looting the treasury, and even expensive gas hasn't done the trick yet...

Wesley McNair

I agree. The middle class (particularly the youth) have not yet been dislodged from its mindless reverie of consumerism and ignorant selfishness. Until they find themselves in more dire circumstances, not much is going to change.

Wesley McNair

I agree. The middle class (particularly the youth) have not yet been dislodged from its mindless reverie of consumerism and ignorant selfishness. Until they find themselves in more dire circumstances, not much is going to change.

Anonymous

We are the middle class and we are the the drivers of modern industrial civilization. Once the system we have built for the betterment of our children collapses on top of us, and relegates us to lives of exploitation in service to the very system we created, we will realize it is time to withdraw our efforts and take up arms against the system which has enslaved us. My father is a fire captain. I was raised in a very conservative home in southern california. We have watched our livelihoods come under attack, we have watched our nation mocked, laughed at, overrun by foreign nationals, over taxed, and taken advantage of. We have watched our political system rot and fail. We have watched our neighbors flee. The time is soon. Tyler, you are RIGHT. The middle class will fight this war, for we are the impenetrable core. We are the core that never gives in. We are the center, the drivers of this machine. And the machine has turned against us and turned us into its servants. We will not bring our children into a life of servitude into the very land that their fathers conquered. We will stand. We will fight. Down with all governments in the world. Power to the worker. Middle Classes Unite! -southern california

Anonymous

We are the middle class and we are the the drivers of modern industrial civilization. Once the system we have built for the betterment of our children collapses on top of us, and relegates us to lives of exploitation in service to the very system we created, we will realize it is time to withdraw our efforts and take up arms against the system which has enslaved us. My father is a fire captain. I was raised in a very conservative home in southern california. We have watched our livelihoods come under attack, we have watched our nation mocked, laughed at, overrun by foreign nationals, over taxed, and taken advantage of. We have watched our political system rot and fail. We have watched our neighbors flee. The time is soon. Tyler, you are RIGHT. The middle class will fight this war, for we are the impenetrable core. We are the core that never gives in. We are the center, the drivers of this machine. And the machine has turned against us and turned us into its servants. We will not bring our children into a life of servitude into the very land that their fathers conquered. We will stand. We will fight. Down with all governments in the world. Power to the worker. Middle Classes Unite! -southern california

Anonymous

The tricky thing is that, if you rally in the streets, you are exactly the target that the para-military police are set up to deal with. Moreover, after the rally, it will be easy for the police to get more funds to strengthen them and make them stronger for the next rally. Which helps a right-wing backlash. Hit them where they ain't! Not where they're strong.

Anonymous

The tricky thing is that, if you rally in the streets, you are exactly the target that the para-military police are set up to deal with. Moreover, after the rally, it will be easy for the police to get more funds to strengthen them and make them stronger for the next rally. Which helps a right-wing backlash. Hit them where they ain't! Not where they're strong.

Anonymous

let hippies and artists rally in the streets. to be affective cheat or stop paying taxes. stop being so productive. serve on juries and find innocent all against government. grow cannabis. stockpile weapons, ammo, and explosives if not for you then for others. so many ways of direct action.

Anonymous

let hippies and artists rally in the streets. to be affective cheat or stop paying taxes. stop being so productive. serve on juries and find innocent all against government. grow cannabis. stockpile weapons, ammo, and explosives if not for you then for others. so many ways of direct action.

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