What annoys me most is that while Brazilians and Turkish people are willing to start revolutions over seemingly unimportant things, Americans aren't willing to even protest (in the streets, like real protests are done) these things which seem much worse.
Brazilians actually are protesting important things. It just so happens that the straw that broke the camel's back was a bus fare increase of R$0.20.
The problem in the US is that our politicians have learned exactly how to abuse the system in a way that attracts the least ire from the general populace.
People in the US are likely to start protesting and getting angry over things like income taxes and fuel tarifs. That would get the ball rolling and then they would escalate their protests to things that matter.
I'm curious what purpose you see for protests in a representative democracy? It is not intended that our government make law to suit small groups of very vocal people, but rather that the will of the people be expressed, through equal representation, by elected members of government.
Obviously our system does not quite work as intended, but I'm not sure I see how protesting in the street could be effective, or if it was effective how that could be a feature rather than a bug?
Protests serve the same purpose as newspapers, blogs, Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, phone calls, letters, etc: they're for communication.
You might not be able to afford that billboard on the street corner, but you can afford to stand there with signs and still attract attention. Protesting is mass communication for time instead of communication for money.
Personal example: Nearly every time I've seen a group of picketing workers outside an office building has been the first I've heard anything of their employers' practices. Even if I might care as a customer, why would I know about it?
> Protests serve the same purpose as newspapers, blogs, Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, phone calls, letters, etc: they're for communication.
Interesting point. In that respect, isn't the media coverage and outcry on the internet accomplishing the same thing?
> Personal example: Nearly every time I've seen a group of picketing workers outside an office building has been the first I've heard anything of their employers' practices. Even if I might care as a customer, why would I know about it?
I hadn't considered this case, and you're right that it can serve a purpose locally.
Instead of an example like that, when I hear protest I tend to think first of political gathering, e.g. the Occupy protests, which appeared to be more an example of special interests trying to spur legislative action than a method of communication.
Wall St. protests (mostly small compared to the others you mentioned) did happen..
People do express their dissatisfaction, though it seems to be dwindling with more acceptance of whatever is being thrusted upon them..
Just wondering how committed are the sports fanatics in US/Latin America/India or movie fanatics in India and then comparing the (missing) outrage when liberties are at stake.
