The Metropolis

Occupy protest: some backlash

Mike Pollitt | Wednesday 19 October, 2011 15:40

If Josh Hall articulated the case for wholeheartedly supporting Occupy London, then Patrick at Shit London sets out what is probably a more widely held view, in a post which is more thoughtful than you might think.

I looked at these two groups [bankers and protestors], some in their pinks shirts and white collars, others in yellow and green striped hemp trousers and was genuinely surprised to find myself thinking “I don’t like any of these people. They’re all c**ts”. Those are the exact words that popped into my head at the time and believe me they surprised me. I had no idea I really felt that way.

Of course, this being the internet, they’re both wrong. Josh wants us to reject capitalism entirely, in favour of I don’t know what but it definitely won’t have iPhones. Patrick’s aggressive apathy is funny but overly pessimistic. Capitalism can be made fairer, greener and more sustainable, it just won’t be easy. Example: Islington council today promised that its highest paid empoyee will earn no more than 10x that of its lowest paid worker. It might sound boring and incremental, but progress is boring and incremental. If everyone followed the council’s lead we’d be starting to get somewhere. So kudos to the protesters for driving the debate. Let’s just hope they don’t win it.

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