Bin Tax Protest at City Hall Estimates meeting

by Amazed reader Wed Nov 26, 2008 23:06

Why was there a protest on the issue of bin charges? That campaign is long over. Why did Joan Collins, SWP/PBPA councillor not organise a protest against the cuts, a current issue, rather than the bin charges which is a defeated campaign? Makes no sense, but does it indicate someone who is out of touch or trying to live off past glories of a campaign unfortuntely which was lost.

by Plato Thu Nov 27, 2008 08:39

Amazed reader, can you explain how a fight for basic justice can ever be deemed to be 'lost'. Stop reading the S/Indo and watching FoxNews.

by PBPA Supporter - - Thu Nov 27, 2008 10:40

Campaign is not over and is still alive and well in a number of communities across Dublin. Look if Joan Collins wasn't there the whingers would say she walked away from it. I say fair play to Joan and others who still support communities who are resisting the charge.
And for your information PBPA is involved a huge number of pickets and protests over the budget- so you should have your facts correct first.

by Amazed Reader Thu Nov 27, 2008 13:40

PBPA/SWP supporters who wrote replies why are you being dishonest? I don't read the Sunday Independent. I know that the bin charges fight is over because I can see the reality. Apart from some sporadic stunts organised by the likes of Joan Collins, Brid Smith and a few others in the SWP for opportunist electoral reasons there is no longer any active opposition to the bin charges. There is nothing wrong with stating this but there is something wrong with pretending that a genuine active campaign of opposition still exists. The bin charges campaigns all over the country were defeated. Stand on the main streets of Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway and ask 1,000 people in each city about their local campaign against the bin charges. I guarantee you will not meet one single person who is involved in or knows of an active campaign. It is dishonest for you to claim otherwise and it is wrong for people who claim to be left to lie to working class people by claiming there is still a struggle going on. Is PBPA/SWP still calling on people not to pay the bin charges?
I never said that PBPA/SWP hadn't organised token protests outside Tds clinics against the cuts. I said that you had not organised one outside the Dublin city council meeting at which a budget was being passed which included cuts.

by PBPA supporter - - Thu Nov 27, 2008 14:30

Amazed must be blind but there is still an active bin charges campaign in many areas, where many people still refuse to pay their charges. If it wasn't the indo you were reading you certainly have had your head buried firmly in the sand.
I wouldn't describe the protests at TDs clinics token. In one case in artane there has been over 100 people each week at Sean Haughey's clinic.
I wonder when is 'amazed reader' and his organisation's budget protests- please enlighten us so I can be 'amazed' too.

by Amazed Reader Fri Nov 28, 2008 01:00

85,000, that is the number I estimate have participated in protests organised by trade unions and serious campaigns against the budget cuts in the last while. 100 at a protest at Sean Haugheys clinic, if there even was that many, is a token protest in comparison, organised to promote your front name PBPA.
I asked you a question. Do the PBPA/SWP still call on people not to pay the bin charges?

by PBPA supporter - - Fri Nov 28, 2008 09:36

We'll try again...How many people were at 'Amazed Reader's budget protest? HOW MANY?
Its an individual's own perception whether 100 at Sean Haughey (and there have been by the way) is a token or sizeable protest. I know lots of teachers and parents who think it was more than a token protest. And your comments are an INSULT to the many trade unionists from INTO, ASTI and TUI who took part in the protest as well as parents and school children.
Again I ask how many were on your organisations budget protest? You are cleverly avoiding this by quoting figures from the INTO national protests and by asking about the swp's line on the bin charges.
Answer the question- it might clear things up for many other amazed readers, dying to hear about your input to budget protests.
I for one say fair play to PBPA, SF and people not alligned to any party or organisation who organised and took part in the picket at Sean Haugheys clinic.

by Amazed Reader Fri Nov 28, 2008 13:42

I am involved in a campaign which organised a protest against the over 70s losing their medical cards, 3,500 took part, that is 35 times the size of your picket! Are you still asking people not to pay the bin charges?