Is Civil Disobedience a valid method of protest?

[radcen]

Is Civil Disobedience a valid method of protest?

 

[TurtleDude]

Is Civil Disobedience a valid method of protest?

depends if it is a victimless "crime" or one that harms other people

refusing to register for an unjust (they all are IMHO) draft or burning a draft card is a valid method of protest

blocking streets so others are inconvenienced is not

 

[A.Pearce]

Is Civil Disobedience a valid method of protest?

It's definitely valid. Of course if it's not for a good cause then public support for it tends to be quite low.

 

[TurtleDude]

If you have a permit its civil obedience

 

[radcen]

blocking streets so others are inconvenienced is not

I've debated this in my mind many times. At the very least, it is not the most well thought out strategy. Making me late for whatever I'm doing does not make me want to be sympathetic to your cause.

 

[spud_meister]

Yes, it is, in some instances not the smartest, but it's still valid.

 

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

depends if it is a victimless "crime" or one that harms other people....refusing to register for an unjust (they all are IMHO) draft or burning a draft card is a valid method of protest....blocking streets so others are inconvenienced is not

What TD said except I would raise the standard for it being OK from 'inconvenienced' to actual harm (vandalism, theft, assault, etc.)

 

[TurtleDude]

What TD said except I would raise the standard for it being OK from 'inconvenienced' to actual harm (vandalism, theft, assault, etc.)

missing work can be actual harm

losing business can be actual harm

 

[Redress]

depends if it is a victimless "crime" or one that harms other people

refusing to register for an unjust (they all are IMHO) draft or burning a draft card is a valid method of protest

blocking streets so others are inconvenienced is not

I actually think this is pretty accurate. Burning and looting buildings to protest(ala Detroit when I was a kid), that is not a valid method of protest. Blocking the entrance to a business you don't like and are protesting, sure, as long as you are willing to accept the legal consequences. I do not have a lot of sympathy for protesters who run afoul of police, who are usually in a difficult position and doing their absolute best.

It should also be noted that in this day and age, I tend to think that peaceful, legal protests are more effective and useful than any civil disobedience.

 

[Kali]

I actually think this is pretty accurate. Burning and looting buildings to protest(ala Detroit when I was a kid), that is not a valid method of protest. Blocking the entrance to a business you don't like and are protesting, sure, as long as you are willing to accept the legal consequences. I do not have a lot of sympathy for protesters who run afoul of police, who are usually in a difficult position and doing their absolute best.

It should also be noted that in this day and age, I tend to think that peaceful, legal protests are more effective and useful than any civil disobedience.

Burning and looting buildings is NOT Civil Disobedience?? Keyword here is civil.

 

[Redress]

Burning and looting buildings is NOT Civil Disobedience?? Keyword here is civil.

Point taken.

 

[LaMidRighter]

If you have a permit its civil obedience

You beat me to it LOL!

 

[LaMidRighter]

Dr. King and the civil rights movement got civil disobedience exactly right IMO. Sitting at the "whites only" section and basically saying "We're people, we're here, and we're ready to do business" was very powerful. Rosa Parks had it right when she refused to move, hey she worked as hard as the person who got there after her, she deserved her seat.

 

[radcen]

Dr. King and the civil rights movement got civil disobedience exactly right IMO. Sitting at the "whites only" section and basically saying "We're people, we're here, and we're ready to do business" was very powerful. Rosa Parks had it right when she refused to move, hey she worked as hard as the person who got there after her, she deserved her seat.

These are good examples.

 

[apdst]

Is Civil Disobedience a valid method of protest?

As long as it's actually civil and doesn't trample on the rights of others. The so called civil disobedience at Kent State involved burning down private property. The so called civil disobedience in NYC is killing profits for privately owned businesses in the area where the protests are taking place.

 

[LaMidRighter]

One thing I've never understood is the boycott, if a company doesn't want to do business with a certain group and they turn around and say they aren't going to do business with the company then don't we come full circle?

 

[apdst]

missing work can be actual harm

losing business can be actual harm

That's right, if someone misses work, he doesn't get paid, he might even get fired. That's definitely doing harm.

If a small business loses profits and can't meet the rent, or the light bill, it might have to close down. The average small business is two weeks away from bankruptcy, so every day with no profit, puts that business one day closer to going belly up.

 

[Jaaaman]

The so called civil disobedience in NYC is killing profits for privately owned businesses in the area where the protests are taking place.

And the Wallstreet loiterers could care less.

 

[apdst]

One thing I've never understood is the boycott, if a company doesn't want to do business with a certain group and they turn around and say they aren't going to do business with the company then don't we come full circle?

The issue I have with boycotts, is how do you justify outting people people out of work, if you manage to force that business to close it's doors? At the end of the day, what's been accomplished? Working class folks are out of a job and the business operator cut his losses, took the money and ran.

 

[apdst]

And the Wallstreet loiterers could care less.

They hate capitalism. They have the fullbore support of the Communist and Nazi Parties.

BTW, welcome back.

 

[radcen]

The issue I have with boycotts, is how do you justify outting people people out of work, if you manage to force that business to close it's doors? At the end of the day, what's been accomplished? Working class folks are out of a job and the business operator cut his losses, took the money and ran.

But on the flip side, how do people express their displeasure in a meaningful and significant manner? Something that will cause the leaders of the company to take notice and actually possibly make a change in how they do things?

 

[Jaaaman]

They hate capitalism. They have the fullbore support of the Communist and Nazi Parties.

BTW, welcome back.

Thanks Apdst. Glad to be back.

 

[apdst]

But on the flip side, how do people express their displeasure in a meaningful and significant manner? Something that will cause the leaders of the company to take notice and actually possibly make a change in how they do things?

Make sure that it worth putting a person in the unemployment line, I reckon.

IOW, make sure that the boycott isn't motivated by some asinine political agenda, which would rule out just about every boycott I've ever heard of.

 

[Cold Highway]

The issue I have with boycotts, is how do you justify outting people people out of work, if you manage to force that business to close it's doors? At the end of the day, what's been accomplished? Working class folks are out of a job and the business operator cut his losses, took the money and ran.

The way I see it, its either boycott the business or ask the thugerment to step in with its cadre of guns to force the business to do what you want. I prefer the power of the purse over the thugerment any day.

 

[LaMidRighter]

The issue I have with boycotts, is how do you justify outting people people out of work, if you manage to force that business to close it's doors? At the end of the day, what's been accomplished? Working class folks are out of a job and the business operator cut his losses, took the money and ran.

Never even considered that point, you are right provided the boycott works and it seems to me that most of them fail. It's true enough that hurting people who don't necessarily agree with the actions of the company doesn't solve much.