Dear Belly,

I remember a few years ago being at one protest
which was peaceful. And guess what? Nobody was interested.
I asked one journalist why they weren't taking photos
or filming - and he said, "Oh we're here because we were
told they'd be rioting. Nothing's happening yet."
There you go. I suppose if I had bashed a few of them
with my placards - or torn a policeman off his horse -
our protest might have made it onto the six o'clock
news. Right?

Your probably right Lexi when it comes to media coverage. The right to assembly and how effective it is as a form of democratic expression depends entirely upon the numbers.

As I inferred earlier, if an assembly consists of tens of thousands of participants then obviously the population supports the assembly. If that assembly has attracted undeniable numbers, any form of attempt to break up a peaceful assembly by force, should be considered by any thinking person a case of the state enforcing it's will upon it's population. The media in this situation is irrelevant in the face of democracy in action.

This is why the right to assembly is the most crucial of rights in a democracy.

Two recent examples: Abbott's failed convoy attempt. Obviously this is indicative of the fact that no actual appetite exists, for his election, otherwise people would have voted with their feet. And (2) Imagine if the Howard Govt had bought in the tanks and water cannon to break up the assembly's we saw over Workchoices ?, the thought is preposterous isn't it ?.

I remember days in my youth in peaceful assembly to end a war, that saw the befouled State Govt's of the day insert agitators, narks, and security agents to begin violence within peaceful demonstrations, in order to give the police reason to commit more violence. I proudly remember the police whom could not countenance the instructions of their political masters and crossed the line to our side.

Now that's an assembly. And the only actual professional protesters were the ones on the Govt payroll. The Conservative side of politics in Australia played dirty then and nothing ever changes.

This new wanton display of muscle (by the new liberal state Govt's), by using police force against peaceful assembly, is a tactic of populist politics, this is what makes it even more reprehensible than before. It's of the same fabric or pattern as shooting endangered sharks in WA, or running cows through Victoria's Alpine National Parks. All for targeted votes and poll results and food for the media cycle.

Its dastardly clever Belly, but it scares the pants off me.

Dear thinker 2,

I think I must be getting old.

I no longer have that fire that I used
to have. Well, perhaps it just needs
stirring once more. I watched "Q and A,"
on Monday night and one of the panelists
when asked about the "occupy Melbourne,"
protestors, said, "The young should be angry
and should protest. That's their right.
It's when you reach middle-age that you
should have things worked out by then..."
I'm probably mis-quoting him, but you know
what I mean.

Should we leave protesting to the young?

Hi Lexi, I think there is some truth in the youth aspect, after all it is their world or future, if you like.

And yes I still have a little fire, at least on paper. (lol)

On a serious note with regard to the relationship between the New Victorian Liberal Govt and the Vic Police, it appears the mystery deepens. A link:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-27/police-minister-feels-betrayed-by-adviser/3604704.

And speaking of fire in the belly (not you Belly), after viewing this link, I came to the conclusion that it is clearly possible the the Vic Police Minister Ryan could have been complicit in the undermining of Commissioner Overland and should stand down immediately pending investigation as to the truth of this matter.

It is his word against that of Sir Ken Jones, Weston, Tilley, etc. The Minister is clearly compromised. The Bailleaiu response has been to announce a new loosely termed Independent Crime Commission, no doubt to replace the troublesome OPI.

Worrying times Lexi.