The Protestors

[ProfessorGAC]

We've all seen the photos of the Gridlock silliness. Right here on DU.
I think we & the media are making too much of this.
Acknowledging fully the potential impact on others not directly involved in their tantrum, let's step back & think about 2 examples.
That picture in Lansing, MI shows maybe(!) 50 people. There are nearly 10 million Michiganders. This a half of one thousandths of a percent.
The one from SoCal (forget exactly what city) had perhaps 200 people.
There are more than 15 million people in that megalopolis. 0.00133%.
I think it best we just ignore them. If nobody pays attention, they'll go home where they belong.

[samnsara]

1. wonder if their insurance will pick up the tab for their stupidity??

[ProfessorGAC]

2. Probably

But, they probably could make a case of reckless behavior assuming the associated risks. But, probably not the PR battle the company wants to fight. Especially with these Loch & deVos backed whiners.

[Squinch]

3. Of course we are making too much of them. We should be ignoring them.

And that's what I plan to do from here on.

[ProfessorGAC]

5. Let's Hope...

...the media realizes they represent essentially no great public sentiment. They really are not newsworthy.

[Squinch]

10. The media will only do that if WE ignore the stories. The media is a toddler.

Everything they do is for attention. Don't give attention to a behavior and the behavior will fade away.

[gibraltar72]

4. I agree it is over played.

However it was in the thousands. Over 20 went from my little hotspot county. Most stayed in their vehicles blocking traffic and hospital many marched. The more militant were on the statehouse steps. There were lots of idiots there. Including sign guy he's mine and we have 11 deaths here.

[ProfessorGAC]

7. Pictures I Did Not See

To really do a detailed view would be contrary to my view that they should be ignored.
But, I stand corrected.
In SoCal though, the pictures included a helicopter shot. I'm certain there were not thousands there.

[gibraltar72]

9. No I believe Michigan was biggest by far. Betsy Devos

has yuuuge influence here. There were vids of the slowdown and bottlenecks on interstates leading in to lansing. 127 was at nearly a standstill they blocked trucks. I am sure they are out there. Ambulance couldn't get to Sparrow hospital. Health care worker used phone to show him unable to get to work.

[vlyons]

6. They are the Me First

and only Me First crowd. Perpetually pissed at every inconvenience. Perpetually pissed and resentful that life isn't fair, pissed that others have better advantages, better jobs, homes, toys, etc. Someone just has to blame for their suffering.

Not nice people.

[ProfessorGAC]

8. Inconvenience

Excluding those who have actually been put out of work, if grocery, big box, hardware, liquor stores & other services are available (we just had a sanitary drain issue & plumbers were working) how inconvenient is it really?
Besides, NOBODY is enjoying this. I'd rather not worry about it & just go about my life.
Also, did you see anybody carrying a sign saying "Let me go to work!"? Perhaps there were some, but none that I've seen.

[underpants]

12. #ME!First

I’m using that.

[lark]

11. Betsy DeVos sure isn't getting good value for her money. n/t

[malaise]

13. I saw some new polling data this morning

Only 8% of those polled disagree with Dr Fauci. That is proof that you are correct - the vast majority support doing what the scientists tell them to do. Well over 50% think it is too early to return to work or school

[dalton99a]

14. Kick

[roamer65]

15. Time to bring out the National Guard troops.

[gratuitous]

16. The amount of uncritical coverage is ridiculous

Nobody's called them "just a focus group," like the major media outlets described the millions of demonstrators in 2002 and 2003 against the Iraq war. The tone of the reporting toward today's yahoos has been respectful with lots of calls for understanding folks. To this point, I have not yet seen one mention that these carefully cultivated astroturf demonstrations are taking place only in states with Democratic governors. It's apparently just an amazing coincidence, not worthy of comment.