Well, lets see. My good friend Byron has been here since 1998. You and habs have been here since last summer. If my good friend Byron is a DU disruptor, he is a very patient one.
While I think Byron's statement that the protesters have "legitimate gripes" is unfortunate, I think his greater point is true. The "legitimate gripes" phrase is unfortunate because the gripe of the various Trotskyites, Moaists, Enviro-wackos and Anarchists is that the existing state has not yet been smashed and we are not yet living in a Utopia of their own construction and control. I count us all lucky that this is not (yet) true
But his larger point is that the Globalism movement is inherently wrong. I had the opportunity to listen to somebody who is part of the forum speak at a religious service on Saturday. He was a wonderful man, and inspiring speaker, and somebody who I would feel confident being in a position of authority. But if he is not elected and not accountable, and he operates with a lot of other people who are not elected and not accountable, then I do not like it one little bit.
It all comes down to who you think should be in control. Should it be the elites, or should it be the people? Should it be a ruling cabal who knows what's best for us, or should it be a representative democracy (i.e. a republic)? These are important and interesting questions. Trashing the idiot protesters only distracts from the real issue.