You surprise me, Mr. Anti-Marathon. Re-run your economic calculations on that, now move it to a workday and take away the (admittedly small) economic benefits that accrue from the race. My guess is that the protests cost well into the nine figures if you were able to take total decline in economic output into account.

_________________
Fire Phil Emery

Never get comfortable with this wild card.

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Protests, unlike marathons, are an essential component of our political discourse.

How do you like that for a deep, multi page discussion starter?

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Sure, although a lot of the behavior is the legal equivalent of an older brother doing the "I'M NOT TOUCHING YOU!!!" thing to his sibling in the backseat. But leaving that aside, it would take a lot of busted heads and settlements to offset the deadweight loss. I highly doubt it would offset the insurance payments to vandalism also, especially if the protests go full Seattle.

_________________
Fire Phil Emery

Because all over the world its been the cops that started lighting shit on fire and breaking windows at these summits.

_________________

Conns, out of the protestors and the cops, which do you think has a higher percentage of people looking for a fight?

protesters. Cops already feel as though they are under attack and will not be backed by their administration.

_________________

It's (some of) the protesters that have come from all over the world simply to be noticed. Some groups intentionally get noticed through vandalism, violence, etc.

They seek the response from police/authorities in order to "justify" some of their actions.

_________________

The protesters. The police force changes with different locations, but this kind of stuff always brings trouble.

These things have become a big excuse for people who like to riot to riot. Eventually, they are just going to have to move these things to military bases or Augusta National where protestors can't do anything.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Wrong. I have no doubt there are hundreds of cops working this weekend who would love nothing more than to start swinging their billy club at somebody. And as soon as somebody gives them a little lip or a dirty look, they are gonna start swinging. And that will start the ugliness.

_________________

All of those same cops must work in Seattle.
And Lisbon, and Toronto, and.....

_________________

“Fearlessness in those without power is maddening to those who have it.”

_________________

There's nothing quite like a "chicken or the egg" argument to get the board moving.

I have no doubt that some cops are looking to smash heads and that some "protesters" can't wait to smash shit. It's a wash.

_________________

Instead of declaring someone "WRONG!!!" you should just put "In my opinion..." before you, ya know, offer up your opinion. The Summit hasn't begun yet so we don't know what will happen because nothing has happened yet.

_________________

All I know is that dolphin is going to do some bargain shopping next week.

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Im not sure how Id answer the question I posed.


I know there is no police force anywhere in this country short on "Likes to fight" guys.

But obviously the protestors want to get noticed.


Maybe we should break it down by race

I have a hard time believing many police officers look at the videos of other protests associated with this specific thing and say "That looks like fun".

This isn't your normal protest against abortion or rich people. There are people preparing molotov cocktails right now because they know it's riot season.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

If you say so


I cant say Ive done enough research on this specific event.

Not sure if we have law enforcement types on the board. I chatted with a couple of folks are in-laws of the police who will be downtown for the weekend. There is a feeling they are not prepared for this. If accurate, I can see where some of the old tendencies of our force will the reaction the demonstrators get. Meaning this will be a physical affair. That is going to be an unfortunate situation for everyone if this is indeed true.

I got a guy on the inside....I'll keep everyone in the loop.

The riots start when the the cops line up the protesters and shoot them.

Trust me.

I never said they think it might be "fun." I know there are going to be hundreds of douchebag protesters in and around the city this weekend too, but I think there are a lot of cops-- especially some members of the Nat'l Guard, or normal security guards and part time suburban cops who were hired for extra help-- who have this sort of attitude:

"ready to do something" reads to me like 'I if I tell somebody to get off the street, and he doesn't, or he tells me to fuck off as he walks back on the sidewalk, I'll hit him!'

_________________

While you didn't specifically use the word "fun" aren't you pretty much saying they'll get great enjoyment out of beating some hippies?

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

one who frequently calls radio stations and chose a higher profile job in the arts

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Yeah, and then you took it to something totally different. Thinking that the videos look fun is a lot different than looking for a fight. You know just as well as I do that there are dozens of hothead cops out there. Sometimes, they look for anything to pull you over for and/or give you a ticket for. In this instance, some are without question gonna be bloodthirsty.

_________________

how about a relevant one gd

I heard the same thing from "my guy!" who is part of one of the task forces assigned to this. There are agencies from everywhere descending upon the city and the outskirts to set of Command and Control places etc. My Guy! Tells me that it isn't about the CPD being unprepared (they kind of aren't) but that the CPD is undermanned. Which is one of the reasons I kind of agree with Frank in a way, the CPD will be under all sorts of pressure, far out-numbered and undermanned and probably under-equipped...you mix that with protesters who want to burn, riot, steal, smash, destroy and incite, well, you'll have a thing on your hands.

Glad I don't work downtown.

From this hipster chick on Facebook...

Dear friends and Illinois residents,

Please urge Governor Quinn not to activate the National Guard against peacefully demonstrating veterans. Iraq Veterans against the War and the Afghanistan Veterans against the War Committee will lead a unity march on May 20 with the Coalition against NATO/G8 War & poverty agenda. At the end of the march, veterans will ceremoniously return their NATO service medals to denounce the war in Afghanistan.
http://www.ivaw.org/march-justice-and-reconciliation

Is there a petition that we can urge Governor Quinn to activate the National Guard?

_________________

Don't be so guarded with your language, please, tell us more about these "real bad guys"!