“If you don’t vote you don’t have a say” is something my dad says to me virtually every time we see each other.

I will argue voting is actually the opposite of having your say. You don’t need a voice to put a tick in a box you just need a pen… The government will tell us that it is being part of the political process but the reality is something quite different.

In truth it exonerates us from responsibilities to our communities and offers us enough satisfaction to know that we have taken part in the democratic process of voting for who we think will govern best without posing the question: Do we need to be governed at all?

Whilst I don’t subscribe to the idea that people (the masses) are stupid, I do believe that the truth and righteousness does not lie automatically with the masses. Most people want to get through life causing the least problems for themselves and those around them whilst enjoying the fruits of their labour and spending time with those they love.

What people want and what they get are usually quite different, most of us struggle in the UK. We do. Most of us have some financial debt, most of us have missed an “agreed” payment, most of us purchase on credit or take out loans,Why? Because we want even if only for a brief moment to have what other people have, be it a bigger TV, a nice holiday or a car that doesn’t break down every month. Even if they had to get it on the credit card…

We don’t like risk, we like an easy life with as little stress as possible. Which is part of the reason we let ourselves be victimised to such an extent before we start to put ourselves out there to ask why we are taking such shit.

We know politicians lie, we know big corporations lie, we know the media lies but we choose to accept it rather than fight against it…

When we do start to get pissed off with the people at the top we make the least amount of effort possible, e.g. make a donation, write a letter, sign a petition, vote against politician A or B… to appease the nagging feeling that we should be more angry. Then we can know that we at least did “something” about that new bit of law or tax or company that killed babies in Africa.

Democratically elected parties actually encourage this sort of behavior… why? Because it causes them the least amount of hassle and money… the media then says that anyone who stepped outside of the publicly accepted comfort zone and took direct action are acting against the masses who are part of a democracy.

People have chosen to forget our proud history of direct action and allowed it to be whitewashed and replaced with talk of our democracy. Apathetic masses only stirring from the comfort of their computer chairs to repeat the state and media message of lawful, legitimate peaceful protest and pacifism. Daring even to criticise those who stood and walked from the daily existence to live for a moment at risk. Vulnerable but alive. Free.

As for violence, we live in a violent society. If you couldn’t pay your rent you would be removed from a property, eventually by force. If you didn’t pay your taxes you would eventually be sent to prison, these taxes which pay for violent wars and violent vivisection, taxes which bail out companies who violently exploit workers and murder indigenous people and poison water supplies and landbases.

Why let the state and corporations have a monopoly on violence, why not stand up and defend ourselves, our landbases and each other?

To break a window is liberating in itself, it is symbolic and serves many purposes it allows even for just a fleeting moment the veneer of our lives to slip. In that moment everything is possible, we realise that we can live amazing lives without restraint. Conversely it shatters the idea that they are unaccountable and best of all untouchable.

As for fearing mainstream media reaction to direct action, they do not care about a protest that has no teeth for a start, they give no lip service to any protest movement unless it sells. They will always tell people what they want to hear, that direct action happened and it was illegal and illegal is wrong. They are nothing more than an a tool and extension of the state in that respect.

The media will talk of “public opinion” but when you take the time to talk to your neighbours about how they feel about the issues, you will most time find that we all feel the same. Angry and betrayed. Looking for an outlet to focus their anger…

For me it is about breaking the silence and making things real for struggling people, we deserve more for our labour and our contribution to society, we deserve quality of life for our communities and we don’t need people in Whitehall to tell us how to live our lives. Nor do we need them making us pay more than the rich and foot the bill every time some big business fucks up the economy.

Make your choice, apathy, voting or direct action… because they are the only choices we have.

Chris Freeactivist

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