Afternoon:
15°c
We get the point. We got the point two weeks ago. Many people think capitalism stinks and want to say so in the centre of London. No problem there. But a tiny few of them, blessed with time, money and tents, have found a media-friendly way of taunting not capitalism but the Church of England. Cliché confronts platitude, hypocrisy confronts double standard and silly costume confronts silly costume. Bearing witness degenerates into Halloween.
The only concrete result of London's answer to "occupy Wall Street" is that small traders round St Paul's have lost a considerable amount of business, two senior clergymen have lost their jobs and the police and lawyers are on their way to large amounts of overtime. The campers have redistributed cash from poor to rich. I doubt if they care.
The St Paul's protest has been a vintage London happening, but it is beyond a joke. When the campers challenge the land-owner and the local authority with "preparing violence" against them, they play a hypocritical game, of using the law when it suits them, but defying it when it does not. Constraint is always the last resort of the law, and violence the last resort of constraint.
So what? I wonder if the campers would take the same liberal view of trespassers erecting tents in their parents' front gardens.
I have visited the camps in both London and New York, and feel a vague sympathy for their cause but none for its attenuated exploitation. Roughly a third of publics polled in both Britain and America claim to agree with the general loathing of banks and bankers. But while CND and anti-war protests were clear in their objectives, the occupations of St Paul's and Zuccotti Park in New York do little more than "rage against the rich" in a spirit of a half-baked rag week. An added absurdity is that their emblem is borrowed from Guy Fawkes, champion of Roman Catholic authoritarianism against an embryo Parliament.
Their ecclesiastic critics dress in 18th-century robes and cite biblical scripts. It is all too close to Monty Python.
I doubt if anyone in the City of London is unaware of the strength of public and political opinion on the credit crunch. Editorials, parliamentary committees, bank regulators and Vince Cable speeches talk of little else.
Colossal mistakes were made by those governing Britain's economic life after about 2005, into which no inquiry has been held and no account rendered. Chanting slogans such as "capitalism is crisis" adds nothing to this. In allocating blame and rectifying regulation, morality and politics seem at sea, with the nostrums and bromides of clerics peculiarly irrelevant.
Action is needed, and the action has to be political, achieved through democratic institutions under the rule of law. There may be a long tradition in London of street protest and direct action. In 2003, more than a million people marched with quiet dignity against Tony Blair's invasion of Iraq. Students march in defence of their grants, workers in defence of their jobs. Every weekend, free speech is on display at Marble Arch. Hardly a month passes without Londoners' tolerance being strained to the limit as one protest after another congeals the streets round Westminster.
These protests are required to obey the law, designed not to suppress them but to regulate them, so free speech does not conflict with the working of the city and its inhabitants. They too have rights. The long anti-war protest in Parliament Square adds not a jot to the case against war, but is an eyesore, a blot on the Westminster landscape. It also deprives office-workers and tourists of a reasonable amenity. The St Paul's camp does the same. The inability of the authorities to clear these places demonstrates the lunacy of planning laws that desecrate London's skyline for profit but cannot clear a public nuisance.
The St Paul's authorities claim it will take the law nine years to clear their steps. This is on a par with the "health and safety" madmen who, so the cathedral claimed, forced its closure for fear of tent pegs and gas canisters. They are presumably the same inspectors who I recall trying to stop Covent Garden piazza being used for open-air opera since someone might fall over a chair.
As in New York, a few hardened campers are sustained by gawpers, hawkers, publicity seekers, exhibitionists and the hangers-on that attend such media-generated incidents. At least London is not, like New York, persecuting the neighbourhood with late-night drumming and carousing, but the occupants clearly deprive St Paul's and local traders of thousands of pounds of revenue. Despite desperate attempts to portray the church as in the pocket of the banks, this hardly constitutes a blow against high finance.
The issue at St Paul's is not capitalism, nor even religion. It is about the regulation of public debate. The campers, by exploiting public feeling against banks, have reduced a sizeable chunk of liberal opinion to a state of tortured, agonised political correctness.
There are clearly nostalgic Sixties veterans who still go weak at the knees when they hear "All property is theft", "Smash the rich" and "Power to the people." I regard myself as a card-carrying liberal on most things, but I am depressed when liberalism loses its moral backbone and appeases student idiocy.
If the campers really want to show their strength, they should take a leaf from the anti-war movement and depart in good order at the head of a million-strong march for tougher regulation through the City to Canary Wharf. They are no more above the law than the banks should be. Their rightness or sincerity is not at issue. They are no different from others who defy the rules on public order. They should be removed.
Reader views (22)
(part2)...It represents REAL democracy and justice. It also represents a better working social system than we currently have. They may not have all the answers (who does?), although they are asking the right questions. People we did not elect are making important decisions in our lives via government when they have no right to. It is wrong and it needs to be addressed. This is not just a camp at St. Paul's, this a MOVEMENT all over the world. I was speaking with Tony Benn on Friday and he is in full support. And let's be brutally honest here Simon Jenkins, Tony Benn is a thousand times the man you could ever wish to be. Your article is negative, uninformed, lacks vision, lacks responsibility and downright clueless to how the world can improve for the betterment of all mankind. I sincerely hope you manage to somehow get a good education in life one day. How the hell you're getting stuff printed in a newspaper is as baffling as how banks get bailed out with public money and the responsible people still get bonuses instead of the sack or a jail term. When you are writing articles like this for people to read, then it's proof that the world is well and truly f***ed up. Make no mistake. Here's to a better world for everyone.
- Nick, London, UK, 06/11/2011 02:24
Report abuse
I first read this article on the tube after visiting the Occupy site at St. Paul's for the first time this week. Having read an article on BBC website about the occupation I decided to take a look as the office I work at is 5-10 min walk away. As I walked from St. Paul's tube station area around to the front of the church I stopped to listen to a Chinese finance guy having a heated discussion with an unemployed London resident from Hackney. I was waiting on the wings and an older lady who was also listening motioned me in to join the group. After a 10 minutes or so on the scene the 4 of us had grown to a group circle of over 20 people discussing a variety of topics. I was amazed at the level of respect and intelligent discussion. To cut a long story short, I been back there every day since, whenever I have the time away from work duties to do so. I have been meeting and speaking with people from all over the world. I've been filming there. Joining the general assembly and attending meeting and workshops. It's incredible how much you can learn not only about economic and political processes, but REAL life experience of people who not only live in the area but people visiting from all over the world. And how support there is. People from Egypt, USA, Brazil, Spain etc etc... The list goes on. The camp is an entity for good and progression. The only people who would speaking negatively of it are those who do not understand the core of what is represents.......
- Nick, London, UK, 06/11/2011 02:08
Report abuse
I think that the 'water cannon' etc. will soon be directed at the filth bleeding the world's poor.
Reading some of the comments mentioning 'flame-throwers' the word 'quisling' seems most apt.
- Chris, Dorchester Dorset, 05/11/2011 14:28
Report abuse
This is a truly awful, awful article that testifies to a muddled mind, a lack of imagination and the inability to grasp what this is about and why it happened.
Maybe Simon only wants public debate to be carried out via newspaper articles.
And frankly the idea of balancing the 'right to free speech' with the nebulous concept of the 'workings of the city' is verging on dictatorial. Note he talk of freedom of speech and not the right to protest.
He is entitled to his opinion, but I believe it is deeply flawed and hope we'll be seeing a U-turn. The protests make his writing just a little less influential, maybe this is the real basis of his dislike for the movement.
Occupy is acting like a contact lens sharpening our vision on crucial issues and bringing the progressive and defenders of the status quo into the light.
- Will, Kilburn, 03/11/2011 09:49
Report abuse
SJ,
The problem with marches and demos is that they can be ridden out and swirly forgotten. The people see that and they are sick of it. The playing field isn't level. Change is feared by those who stand to lose. Maybe you should look closer at the issue. I went to St Pauls before judging and spoke to many people there. They are all very brave and eloquent. The use of the Guy masks is a post modern symbol more akin to Alan Moore's iconic book V for Vendetta. I suggest you buy a copy on your way home. Media outlets such as yours are hell bent on distorting the issues and avoiding the core desire of the people. BANKS TOOK OR MONEY AND CONTINUE TO DODGE THE SYSTEM. This is only going to get worse and eventually the 99% will win.
- Chris Baker, London, 02/11/2011 13:25
Report abuse
"As in New York, a few hardened campers are sustained by gawpers, hawkers, publicity seekers, exhibitionists and the hangers-on that attend such media-generated incidents".
Yes, Simon Jenkins..... glad to hear you describing yourself for who you really are.
I'm not sure I've heard a better definition of a newspaper hack....
- Chris I, London, 02/11/2011 12:01
Report abuse
The problem Simon Jenkins is the fear of the protesters that if they leave their voice will die and the banks will get up to business as normal. Also, the UK Government may bring in laws that destroy the freedom to protest.
SJ should put his mind to how they can leave peacefully while protecting the right to protest and reform the system. Is it fair a good taxi driver or shop owner who does not make a profit goes bust and yet the bankers have billions for failing (then pay themselves massive sums for that failure!)?
I want them to peacefully leave now, but I am deeply concerned by Simon Jenkins use of words "a vague sympathy". He should have a strong sympathy as the bankers have hit taxpayers, investors and economic growth. Without moral hazard and good Regulation they will do it again.
I see bright young faced lads standing outside big glimming building smoking, using products their Directors and Reguluators do not fully understand. Will you Simon Jenkins call for true Regulation?
- Andrew, London, 02/11/2011 11:16
Report abuse
Surely Mr Jenkins knows by now the British do not believe in the rule of law. Just read the daily comments published on every subject. Most only vote on serious subjects like Strictly come Dancing or Big Brother.
- Alan ., England, 02/11/2011 10:28
Report abuse
Thanks for this, Snidely:
"A true revolution of values will soon cause us to question the fairness and justice of many of our past and present policies. On the one hand, we are called to play the Good Samaritan on life's roadside, but that will be only an initial act. One day we must come to see that the whole Jericho Road must be transformed so that men and women will not be constantly beaten and robbed as they make their journey on life's highway. True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar. It comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring."
-- Martin Luther King, Jr., April 4, 1967
- snidely, london, 01/11/2011 19:26
"AN EDIFICE THAT PRODUCES BEGGARS NEEDS RESTRUCTURING" but will these happy campers be the ones to build it? What exactly do they seek to achieve? We all know the problem; but not how to solve it.
- Tallulah, Hove, UK, 01/11/2011 22:13
Report abuse
A million-strong march, what a brilliant idea. I'm sure the ES will be running a week-long front page campaign to garner support for it.
Maybe precede it with a week of financial awareness/literacy. The masses are so up to their necks in debt (partly due to their own greed, partly due to mis-selling and corporate greed/state intervention) they don't have the time to appreciate the finer details of global trade imbalances, unregulated credit default swaps and junk CDOs.
The Occupy London camps are genuine (if somewhat middle-class, but see above) manifestations of protest, through education, debate and targeted actions and PR stunts. The anti-cuts march on 26 March this year (which I attended) was little more than a flag-waving exercise for the unions, and put forward no credible alternative.
The media don't help either, with their obsession for reporting violence. So all in all I don't buy your thesis and I'm putting my money on the "campers" and their "media-generated incidents", whatever they are!
- Bob MacCallum, SE21, 01/11/2011 21:22
Report abuse
You should be depressed Mr Jenkins. You've lost it. Collect your 30 pieces of silver and leave.
- snidely, london, 01/11/2011 19:31
Report abuse
A true revolution of values will soon cause us to question the fairness and justice of many of our past and present policies. On the one hand, we are called to play the Good Samaritan on life's roadside, but that will be only an initial act. One day we must come to see that the whole Jericho Road must be transformed so that men and women will not be constantly beaten and robbed as they make their journey on life's highway. True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar. It comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring.
-- Martin Luther King, Jr., April 4, 1967
- snidely, london, 01/11/2011 19:26
Report abuse
Too Right Mr Jenkins!
As it says in the Bill of Rights or whatever: Freedom To Protest As Long it Doesn't Annoy Anyone And Is Totally Ineffective And Everybody Goes Home So We Can Safely Ignore Them At The End.
What if this thing spreads? Imagine the great unwashed camping in your country pile? Best to condemn them to live in hovels as the National Trust thinks. I mean everything good was built 200 years ago for the landed gentry and no new homws should now be built for the proles.
- DK, London, 01/11/2011 18:22
Report abuse
What a stupid man, of course we get the point, trouble is nothing is being done about it, when corporate greed is eliminated and the wages gap with more jobs are sorted then he should join them or write a damning article on the banks and their corporations.
- James, Grays, 01/11/2011 18:21
Report abuse
Hmm. Not *really* a 'fair and balanced' piece, though.
- John O'Connell, Surbiton, 01/11/2011 17:15
Report abuse
Simon Jenkins what a bore. He's back from his Clear Parliament Square garbage of a some months ago. If he was in Parliament Square spouting it might well be worth clearing off. When Malcolm Muggeridge got older he got increasingly more reactionary and boring - no prizes for guessing who's going the same way?
- IAN CAMERON, LONDON. SW4., 01/11/2011 17:07
Report abuse
I actually agree with Simon J.
- Bill, London, 01/11/2011 15:33
Report abuse
Interesting choice of words, Simon: The protesters "are" no more above the law than the bankers "should be".
So, you acknowledge that bankers are above the law (a blindingly obvious fact) although I am pleased to see that you agree they should not be?
- Paul M, London, 01/11/2011 13:41
Report abuse
Hasn't 'Editorials, parliamentary committees, bank regulators and Vince Cable speeches talk of little else' been angered for 3 years and yet any reforms vehemently resisted by the banks to little response from politicians? Polite protest just doesn't cut it anymore.
- Raymond, Orpington, Kent, 01/11/2011 13:30
Report abuse
perhaps if media,and politicians did there jobs we wouldn't need the protest
but as "hack gate" shows we cant trust them can we Sir Simon
How can we have in effect a rotten borough in this day and age Like the City Of London Corporation (The City of London Corporation was not reformed by the Municipal Corporations Act 1835, nor by subsequent legislation, and with time has become increasingly anomalous)?
- Lobbyistrules, UK, 01/11/2011 13:28
Report abuse
This revolution coming to the western “democracies” is not against a particular government or political party, as they are now irrelevant, or shall we say not immediately relevant. Governments in the West have now only peashooter at their disposal, the bazooka called for by David Cameron is in the hands of the Master – the market, controlled by the 1%. What is the point of the 99% fighting their governments or political elite if the trophy for winning is a peashooter? The logic suggests that you should go to disarm the Bazooka first. Any suggestions as to how to disarm this Bazooka?
- meewaan, suffolk, 01/11/2011 12:40
Report abuse
The only concrete result of London's answer to "occupy Wall Street" is that small traders round St Paul's have lost a considerable amount of business
Simon J - can you prove this? Give us some evidence. I walk past the protest every day and the site is always packed with onlookers, who would then need refreshment from the local businesses (and they do).
Next time you make a comment which you hope will be read, make it credible...as at it stands, what you have said cannot be proved. Whatever your political stance, make it truthful!
- Rod, Epping, UK, 01/11/2011 12:37
Report abuse
