I understand what you're saying here,
but it's really a particularly British standpoint. In other countries people really don't have any problem with acting collectively rather than individually. Why are we so different?
Of course one person won't make a difference, that's why you see large groups protesting rather than individuals.
Yes, the Iraq war still went ahead - but the effect on the reputation of Tony Blair and the Labour Party in general was devastating.
And there are many cases in history where protest has been very effective indeed -
Women's Suffrage
Indian Independence
The Civil Rights Movement
The Velvet Revolution and other non-violent "revolutions" in Eastern Europe in the late 1980s
Even, you could say, the Poll Tax
( Zuowan, Mon 15 Nov 2010, 4:07, 2 replies)

Yeah I had the poll tax in mind when i read the OP
But he still has a point, call it a council tax and we will suck it up like flies on shit.

Still think protesting will be very strong in the next few years due to budget cuts, we have had it too good for the last 10-11 years and now we will see strikes/protests of the likes the country has never seen.
(bROKEN aRROW PUA HVI Master, Mon 15 Nov 2010, 12:30, closed)

I absolutely agree
which is why in my reply to Fowcoot above I talked about the people of this country being a bit too comfortable to really do anything about anything...

When a group of people are actively suffering at the hands of another, they become more demonstrative in their dissatisfaction. When they're not being actively oppressed, I think they get somewhat lethargic...
( PMGT -Bacon., Tue 16 Nov 2010, 3:18, closed)