| Topic: |
Politics > Politics-USA |
| User: |
"Captain Compassion" |
| Date: |
19 Jan 2007 09:09:50 PM |
| Object: |
Need a Demonstrator? Now You Can Rent Them Online |
Need a Demonstrator? Now You Can Rent Them Online
By David Gordon Smith
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,460449,00.html
A German Web site has come up a novel niche market -- renting out
demonstrators for public protests. Good-looking protestors can help an
organization get its political message to the public for as little as
€145 a day.
Loud public protests accompanied the recent revelation that doctors
had hired protesters for a December demonstration in front of Berlin's
Reichstag.
For Germans old enough to remember the glory days of 1968, when
communes were all the rage and students took to the streets to protest
against all kinds of injustices, the country in 2007 is almost a
completely foreign place. The welfare state is being rolled back,
German troops are now engaged in military operations abroad, and the
current generation of young people seems more interested in attending
business school than bringing down the military-industrial complex.
Just how much the world has changed since those days can be seen at
the Web site Erento.com. What the '68 generation once did out of
passion, people now do for money. Berlin-based Erento, a company that
pairs renters with potential customers, offers an unusual lineup of
products and services for loan. In addition to such rentals as snow
machines, horse-drawn carriages for weddings, chicken-plucking
machines and private jets, the site also now offers a unique service:
protestors for hire.
Judging by their profiles, most of the 300-plus people currently
listed in the "rent a demonstrator" category are young and attractive.
Potential agitators looking for support for their public protests can
choose, for example, Steffen, age 22, 190 cm tall (6 feet 2 inches),
"athletic" and with a shoe size of 45. He's available for gigs all
over Germany, but says he prefers the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Or Manuela, who has green eyes and "very long" hair and is available
within a 100-kilometer range of Berlin. Included in the extensive
personal information -- which at times seems more suited to a dating
site -- are skin color and "appearance type," which can be for example
"European," "African," "South American" or "Asian."
All in a day's work
An Eremto spokesperson told SPIEGEL ONLINE that most of the
demonstrators were "students, pensioners, or housewives," adding that
the pseudo protestors are free to negotiate their own price with
customers. Most seem to have settled for an all-inclusive price of
€145 ($188) for six hours' work, although some can also be hired for a
mere €10 an hour. Erento takes 4.9 percent of the money as a
management fee, the rest goes to the demonstrator.
The business model certainly seems to be working -- publishing
congomerate Holtzbrinck, which recently purchased the German
equivalent of Facebook, StudiVZ, bought 13 percent of Erento earlier
this week for an undisclosed sum in the region of €1 million to €3
million. Erento was founded in 2003 and currently features items and
services to rent in 2,200 categories.
But isn't it problematic if an organization decides to rent protestors
instead of using their own, politically committed activists? "Each
organization has to decide that for itself," the Erento spokesperson
said, explaining that the new category was added to the Web site as a
result of a series of enquiries by organizations seeking protestors.
However the free market has not entirely overcome political principle.
The demonstrators say they are not available for just any kind of
protest. Those involving neo-Nazis or promoting discrimination, for
example, are out of the question. "The demonstrators have to decide
for themselves what kind of protests they are willing to participate
in," the spokesperson said. "One person might be in favor of health
care reforms, while another might be against them."
Of course, those prickly health care reforms are currently a hot topic
in German politics. A national association of doctors recently found
itself in hot water after it was revealed that the organization had
hired up to 200 "demonstrators" to take part in a protest against
proposed health care reforms outside the German parliament in Berlin.
Roland Stahl, spokesman for the Association of Statutory Insurance
Physicians (KVB) defended the decision to hire students and the
unemployed as demonstrators. "That wasn't a demonstration, rather a
pure public relations exercise," he told SPIEGEL ONLINE, adding that
hiring people for such events is normal.
Whatever form an organization's public relations exercise takes,
Erento's multi-talented protestors for hire are apparently able to
hold placards and shout slogans, as well as simply make up the needed
numbers to create a mass. Other services presumably need to be
negotiated directly with the contractor, but it seems safe to assume
the rented rebels would be unwilling to throw Molotov cocktails or
fight with police officers -- at least not for €10 an hour. This is a
new era of demonstrating, after all.
--
Wherever I go it will be well with me, for it was well with me here, not
on account of the place, but of my judgments which I shall carry away
with me, for no one can deprive me of these; on the contrary, they alone
are my property, and cannot be taken away, and to possess them suffices
me wherever I am or whatever I do. -- EPICTETUS
"There are no absolute certainties in this universe. A man must try to
whip order into a yelping pack of probabilities, and uniform success is
impossible." -- Jack Vance
"Civilization is the interval between Ice Ages." -- Will Durant.
"Progress is the increasing control of the environment by life.
--Will Durant
Joseph R. Darancette
daranc@NOSPAMverizon.net
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: Need a Demonstrator? Now You Can Rent Them Online |
20 Jan 2007 10:45:47 AM |
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Captain Compassion wrote:
Need a Demonstrator? Now You Can Rent Them Online
By David Gordon Smith
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,460449,00.html
A German Web site has come up a novel niche market -- renting out
demonstrators for public protests. Good-looking protestors can help an
organization get its political message to the public for as little as
=E2=82=AC145 a day.
Loud public protests accompanied the recent revelation that doctors
had hired protesters for a December demonstration in front of Berlin's
Reichstag.
Nothing new about this. Many of the protesters you see at rallies are
just actors and it's been like that for decades. Same with the
"man-in-in-the-street" interviews so popular with the media. Usually
just an actor.
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| User: "Captain Compassion" |
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| Title: Re: Need a Demonstrator? Now You Can Rent Them Online |
20 Jan 2007 12:57:15 PM |
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On 20 Jan 2007 08:45:47 -0800, wrote:
Captain Compassion wrote:
Need a Demonstrator? Now You Can Rent Them Online
By David Gordon Smith
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,460449,00.html
A German Web site has come up a novel niche market -- renting out
demonstrators for public protests. Good-looking protestors can help an
organization get its political message to the public for as little as
€145 a day.
Loud public protests accompanied the recent revelation that doctors
had hired protesters for a December demonstration in front of Berlin's
Reichstag.
Nothing new about this. Many of the protesters you see at rallies are
just actors and it's been like that for decades. Same with the
"man-in-in-the-street" interviews so popular with the media. Usually
just an actor.
But now it's being marketed. The Captain had this idea 6 years ago.
Planning a little Ruckus?
Greetings Brothers, Sisters and Comrades;
My name is Joseph R. Darancette, aka Captain Compassion. And don't let
that handle fool you. I am compassionate for YOUR cause.
Lets be honest here. The current civil actions, protests, direct
actions, marches are not quite what they were in the 60's and 70's.
It's not that the causes are not as just or the enemy as greedy and
mean sprinted. So you ask:
"Captain, we planned for months, we sent out filers, and posted on the
net. But only 25 protesters showed up for the Peace and Justice teach
in against the new water treatment plant what did we do wrong?"
Well quite frankly, it's leadership. I mean Sheen is a good guy and
all but he's busy with films, his multimillion dollar ranch in Malibu
and keeping his kids out of the joint. And in all honesty he just
ain't the sharpest pencil in the box. Where have all the smart ones
gone? They are out earning the big bucks in business. What to do?
Well Anarchists 'R' Us has the answer for you. The Captain can provide
your just cause with anarchists and radicals of every stripe. These
aren't your limousine liberals, but real vets of such organizations as
SDS, SNCC, YIP and yes even the New Weather Underground and on special
order hardened vets from Aryan Nation and the KKK. And for that really
big protest the Captain himself is always available to help.
"But Captain, what about all that special stuff we need to make our
action a success?"
Well the Captain has got it. We can guarantee next day delivery on:
* Tree spikes.
* Gas masks.
* Hard hats.
* Uniforms
* And much much more. (ask for a catalog).
The Captain also has the worlds largest selection Che Berets in all
sizes and colors.
Also available are web hosting and printing services. Special services
available by request.
Respond by E-male for price schedule.
Anarchists 'R' Us inc.
"In Chaos there is opportunity"
--
Wherever I go it will be well with me, for it was well with me here, not
on account of the place, but of my judgments which I shall carry away
with me, for no one can deprive me of these; on the contrary, they alone
are my property, and cannot be taken away, and to possess them suffices
me wherever I am or whatever I do. -- EPICTETUS
"There are no absolute certainties in this universe. A man must try to
whip order into a yelping pack of probabilities, and uniform success is
impossible." -- Jack Vance
"Civilization is the interval between Ice Ages." -- Will Durant.
"Progress is the increasing control of the environment by life.
--Will Durant
Joseph R. Darancette
daranc@NOSPAMverizon.net
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: Need a Demonstrator? Now You Can Rent Them Online |
21 Jan 2007 02:16:03 AM |
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On Sat, 20 Jan 2007 10:57:15 -0800, Captain Compassion
<daranc@NOSPAMverizon.net> wrote:
Anarchists 'R' Us inc.
"In Chaos there is opportunity"
There are two ways to make money. By building a civilization or by
tearing one down.
Swill
--
"Where mistakes have been made,
the responsibility rests with me."
George Bush - 1/10/2006
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| User: "Clave" |
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| Title: Re: Need a Demonstrator? Now You Can Rent Them Online |
21 Jan 2007 02:50:27 AM |
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<governorswill@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:o886r2pq29jenl7e8rqtg95oad4oh7dh3o@4ax.com...
On Sat, 20 Jan 2007 10:57:15 -0800, Captain Compassion
<daranc@NOSPAMverizon.net> wrote:
Anarchists 'R' Us inc.
"In Chaos there is opportunity"
There are two ways to make money. By building a civilization or by
tearing one down.
Profound-sounding *****.
Bookies/brokers make some of the hugest money there is without doing either.
There are plenty of other examples if you think about it, especially if your
"or" is exclusive.
Jim
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| User: "Clave" |
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| Title: Re: Need a Demonstrator? Now You Can Rent Them Online |
21 Jan 2007 02:55:14 AM |
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"Clave" <ClaviusNoSpamDammit@cablespeed.com> wrote in message
news:CaCdnYc1m83PtC7YnZ2dnUVZ_rCsnZ2d@cablespeedwa.com...
<governorswill@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:o886r2pq29jenl7e8rqtg95oad4oh7dh3o@4ax.com...
On Sat, 20 Jan 2007 10:57:15 -0800, Captain Compassion
<daranc@NOSPAMverizon.net> wrote:
Anarchists 'R' Us inc.
"In Chaos there is opportunity"
There are two ways to make money. By building a civilization or by
tearing one down.
Profound-sounding *****.
Bookies/brokers make some of the hugest money there is without doing
either.
There are plenty of other examples if you think about it, especially if
your "or" is exclusive.
Sorry, I meant "isn't exclusive".
Jim
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: Need a Demonstrator? Now You Can Rent Them Online |
21 Jan 2007 05:10:00 PM |
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On Sun, 21 Jan 2007 00:50:27 -0800, "Clave"
<ClaviusNoSpamDammit@cablespeed.com> wrote:
There are two ways to make money. By building a civilization or by
tearing one down.
Profound-sounding *****.
Bookies/brokers make some of the hugest money there is without doing either.
Investment doesn't build anything? Bad investment doesn't tear down
anything? There's no way to make money off a collapsing economy?
Swill
--
"Where mistakes have been made,
the responsibility rests with me."
George Bush - 1/10/2006
.
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| User: "Clave" |
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| Title: Re: Need a Demonstrator? Now You Can Rent Them Online |
21 Jan 2007 05:31:25 PM |
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<governorswill@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:jgs7r21di2lvdsq1lddd95p83jqv2l4ebb@4ax.com...
On Sun, 21 Jan 2007 00:50:27 -0800, "Clave"
<ClaviusNoSpamDammit@cablespeed.com> wrote:
There are two ways to make money. By building a civilization or by
tearing one down.
Profound-sounding *****.
Bookies/brokers make some of the hugest money there is without doing
either.
Investment doesn't build anything? Bad investment doesn't tear down
anything? There's no way to make money off a collapsing economy?
I didn't say building and tearing down don't offer money-making
opportunities, just that there are lots more ways that are effectively
neutral or ambiguous in that regard.
Jim
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| User: "Captain Compassion" |
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| Title: Re: Need a Demonstrator? Now You Can Rent Them Online |
21 Jan 2007 12:13:05 PM |
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On Sun, 21 Jan 2007 03:16:03 -0500, wrote:
On Sat, 20 Jan 2007 10:57:15 -0800, Captain Compassion
<daranc@NOSPAMverizon.net> wrote:
Anarchists 'R' Us inc.
"In Chaos there is opportunity"
There are two ways to make money. By building a civilization or by
tearing one down.
"....or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition
the Government for a redress of grievances".
It's in the First Amendment
--
Wherever I go it will be well with me, for it was well with me here, not
on account of the place, but of my judgments which I shall carry away
with me, for no one can deprive me of these; on the contrary, they alone
are my property, and cannot be taken away, and to possess them suffices
me wherever I am or whatever I do. -- EPICTETUS
"There are no absolute certainties in this universe. A man must try to
whip order into a yelping pack of probabilities, and uniform success is
impossible." -- Jack Vance
"Civilization is the interval between Ice Ages." -- Will Durant.
"Progress is the increasing control of the environment by life.
--Will Durant
Joseph R. Darancette
daranc@NOSPAMverizon.net
.
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: Need a Demonstrator? Now You Can Rent Them Online |
21 Jan 2007 05:11:19 PM |
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On Sun, 21 Jan 2007 10:13:05 -0800, Captain Compassion
<daranc@NOSPAMverizon.net> wrote:
There are two ways to make money. By building a civilization or by
tearing one down.
"....or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition
the Government for a redress of grievances".
But does that build the civilization or tear it down? :-)
Swilll
--
"Where mistakes have been made,
the responsibility rests with me."
George Bush - 1/10/2006
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| User: "Captain Compassion" |
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| Title: Re: Need a Demonstrator? Now You Can Rent Them Online |
21 Jan 2007 08:19:53 PM |
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On Sun, 21 Jan 2007 18:11:19 -0500, wrote:
On Sun, 21 Jan 2007 10:13:05 -0800, Captain Compassion
<daranc@NOSPAMverizon.net> wrote:
There are two ways to make money. By building a civilization or by
tearing one down.
"....or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition
the Government for a redress of grievances".
But does that build the civilization or tear it down? :-)
Perhaps it helps a civilization evolve.
--
Wherever I go it will be well with me, for it was well with me here, not
on account of the place, but of my judgments which I shall carry away
with me, for no one can deprive me of these; on the contrary, they alone
are my property, and cannot be taken away, and to possess them suffices
me wherever I am or whatever I do. -- EPICTETUS
"There are no absolute certainties in this universe. A man must try to
whip order into a yelping pack of probabilities, and uniform success is
impossible." -- Jack Vance
"Civilization is the interval between Ice Ages." -- Will Durant.
"Progress is the increasing control of the environment by life.
--Will Durant
Joseph R. Darancette
daranc@NOSPAMverizon.net
.
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