In the opposition

Crows and foxes

December 27, 2011 George Satarov

I really want to win. No, not like that: I really want results. We were able to get together, unite, see that there are many of us, that we want changes, real ones. I want so much that the real results are poorly recognized, and tricks in a beautiful wrapper are joyfully accepted for victories.

I already wrote that the authorities suffered a complete defeat in its struggle for the control of streets and squares. Two rallies-on December 10 and 24-brought the line to the many years of Surkov’s long-term efforts to make various youth detachments, which now do not cause any reactions, except for the grin. I do not exclude that closer to March they will spend a lot of money and gasoline to draw a column of jubilant gopota along the streets of Moscow. But this does not bother anyone and does not seduce, the train has left.

And that's not all. A ten -year massive campaign for exaltation of the main achievement of the regime - “stability” failed. But there is not even any merit of our merit. This was inevitable: the value of stability is always soon or later replaced by the value of changes. And in addition, the authorities, having believed in its stability and intending to rule forever, was so relaxed that this achievement was at first shameful, and then hated.

And that's not all. People cease to believe official propaganda, even when Putin and Medvedev become her lobby. The Public Opinion Foundation convincingly demonstrated that negative assessments of the causes of people to protest rallies are divided by only a few percent of the respondents. Tales about rallies paid by the West no longer cause trust, and Putin's recruiting talent has ceased to attract the induced. Ten years - and all was in vain!

And that's not all. Presidential candidates joined in the race of promises, the main of which are the liberation of Khodorkovsky and Lebedev and early elections to the State Duma. There would have been none of this, if not for the swamp area and smart, funny, indignant people on it.

Sakharov Avenue not only increased the number of protesters, but also showed a sharp policy of protest. Here we must look not at the slogans of the speakers, but on the free work of the masses, reflected in posters, which the rally participants prepare in advance. The main character was Putin, and the main visual theme was a condom. We see how any attempts by the authorities to offend and vulgarize the protest turn around against the authorities itself.

This was sensitively caught by official television channels. After December 10th, they saw that they were losing spectators compared to those who dare to honestly give information about protest. As a result, in the evening of December 24th, the 1st channel, and Russia, and NTV gave very detailed information about rallies, without attempts by subtle surrounding and moving, as before. And a demonstration of contrast was very useful - a rally on Sakharov Avenue and toy masses of Zhirinovsky and Kurginyan. I know that the vast majority of television journalists did this with relief and pleasure. This is an important, although inevitable breakthrough of blockade with serious consequences. Another of our victory.

Against this background, the naivety with which the opposition swallows bait that throws power in order to weaken the intensity of protest. A rather primitive manipulation and a vulgar deception are still not recognized.

A typical example of manipulation is demonstrated by Mr. Surkov. His revelations about the rally on Bolotnaya cause an obvious association with the famous fable of Krylov. At first, compliments are coming to the protesters, and then the bait: “Here! We are already going towards you! Do you see what our president was predicted? Well, shout "Hurray." Primitive, but as some responses show, it acts.

It is really not clear that our main problem is not the norms of laws, undoubtedly bad!? The main problem is in the practice of applying these laws. I assure you that they will change laws without tension. Well, here's an example for you. The reduction in the number of signatures from 2 million to three hundred thousand equally radically reduces the absolute number of signatures that must be invalid in order to remove the presidential or party candidate from the run. What gives a change in the electoral system if the criminal practice of holding elections and votes count does not change, if the observers remain powerless? The call of the rally organizers on December 24 is to tightly control the fulfillment of Mr. Medvedev’s promises not only meaningless, but also involves them in the game started by the Kremlin, and gives rise to false hopes among the protesters.

How can you react at least some positively to Medvedev’s handouts, when the right Chekists are already being placed in the country in parallel to key posts in the country, while the president pronounces on-duty spells about democracy!? This allows only one explanation: preparation for a sharp restriction of protest and twisting of the nuts immediately before the presidential election or immediately after them. Here our victories turn around with new problems, and considerable. Having lost control of the squares of the “ours” and others, having lost the ideological influence, the authorities now have only one trump card - force. It is she who now deliberately demonstrates, pursuing Sergei Udaltsov.

We also have only one tool - a protest within the framework of the law, supported by our rightness, self -esteem and laughter. This tool will only work when increasing the scale of protest and with clarity, the sequence of our requirements.

I am not entitled to give advice to people who are now brought to the crest of the protest wave. And what I will offer below, I ask you to consider the help of one of the ordinary participants of the past rallies.

We must agree that he will continue to be considered a response of the authorities. On Sakharov Avenue, the main thesis was already sounded and supported by everyone: “Power in the country is us!”, “Read, gentlemen, our constitution, damn it!” Their answer to protest is not a gesture of goodwill, but a constitutional duty. If power does not follow the spirit and letter of the Constitution, it must go.

Hence, any gesture of power can be considered as a response to our requirements only when fulfilling the following conditions:

1. The authorities openly recognize the viability of the causes of our requirements.

2. The authorities openly states that her proposals are a response to these requirements.

3. The authorities openly involve representatives of protesters on equal terms of equal partnerships in the development of their proposals.

4. The authorities openly announces that it is ready to discuss the entire complex of our requirements, and not separate fragments beneficial to it.

5. The government is not limited to decorative normative changes, but is ready, together with the protesters, to change the practice of applying laws.

6. The circle of people who negotiate on behalf of the protesters is determined not by power, but by the protesters themselves.

7. The authorities are on the immediately agreed with representatives of protesting personnel decisions that protect society from the transition to the Chekist dictatorship.

If we do not, then we risk being crows, who will still pluck and gut the foxes.

Photo by RIA Novosti