Why young people aren't rising up: our readers respond | The people's panel | Comment is free | theguardian.com

This week, we published an article by Costas Lapavitsas and Alex Politaki which asked why Europe's young people don't riot any more. The article provoked a long and thoughtful discussion about the reaction to austerity and unemployment, with more than 800 comments. Here we highlight some of the replies from young people who explain why they don't take to the streets in protest:


LondonRoots: 'No obvious route to lasting change'

I am relatively lucky in that I can sustain myself through self-employment at 29. I get approx £10,000 per year pre-tax. My partner has just finished a science PhD at 25 and may get a job on around £25,000 per year pre-tax if she's lucky – although of course she may get nothing but McDonald's. Still, every month we pay £800 in rent/bills (not including food). Suburb of Stockport/Manchester, no frills like Sky TV/dishwasher.


spinnyspace: 'Peaceful protest is treated like a riot'

Protesting has become more than a hazardous pastime. Once upon a time we were allowed to organise a march or a public protest. Today young people face a far more intolerant police force and state. Peaceful protest nowadays is treated like a riot by authorities. Today it's a bonus just being able to walk away after a march – you're more likely to be arrested or worse. And soon it will be water cannons with unknown chemicals pointed at you. So yes, there is a lot of apathy now; that's the alternative to giving in to anger.


scrotgrot: 'It's not worth being blacklisted'

I'm 22, politically engaged, and quite ardently against austerity and all the rest of it. But you should see the number of articles I've been about to share on Facebook (don't scoff too hard, that's how revolution spreads these days), but thought better of it at the last moment. Because we know they're always spying on us – even before the NSA revelations, I'd say that was the underlying assumption. Our generation knows corporations, not governments, rule the world, and we must follow their moral codes. It's not worth going to a protest, getting filmed, photographed or, heaven forbid, written up by a police officer. Because we know they all share their blacklists around and it will ruin our entire lives.


maiaH: 'Elites play dirty tricks with campaigners'

To all those saying violence doesn't work: what was the biggest march in UK/biggest march around the world ever? Against the Iraq war – a single issue. The UK could easily have said no. What's the greatest UK violence in recent decades? IRA. Did they get what they wanted? Most of.

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CC Photo Google Image Search.  Source is upload.wikimedia.org  Subject is Day 60 Occupy Wall Street November 15 2011 Shankbone 18