Protesting good or bad?

I think, generally, if people disagree with the protesters' position, then the protesters are idiots.  If people agree with the protesters' position, then the protesters are noble freedom fighters. 

I think the biggest difference between the groups you have mentioned is that the WI protestors are government union workers demanding the status quo and insisting that the people of the State cough up more money to the government for benefits that they can no longer afford.

The others are the gneral population protesting against the government.

I think if one wanted to compare the WI protests with the Egypt (and I personally think it's a pretty poor commparison) protest you would have to look at the union protestors as the group who were out trying to silence the will of the people.

Like President Obama said to the leader of Egypt he should listen to the will of the people, well it would be nice if he would take his own advise here. But no he mobalised his political arm to assult the will of the people of WI.

That's my take on it anyway.

I think when the protesters make up the majority, you are more likely to hear support.

I don't think I've ever tried to disguise where I'm coming from.

When I am speaking of the will of the people, I'm speaking of the majory of the people. The majority spoke in November, just because the CPUSA, the DNC, the Unions from around the country and President Obama's own polictical community organizing arm have brought in buss loads of people from around the nation to try and influence public perception, that doesn't represent that the majority of WI residents. 

A vocal minority is still a minority, no matter how many rules/laws they break and how loud they scream.

I did see one poll or at least heard of it that said the people of WI were against the bill, that poll was conducted by the AFLCIO. I'm sure it was a scientific and un-biased one.

The ability to protest is a right we fortunately have here but we also have a voice with our vote in this country whereas thats not the case in many countries.  Protest is a tool and I think it can be great to bring the spotlight on an issue, but in a way its like turning on the lights at closing time in the bar- you might not like what you see under that scrutiny on either side of the fence and now others probably can see it better too.  I think on balance though turning on that light is better for many to get a second look at things before the hook up, er, i mean before legislation is passed or action is set in stone.