Just a point about the violence (isn't it a pity how many postings are discussing that rather than the rights and wrongs of the cuts - a victory for who, I wonder).
The press and the police ALWAYS tar ALL demonstrators and opponents of authority with the same brush and would have depicted the demonstrators as violent thugs whether unrest had taken place or not.
Recently there was a similar demonstration by students in Dubin - there was violence - by the police, who attacked peaceful demonstrators with such force that they have received well over one hundred complaints. Our media seems a little more ready to cover institutional violence than does that of the UK.
Violent demonstrations are unnecessary and counter-productive, but, as far as the Police and media are concerned, violence will always take place whether it takes place or not!!!! To the establishment, all dissidents are thugs and misfits, and will always be depicted as such.
Jim Carroll