Excellent article, Steven Baxter, in every respect.

Yes, Mr Clegg, the students are 'dreaming' if they think that your commitments and promises mean anything more than an illusory bait for votes.

The Wikileaks show, if one ever doubted it, that a substantial dimension of politics is kept safely out of the view of prying eyes.

George Orwell would have nodded knowingly if had heard senior police officers talk about the 'extraordinary restraint' of their officers when fifty or so protesters are hospitalized by police assaults.

The police logic seems to be: if some protesters are violent, assaulting those innocent of violence is justified. See how that would fare as a defence in a court of law.

Democracy only really says that we get a guaranteed right to throw out governments we don't like. Nowhere does democracy say that the governments we do elect have to behave exactly as we'd like at all times - they're provided with a strong enough incentive to do so by the first point. If the polls are to be believed, the Lib Dems will learn this one the hard way. Karl Popper pointed out the similarity to his conception of the scientific method - governments are experiments and we can only judge their success in retrospect. The thing about experiments is that sometimes they merely prove that something doesn't work.

On that basis, you can describe this as contempt for the voters who were swayed by arguments over tuition fees, but I don't think you can describe it as contempt for democracy itself.

Rob, what you describe is elected dictatorship. Democracy is "government by the people"

Oh dear, don't you like criticism?

Question - in a democracy, should not the people (with or without an axe to grind) be allowed to go about their daily lives without unnecessary disruption ? (road blocks, diverted traffic, closed off public spaces etcetera).
If you must 'grind your axes' in public you should do so without hindering everyone else. Better still, save your axe grinding until the election campaign and protest where it really matters - the ballot box.
For the sake of mainstream society going about its business methinks the 'right' to protest on public ground should be limited maybe banned.

Attacks on the Royal Family is nothing new. Remember the Gordon Riots and, when a former Prince of Wales later George IV being humiliated by the London mob after his separation from the Princess Caroline. Its an occupational hazard for the Royals, particularly when there is little love for the Royals these days.
But for Cameron to call a student demo 'a mob' is an absolute disgrace, a slur on all students including those children doing their A Levels who unwittingly got caught up in some unpleasant events.

'Luddite' coupla things, bank/bond holder bailouts (i.e. Ireland), conspiracy theories (i.e. 9/11), MPs expenses, Iraq war... Could go on but I think you're American and considering the American Right's attitude I think you understand my point (tea party). This (good) article would be better titled 'contempt for the processes of western democracy as it currently functions' but that's a bit unwieldy. Anyhow, you know it's not just the 'Left' that's at fault, don't you.

and besides, god told him it would all be all right?

God said NO to all the evil works of Parliament well in advance... they will all be damned to damned hell,no excuses no exceptions... but first there is "VENGEANCE" "I will repay sayeth the Lord"

The peasants can't afford to learn to read & write so it's ok if those that can read the news learn about the Lord of the Manor's cart being kicked.

democracy has left these islands and for it to return we need a popular revolution

'Robert Taggart' - "Better still, save your axe grinding until the election campaign and protest where it really matters - the ballot box."

Taggart old boy, that's kinda what the LibDem voters did, before the event. And...Geddit?

@Luddite
Lib Dem LOST seats at the election.
Wishful thinking V fact on your part

Stoning is an allegorical term, which in ten years from now, no one under 25 will understand, since humanity studies were snuffed.

Snuffed? Not that is another metaphysical arguement...

...one feeds off the other, in our Brit society - the blacksmth and the poet wordsmith, in time in past memorium.