Why are you marching?

Since we’ve been running our “Pledge to March for the Alernative” action on the site, we’ve had many hundreds of great message sent in, telling us why you’re coming on the march.

You can see them in dozens of places around the web, thanks to the sites that have taken copies of our pledge widget (get yours here), but we thought we’d share just a few of our recent favourites with you here too:

I’m marching on 26 March because…

Enforcement of tax laws would more than create the money that the public spending cuts will, and hurt those affected far less. For ONCE, how about a government that isn’t afraid of going after the rich, even though members of the government are pretty well-heeled themselves. Lynne Canham

It’s the right thing to do. Marcus Kittridge

The disabled people of the U.K. are vulnerable and cannot hope to survive another cut in welfarw. I’m marching for our future, because if the ConDems get their way the U.K. won’t have a future. Marsha Todd

I work in Adult Education, and the cuts we face will mean that crucial training and skills development for adults will disappear. These courses aren’t simply about training for work – they are also important socially and for building a sense of community. I hope that the March is enormous so that services users and Trade Unionists feel confident to take further action to stop the ConDems. Martin Empson

I am fed up of ordinary working people being told that we are “in this together” when bankers continue to get bonuses and the rich are unaffected by the cuts. The cuts are not about cutting a deficit as alternatives have not even been considered. This is an ideological attack by the Tories to ensure their supporters and cronies benefit in the long run and it is the poor and vulnerable who suffer! No cuts. Tax the rich and the bankers! Melanie Crofts

As a teacher I am concerned not just for my own financial stability but also my daughter’s and the children I teach, it’s not fair to punish the next generation by taking away the public sector. Michelle Rogers

I’m a dedicated public servant with 32 years of teaching experience and I cannot stand the way the public services are being blamed for the bankers’ crisis. Why should the hard working public sector workers, who provide services for all including the most vulnerable members of our society, carry the can whilst the bonuses are dished out to those responsible for the problems? Mick Burrows

“To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men.” – Abe Lincoln.  Mike Shaw

I’m just 9 years old but I’ll be marching with all of my family because my schools needs a new building and David Cameron took the free fruit away from my school. Milly Roper

I want to see my taxes benefit all people of the country -not subsidise private schools, clear bankers’ ruthless activities, destroy our world class higher education, bring down the NHS, scrap arts funding and education, attack the most vulnerable. This government is taking away everything life is worth living for. Monica Gonzalez Correa

Something needs to be done! Nikki Lindsey

It is only through a united response that we can show the strength of opposition to the unnecessary Tory cuts. Solidarity in action must then extend to support for strikes and other action to defend working class jobs and living standards. Norman   Biddlecombe

A civilised society is judged by how it cares for those who need help and how we collectively support each other through decent public services. I don’t pay my taxes to line the pockets of private investors at the expense of decent public services. Paul Haunch

Anyone can sit behind a laptop/computer, the time has come to get out and shout for Justice, shout till you can’t shout any more. Lets act NOW before its too late! Paul Lowthian

There is no alternative to the alternative!! Paul Kempton

Unity is strength. Paul Beattie

I’m just so frustrated [me being polite] with voting for any of the three main political parties and getting no change in the way in which this country is run. We need millions on the streets to make these muppets in government wake up to just how angry the average person is. Pete Taylor

We’re clearly not all in this together! Cutting public services and destroying the welfare support system whilst handing out bonuses and tax breaks to the rich is not the answer to addressing the national deficit. Peter Lockhart

Selling our forests is not my idea of building a green economy. Philip Pearson

I’m a midwife who has wholeheartedly chosen to work in the NHS. I beleive we can deliver healthcare and welfare for all through co-operation and mutual aid. Cuts and the NHS ‘reforms’ are ideological not sensible – they put profit before people. I beleive as a midwife I must put people before profit. I help women welcome their children to the world – I want a world where they all have an equal share. Rachel Wild

As a Social Worker I want to fight for my profession and what we believe in. The government are trying to exercise unbelievable social injustice. Why should the poor, deprived, needy and marginalised pay the price for the greedy capitalist banker’s mistakes? The tory government doesn’t care about human rights. We can’t let them get away with this! We the tax payer have a right to fight for the wellbeing of everyone in our society! Rebecka Wastlund

Britain is still one of the richest countries on earth and the 1,000 richest people could afford to pay for the defecit several times over. The poor should not have to pay for a crisis they didn’t cause. The millionaires should pay. Richard Lynch

I want to stand in solidarity with those who are going to lose their Housing Benefit, their EMA and youngsters who can no longer afford to go to university, the unemployed and the disabled. We need to stand together and state THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE. Richard Johnson

2011 will be a crucial year in sending a loud and clear message to the Government. We believe in public services and will fight to preserve the services that our communitities rely upon. Rob Johnston

I believe these cuts are a false economy – they will cause untold misery and choke growth. Rob Holdsworth

All trade unionists must stand up now against those who seek to demolish the gains made by working people as part of the Beveridge Plan – the price of the support given to the war effort by the common folk. This is a betryal of all their efforts and hopes for a better future for all succeeding generations. Robert Wilkinson

I want to see all of the campaigns against the cuts – students, workers, those on benefits and unions join together to fight the selfish policies of this right wing, greedy, self interested government. Ros Forsey

As Manager of a Hostel & Day Centre for single homeless I am afraid of the affects the cuts will have on the services we offer our Service Users. Roy Kennedy

I’m sick of being angered by the government’s disregard for it’s most vulnerable citizens, it’s time to make a stand!! Ryan   Maynard

I’m marching because I oppose the economic shock treatement being dished out by the condem government. – I am marching for my child’s future. S Laing

i am an ASD person marching for everyone with all kinds of disability. benefit cutbacks do not make life better for us it only makes it worse. Sandra Fraser

I want to show the Government that the people do not believe cuts are the way and that there is an alternative which they appear to be completely ignoring!! Sarah Marsh

I have lost my job as a result of the government cutbacks. I intend to show my support for the anti cuts rally and the save our forest rally. Once they take something away we can never get it back. This government intend on taking away our access to public services and land which people fought so hard for us to get in the first place. We all pay our taxes with the intention that it will be spent on making sure the vunerable people in our society will be protected. Not to start investing in nuclear weapons and lining millionaires’, already bulging, pockets! Shaneen Dawkins

I’ve had enough. Shirley Crowe

I am a music teacher becoming increasingly frustrated with cuts to the arts and the regrettable situation arts teachers of perfomance arts are finding themselves with schools concentrating on subjects that are traditionally “economically viable”. Simon Frost

Because cuts to public services affect all and because my employer made over 21,000 redundant in 2010 but are re-employing some in 2011 as agency workers. Stella Ridgway

I don’t believe David Cameron when he says that he can’t do anything about bankers bonuses but needs to cut the public services my family rely On . He can do something about the banks – and people need public services. Stephen Low

The Big Society is alive and well, and kicking against these charlatans. Steve Guthrie

I believe Britain has a positive, prosperous future. This cannot be achieved through draconian cuts, it can be achieved through investment and growth. No to the cuts, yes to a brighter future for our great country! Stewart Munn

Cuts to Public Services, Healthcare and Social Services is going to effect all the people who didn’t cause this crisis. My County Council are cutting initiatives for elderly people including, bus routes, meals on wheels and 24 hour support. The Tories may feel that these cuts will do us good and attract big business, but they are to SERVE US not big business. Stuart Curror

Although retired I have an interest in the way that the country is run I lived through the Thatcher years never again. There is more to life than saving tuppence halfpenny. The Tories are putting people out of work and then telling us to look down on the unemployed. Susan Killick

Well, Libraries make the march worthwhile without all the other concerns, all of which are very, very important. Susan   Groves

I believe in “People Power” – remember the poll tax? If we don’t make a stand now this government will ride roughshod over us. Terri Bishop

I work with young people and know how valuable supporting them to have healthy, happy futures is to them and to society as a whole. These cuts will result in letting our young people down. Those from disadvantaed backgrounds will struggle to find a foot up to a better life. We have a responsibilty to help each other and that is why I’m marching. Tina Lancley

After helping to build a good education system for 34 years, I do not want to retire in three years time with a worse service than when I started teaching in 1976. Tom Davies

I voted for David Cameron and he has proven that he is a liar, a ruthless leader and a dangerous force for working families. He made me look like a fool for trusting him with his vote. Tracey Burrows

Because people should always come first, not profits,or bonuses or budgets, but PEOPLE. Tracy Roberts

I am a student who does not want to live through a generation who will get punished by cuts and tuition fees, we must resist! Tyler Perkin

I have not squandered any money and it is not right that I should get penalized for the frivolity of others who, in turn, just get away with it. Ulrike Cooper

I want to help make a difference. Yaz Hussain

Our children will want to know what I did when the libraries were being axed, the trees sold off and the poor made to suffer for the recklass financial markets. Tim Jaques

The public sector is being strip mined. This ideology of market fundamentalism cannot stand. I am bringing my dad – NHS worker for 39 years – who hasn’t demonstrated before. Nicola Headlam

Why are you coming? Add your own message by pledging to march now!