I'm not a native speaker and double negatives puzzle me a bit (they are permitted and often necessary in my native language). I know the rules and I understand sentences like "I can't not go to work" where two negatives sort of cancel each other, but I'm confused with sentences like "we don't need no education". When a native speaker uses a double negative like that, is the intention to make the (negative) statement stronger, somewhat more emotional? Is the intention clear to other native speakers or do they think the person doesn't know grammar? Also, you tagged the post "English dialects"; are there groups of people who are known to use double negatives more often than others? Clearly I need to watch some Westerns ;) I hope you don't mind me asking all those questions, I'd just like to know more.