on the contrary, these rioters are the state-funded spawn of the welfare generation. they have no interest in their community not because their community does nothing for them, but because they have nothing to gain from doing so - they rely on the state to look after them rather than their community.
listen to
this clip - its disgraceful and it summarises the ignorance. "it's the government's fault! conservatives!" - they don't even understand what they're talking about. when the interviewer points out that they are targeting local businesses they protest "but it's the rich people!" - they have
no respect for people who have actually earnt their money and make an honest living because they are so far separated from that ethos.
If they have no gain from looking out for the community, then surely something needs to change. It's all fine saying we should lock these people all away (a lot of them DO deserve it - some of the videos of what has happened out there are disgusting) but what happens once they get out. We can dismiss this as mindless thuggery, stop it all with rubber bullets, but it will only happen again next year.
When I think of "opportunistic criminal thugs", I think petty vandalism, broken windows, smashed cars and people swearing at the police. I don't think mindless thuggery involves organised and systematic looting and burning of cities up and down the country. These riots isn't
just opportunistic criminality (although I will say it does make up a big part of it - particularly in these latter stages). This is a result of a whole generation of youth who feel removed from society as a result of being run over by successive governments. The video I posted is an illustration of that (he talks about how police are damaging the community rather than helping it - is the point I thought he was trying to convey), and this is a view of the rioters side that doesn't come from 16 year old chav girls who are clearly fucking idiots. The clip you posted doesn't "summarise" the riots, it is just a small part of it. To me, the whole "you're rich, we're poor" does indicate political motivation behind this all, even if a lot of the rioters themselves don't even know it!
uh. he didnt really say anything meaningful. what i got from that was "we were warned but we didnt listen" - when? by who? hindsight is 20:20 but even now i cant think of a single thing that indicated some kind of shift in the zeitgeist to cause this.
That is the point he made, we can't think of a single thing that indicated a shift in the zeitgeist but clearly something was there! The evidence is clear to see!
The youths clearly feel they have no stake in society, no ownership, and seem to have become disenfranchised. This has happened not only because of the welfare cuts and expenses scandals you mentioned, but other factors such as increasing VAT, and the increased cost of living, and the fact many of them are struggling to get loans or jobs in light of the economy. For them there is no prospect of a "brighter future". So they capitalise on an opportunity to get what they can't have, hence all the looting, stealing and running riot.
Yes a crackdown is needed to ensure the safety of people and businesses in danger, but there needs to be a long term solution, so many young people have dropped off the radar. Politicians speak about wrong-doing and criminality, but seem to be ignoring the underlying problems that already have, and will continue to radicalise the youth who believe they have no future.
Sorry for the long post and re-iteration of points, I just feel that this whole thing can't just be put down to thuggery, doing so would be to just sweep the issue under the carpet. I don't want to seem a sympathiser to a lot of the rioters, and I hope the police can get it under control as soon as possible. Criminality must be fought, and punished, but it must also be understood.
On a lighter note:
http://photoshoplooter.tumblr.com/
