Re: London Riots
 

Friends in Birmingham (New Street) have posted that they have been sent home and that shops are being boarded up.

Will England see guillotines on the street?

Re: London Riots
 

Only in London can the Blackberry owning 100 quid trainer wearing, designer tees and D&G sweater wearing youth riot about being poor.

Re: London Riots
 

That is exactly what I would do if I was in charge of the UK. I would add a tariff on any imported product if:

- The product is being made under working conditions that would be illegal if made in the UK. Tariff would be based on estimated cost saving of illegal conditions.

- The manufacturing process is causing more pollution than would be allowed UK. Tariff would be based on estimated cost saving of not having to clean up the mess.

- The product is receiving a state subsidy or tax break in the country it is made. Tariff would be equal to the subsidy received.

If none of those things applies then there would be no tariff at all. This would allow the person in the UK to compete with those outside on a level playing field.

Maybe the people living and working in shit conditions in china and other places do it willingly. But I would hope that we in the west can do better than oppressive regimes with dodgy human rights records.

Re: London Riots
 

What employer?

I don't think people really realize over here how deep the govt. cuts in the UK have been, I've seen Home Office awards to councils that together with council taxes wouldn't even cover their own payroll, let alone the services they are supposed to provide.

There is now a situation where there is a distinct lack of due diligence taking place by local govt. in the UK so they can award contracts to whoever they want to at the lowest price possible so they can make their sums add up.

For example my sister is a nurse who assists elderly people and has to travel to their homes. Her colleagues have been laid off and the schedule she has been given is impossible to follow, i.e. it goes, visit house A at x time then house B at y time and there is no consideration of travel time between x and y at all, it assumes she's capable of teleportation.

It's easy to say these rioters are individuals acting recklessly, but when you get into the thousands of people rioting, that is an indication of a wider problem. People who lived on the margins already are now desperate.

Re: London Riots
 

Shoot the bloody lot of them:cool::cool: being unemployed ,of a racial minority, or what ever the cuckoo what does not give you the right to go looting and rioting. Just shoot 20 of the unruly bastards and the fires will stop and the looting will cease.:thumbup: And if that dont work shoot 20 more, as these scum serve no purpose or have a place in a civilised society what so ever.:thumbsup:

Re: London Riots
 

Exactly, it apears to be several walksnof life disgruntled and wanting revenge on the gov and police.

An interview on bbc world radio. (no frikin radio one) said middle age to young teens were involved.

Re: London Riots
 

Or round them up and send them to Manitoba. No, hang on, that would be considered inhumane...

Re: London Riots
 

yep they have guns here too,

Re: London Riots
 

Oh, but they do.

Re: London Riots
 

No you wouldn't, because that would be illegal under EU law.

So you'd rather than those people working in China were thrown out on the street because they no longer have jobs?

Re: London Riots
 

Ooh, that is soooo 1980s when those complaining of media bias were asked "well why don't you go and start your own newspsper then?"

Next week I'm going to start my own airline and when I've done that the week after I'm going to start a law firm. When that's done I plan to form a new football team. Champions League winners within 5 years.:rofl:

Re: London Riots
 

I thought UK government spending was still increasing despite the supposed 'cuts'?

Or is that all going to MPs' expense accounts?

Re: London Riots
 

As has been pointed out, you could only do so against non-EU countries but, even if you could, how would you administer the above? The cost of administering it would be borne by? Basically, people could achieve what you wish to achieve now, they just have to purchase within the EU so, once again, you need to criticize your neighbours because I know you will state that you do not purchase from such oppressive regimes:p

See above, it is consumers what drive it;)

Re: London Riots
 

Because that's totally comparable to buying a few tools and becoming a carpenter. Though that may not be a good move given how little work my relatives in construction have right now.

My father was laid off in the 80s and that's exactly what he did (become a self-employed carpenter, I mean, not start a newspaper). Seemed to work better for him than sitting around demanding that the government give him a job.

Re: London Riots
 

Actually, I don't believe that you could do it against non-EU countries as I don't believe EU nations are allowed to set their own tarrifs. You'd have to get Brussels to agree and that won't happen... they only seem to listen to the French.

And, either way, if companies imported those goods from China into France and then from France to Britain you wouldn't be able to stop them.