Originally Posted by London Mike

Don't be a prat. Silly pointed question.

Young people from deprived urban areas are disillusioned and disconnected. This has been 20/30 years in the making - it started under Thatcher when she destroyed the working class and Britain's manufacturing base - but Cameron has lifted the lid on it this past year. Labour for all their faults did put some welfare programs back in place for young people and those on low incomes but these have been stripped back. People are angry and lots and lots of young kids are on the streets at night. Most of the time they don't burn cars, but now they feel they have a purpose where before they had none at all. Many of these people have nothing to lose since many will be in gangs or involved in criminal activity already. What's to stop them? This is their "moment".

The violence is disgusting and I don't condone any of it. But just to explain it, in my own opinion, I think people look at the morals of the so-called authorities in society and think: if they're going to behave like that why shouldn't we? Government and opposition being in bed with Murdoch (the Church too!); Govnt still giving money to the banks in bonuses while people suffer economically; MPs expenses; the Met Police being questioned in terms of their propriety viz the NOTW scandal. Where's the moral light shining from in society. Who exactly is setting an example for some of these young people? Not community leaders. There aren't any anymore, these centers have been shut down. Thank god for decent parents and decent people. Otherwise, it would or could be much worse.

Cameron is an arsehole. He sits on beach for 3 days while Britain burns and only comes back ( in my view) because Clegg got out there meeting people taking the initiative.

Once again, this has been many years in the making but in my view Cameron is mostly to blame. But others too, I admit.

Originally Posted by lmartin999

Does this mean it's open season on personal abuse? I don't mind, but as a "high calibre knob" I just want to check before joining in.

Originally Posted by London Mike

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I almost cannot believe that you made this comment about women and the glass ceiling ... Except that it sort of makes sense that you did now.

Originally Posted by airbornesapper

There are not many in the population of NI that have felt one of these in the manner desired unless they were in a rioting mob...but ricochets will happen, usually hitting another rioter....so not always for naught.

As for the potential impact on an unintended target, if you are that close (nearby the actual rioter targeted)......your fault for being mixed up in the main mayhem...where use of these things was called for.

Originally Posted by Pretty Flowers

Actually, you should tell that to my Uncle and cousin who were both shot with live ammunition during a pitched battle between the IRA and the Army at the height of the troubles. They were just trying to get home, and had to shelter somehow by a post box. They were both exceptionally lucky to not get killed. Collateral damage often takes place among innocent bystanders.

Originally Posted by Almost Canadian

I thought that collateral damage was the term for when innocent bystanders feel the full brunt

Originally Posted by Almost Canadian

Ok. I thought we were discussing political affiliations not alma maters. If those that post on this forum are truly representative, I agree with the allegation that those that attend those Universities are knobs of the highest calibre.

Originally Posted by Pretty Flowers

I have no clue. I'm in Vancouver and horrendously jetlagged. What I meant that they were innocent bystanders, not participants or observers.

Originally Posted by Almost Canadian

Here's a question for the wise ones: How would you bring the rioting under control?

Originally Posted by Almost Canadian

Here's a question for the wise ones: How would you bring the rioting under control?

Originally Posted by Oink

Was it from Red Molotov? HID got me a few of them tees for Christmas.

Originally Posted by Almost Canadian

So again, what would you have done in Cameron's place?

Brown's incompetence was saved by the "financial crisis". It was obvious to everyone with a brain that the level of spending he oversaw was unsustainable, but he continued to do so. I doubt that there would have been much difference in the financial state of UK PLC had there been no financial crisis, just that the numbers would have been smaller.

The simple fact is: the level of spending is unsustainable and something has to give. Those on the left will simply say: Tax the rich bastards. Those on the right simply say: Cut spending. As with most things, the correct course is probably somewhere between the 2 extremes.

I simply fail to see how looting one's neighbours "socks it to authority"

Your justification for the actions of the rioters is somewhat bizarre. Having said that, I note that you do not believe they are "decent", something we agree upon.

Originally Posted by Almost Canadian

Here's a question for the wise ones: How would you bring the rioting under control?

Originally Posted by Almost Canadian

Oh do explain. I can't wait to see what you have to say about this.