Violence on the streets

Let's get  the army deal with the rioters and looters.

I was watching the BBC news coverage early this morning.

Not once did they mention what went on in Streatham or the Walworth road down the Elephant and Castle?

Stu

Might have something to do with social and economic inequalities but never mind just get the army in that'll solve the problems, err problems, what problems??

Its just gangs of mindless thugs out to get what they can.

As for what started it on Saturday?

The guy that was shot by the police had a gun.If you are a gangster and carry a gun on the streets? its your own bloody fault if you get shot dead imo.

Not that that has anything to do with whats been going on every night since.

I know what i would do with them.

Stu

Stu

I would force them to read every mind numbing post you have sent in to this poor inocent forum. That would fry what little brains they got.

Love

Mick

totemphile

I don't doubt there are underlying social and economic issues in our society.

There always have been and probably always will be.

If this violence isn't going to stop until we sort out the underlying social and economic issues, then we're in for long-term, widespread violence.

Cheers

Don

In a state of marshal law all looters would be shot on sight, about time it was implemented as policy every time. After all the factors are that looting only occurs very occasionally and the majority of looters aren't exactly going to give much to society anyway so shoot them after a single warning to drop the goods and disperse.

Don't get me wrong I am not condoning anything that has gone on or is still happening. It is completely out of control and bears no justification whatever the circumstances that let to it. It is plain horrible and hard to fathom for any half sane person.

However, as always things ain't that simple either. It isn't just mindless thugs or gangs out to get what they want. I bet there were a fair number of people who joined in that don't fall into these categories and those that do, ever wondered why they are in gangs or even willing to do the things they do?

At the end of the day it is all about two things, people's perspectives in life and education, with the latter having a direct bearing on the former. The recent decision of the current government to hike the cost of university education surely wasn't in the interest of either.

The violence that is seen now on the streets of London and other cities in the UK is a direct result of large parts of the population being disadvantaged with little options to get out of the dire situation they are in. What's needed is complete rethink of what sort of society we want to live in, not just in the UK but everywhere, globally. One thing is for certain, the current path we are on, where the rich get richer and the poor only get poorer, is going to lead to yet more conflicts globally and in large cities. The potential for civic conflict is huge. Getting the army in or building higher walls to keep those out that are a threat ain't gonna cut it, it's like trying to mend leakages in a dam, it will still burst at some point.

So hopefully at the end of all this civil society and politicians in the UK will look at the real issues and be even more committed to address these, rather than come up with some superficial answers of yet more police on the streets (even if these are needed at the current moment) and tougher laws for culprits. These are not going to scare anyone and they surely will not prevent the next rounds of conflicts that are bound to happen if nothing changes.

Is this what you want for your country, marshal law and people being shot on sight, blood and deaths on the streets of England? It would lead to complete mayhem up and down the country, with the current situation being no more than bonfires at Easter. Think again.

Mick,

That helps.

When most of them cant read or work the computers they he just nicked.

Big love xx.

Stu

Stu

How do you know they can't read ?

Mick

Funny i knew you would come back with that innit.

That's apparently how iterupted, well one bird, one baton.

....it would be nice, wouldn't it...........

But it ain't ganna happen. The big banks are already threatening to leave if they can't operate the way THEY want (ie as fat cats), socialism isn't effective, university fees haven't got anything to do with it.....

Most people in this country denounce these criminal acts of thuggery and wonton violence, and want these mindless cretins caught and brought to justice. The actual numbers involved are relatively small anyway. Most of us are feeling the pinch of economic lean times but wouldn't dream of decending to such vulgar acts.

So I anticipate the big hand of the law will act to bring a few to visible justice and very little else.

Cheers

Don

I think it is "martial" law someone means - or perhaps marital law? Anyway, given the crooks have more guns than the police and the army is "peace-keeping" elsewhere, it is not going to happen.

If you live in an area where there is no realistic prospect of good education, good health, good housing, good environment, or a job why would you not take advantage of a riot to get some consumer durables and to send a message to this plutocratic government that complacency is not an option.

There is nothing "mindless" about what is happening.

At least when all the thugs and looters eventually get rounded up the streets should be safer than they have been for the last few years, put them all in one huge warehouse, turn the lights off and throw away the key. Or do what you do with rubbish, chuck em all in land fill.

Marry them off, that usually keeps them in their place.

Discipline in school reduced through 'can't touch us', push a bit more, 'can't touch us', push again, and so on - one downward spiral; lack of respect, responsibility... Are we at the second generation?

Heroes preaching demand for full respect - no mention of earning it, bathing themselves in luxury goods - no mention of working for them, you can have it now, it's your right. Have it now also pushed by the larger society.

Deprived areas? Yet many - most? - young people in such locations are disgusted by the criminal action. Thankfully TV stations are also showing them. A choice is made - most young in the UK try for a better life rather than destroy someone else's.

Cheers,

OW

Seems to me it's all relative

The Syrian thing was clearly an effort to show this

Poverty. Lack of opportunity. Social economic downward spirals.

These may be issues people have to cope with. However, an excuse for thievery and violence aginst your own community. An expression of discontent. Bollox. Compete and utter useless, posturing bollox. I wonder, if you asked many people involved in the violence what they actually want to do?, what opportunities they feel they are missing?, how many  will say 'dunno', if they were honest. Most would not have a clue or be able to articulate what they're rebelling against. I suspect for many they're rebelling against the lack of opportunity to do piss all and get given stuff. So they're going to fk over those who have been bothered to be bothered.

Much of the commentary I've heard from 'supporters' and sympathisers of the last few nights violence have been from very young and jaw droppingly, astonishingly willfully ignorant people. 'Thick as a ditch' as a Croydon commentator put it. Some people just don't want to be bothered to be arsed to help themselves.

None of the messages spread around social networks have been about protest. They have all been about thievery, violence, intimidation.

It is my genuine belief that pretty much everyone has opportunity in the UK, if they can be arsed. The populations of many other countries recognise this and migrate here for that reason. The country is full of self made people, from such a widely diverse range of backgrounds in all sorts of realms whether successful (and rich) business people, sports stars, politicians, artists and entertainers, professionals etc. Many, many people are also just reasonably happy with their lot, with daily complaints that often don't really amount to much. Most complaints relate to money issues from over spending. Others through over committment. Some through misfortune. If it really was so shit, we'd all be leaving and no-one else would come here.

While I can see some arguments for meaningful engagement, I can't see why the majority should continue to pander to the minority LCD's

Shackle them and send them to any number of genuinely tyrannical regimes in the world. That would give them something to protest about.

Or, maybe we should create a new penal colony. Put a wall around the Falklands and dump 'em there or something? We could rent it out to other nations. Reduce our deficit. Earn the thanks of countless nations. Britain would be Great again. Simples.

If the vox pops are representative, rather than edited for effect .

Cheers,

OW

Dishonesty

Burglary

Greed

Tax avoidance

No contribution to society

So much ongoing criminality from mindless City bankers…

But on the other hand these young thugs and rioter on the streets today are nothing compared to the real burglars and gangsters of the City, in fact merely a symptom of an underlying cause.

Over last year in 2010, the City Bankers got paid over 14 billion pounds in extra bonuses!

Corruption and Criminal business as usual for that scum.

As it goes with any evolving world Plutonomy, you can not have a Super-Rich minority without the creation of a super-poor majority.

The super-rich are thick-skined, do not care, and buy into well insulated Gated Communities, the poor will be criminalized by any mis-directed attempts of rebellion.

But don’t worry, here comes Lord Smarty Pants Camoloon, he’ll tell these rioters how wonderful his austerity measures are going and how we’re all in this together!

Debs

I think vox pops are an unedited snapshot, so I'm fearful too, if that is what OW is saying.

Following Debs, above, I don't condone the rioters and looters, nor the behaviour of the global financial community. 

It's quite possible to say that in respect of the looting that's going on that the urban, disposessed poor have looked long and hard at the banking system, and decided, "yes, this time I'm going to get me some of that, gonna fill me boots, now it's my turn".

Repeating myself, I don't condone it.

Chris

Well said Debs, absolutely spot on.

What would stop the looting/rioting is rain. Has anyone else noticed that in the UK we only have riots in the summer when the sun shines?

steve

Rain doesn't seem to affect the bankers.........

Cheers

Don

That about says it all ...  

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14458424