I predict a riot!!!

[Bandidoz]

What's with all the attacks on electrical distributors (Comet, Maplin, Sony etc)? Is there a pattern there or have I only heard a fraction of the reporting?

[UndercoverElephant]

What's with all the attacks on electrical distributors (Comet, Maplin, Sony etc)? Is there a pattern there or have I only heard a fraction of the reporting?

I don't think that is a pattern, apart from electrical distributors being attractive targets for looters. They will take anything of value, including a cash machine if reports from Birmingham are accurate.

[Yves75]

You're French Alain - civil disturbance is a way of life over there isn't it?

Yes that's the legend
Although England had its share of civil wars before the French revolution no ?

But with a PO point of view, this looks more like a beginning more than anything else unfortunately

Especially the looting aspect, don't remember there was so much of it during 2005 Paris suburbs riots

[featherstick]

Yes, you are wrong.

health and social services are cut

http://www.ukpublicspending.co.uk/downc ... r=c&title=

http://www.ukpublicspending.co.uk/downc ... r=c&title=

Thats what we call an increase, its kind of the opposite of a cut.

But of course, what exactly does this have to do with shooting rioters and looters?

Speaking of cuts
Are you aware that the insurance companies dont pay out for riot damage? Are you aware that local councils are legally obliged to do so?
By burning down buildings, the rioters are closing there own parks and sure start centres, well, not theres obviously, but those of the people you think will be upset when they are shot...

On the chart you submitted, there's an increase from 118bn to 120bn. 2bn. Less than 2%. Inflation is running at 4%. That's a decrease.

Am I wrong on the other stuff?

I don't disagree with you on the self-inflicted damage the rioters are causing to their own communities. To my mind this is a symptom of the long disenfrachisement of Britain's voters, especially the disengagement of youth from the political process. If they were more engaged, they'd be trashing Whitehall and Downing Street, and marching on Chipping Norton.

[Blue Peter]

To my mind this is a symptom of the long disenfrachisement of Britain's voters, especially the disengagement of youth from the political process. If they were more engaged, they'd be trashing Whitehall and Downing Street, and marching on Chipping Norton.

I think that 'disenfranchisement' is probably a bit of a weak term for what has happened; "sold down the river" might be nearer the mark. Who's got the proceeds of all that debt that's been taken out? Not them. Who's going to pay for all that debt? Them.

I'm sure that they don't understand it cognitively, but viscerally they do,


Peter.

[DominicJ]

A PS3 weighs 5kg and costs £200
A 5kg bag of potatos costs £2

Its a value thing

You have to be able to carry your loot either home or to your car.

That pretty much leaves electronics, jewelry and expensive clothing.
You could pinch a ride on mower from B&Q, but getting it home....

Even carrying a 40" tv isnt easy long distance.

One wonders how many looters themselves were looted.

Digital cameras are probably best on foot.
Very Large TV's with a vehicle and enough muscle to protect it.
You could probably clear out 30 or 40 large screen tvs from an electronics warhouse, just by cutting them off the walls.

[Catweazle]

To my mind this is a symptom of the long disenfrachisement of Britain's voters, especially the disengagement of youth from the political process. If they were more engaged, they'd be trashing Whitehall and Downing Street, and marching on Chipping Norton.

Most of them are too young to vote.

What we're seeing is a culture based on Snoop Dogg, not Martin Luther King. Do you really think opening a branch of Young Socialists is going to make any difference ?

A whole generation has been raised to think that they deserve to be given everything, because it's their "right". Their "right" to a job, a council house, dole money, "respect".

They have no idea that, for working class people, all these things have to be earned. Take away some of these freebies and you'll get riots - it's their "right"

[DominicJ]

I think that 'disenfranchisement' is probably a bit of a weak term for what has happened; "sold down the river" might be nearer the mark. Who's got the proceeds of all that debt that's been taken out? Not them. Who's going to pay for all that debt? Them.

I'm sure that they don't understand it cognitively, but viscerally they do,

Cant argue with that, however, much as its fun to blame "the system" for failing them, how many even tried to help themselves?

I frequently blame the schools I was sent to for failing me, but at the end of the day, they may have failed to provide a worthwhile education, but no one stopped me from educating myself.

How many of the rioting thugs complaining about how unfair life is sat at the back of class throwing things at the nerds?
That was there choice.

Society should have beaten them bloody until they made a better choice, but the first failure was theres.

[Bandidoz]

A PS3 weighs 5kg and costs £200
A 5kg bag of potatos costs £2

Its a value thing

You have to be able to carry your loot either home or to your car.

That pretty much leaves electronics, jewelry and expensive clothing.
You could pinch a ride on mower from B&Q, but getting it home....

I agree - but why destroy the premises in the process? I'm thinking specifically about the Sony warehouse, where they took in Jerry cans full of petrol; they went there intending to destroy it, taking out a few WII consoles as a by-product.

[DominicJ]

To that, I cant speak.
It does seem ludicrous.

I suppose if you looted it entirely, you could be destroying evidence of your crime, but thats probably a little too much forward thinking.

[biffvernon]

Biff is actualy almost there.

The twitter-organised mass community clean up of the streets that is now proceeding gives a glimmer of hope for society.

[Yves75]

I agree - but why destroy the premises in the process? I'm thinking specifically about the Sony warehouse, where they took in Jerry cans full of petrol; they went there intending to destroy it, taking out a few WII consoles as a by-product.

Seems to me that destroying is the result of anger and the prime "objective" of these things, in fact during France 2005 suburbs riots for instance, I don't remember much looting, it was mostly destroying.

I see destroying as a form of blackmailing : give us what we want or we destroy

[adam2]

Parliament is being recalled re this crises.
Poor MPs having to go back to work ! they will need a pay increase, or some special fee or allowance for this no doubt.

[Mean Mr Mustard]

Biff is actualy almost there.

The twitter-organised mass community clean up of the streets that is now proceeding gives a glimmer of hope for society.

Do you think all those broomsticks would be handy in their seamless transformation to a protective vigilante? "Issue those fine upstanding citizens with luminous armbands to differentiate them in tonight's melee, Sarge..."

[Mean Mr Mustard]

Parliament is being recalled re this crises.
Poor MPs having to go back to work ! they will need a pay increase, or some special fee or allowance for this no doubt.

Perhaps they could just join the other short-selling looters in the City.