Blame it on the cuts

heathcote123

Clifford_Pope wrote: »

Ken Livingstone is saying the riots are a result of cutting expenditure on the police and armed forces so they no longer have the resources to deal with lawlessness at home?

It seems a fair comment to me.

If he said this in 5 years time, he may (though probably not) have a point.

The cuts have barely begun, and were only very slightly more aggressive than labours 'plan'.

Anyone trying to hang this on the current govt really is a bit dim, or manipulative.

heathcote123

DervProf wrote: »

I think that part of the reason for these riots is the feeling of being the "have nots", rather than just being totally random vandalism. Not that I'm excusing their actions or saying that it is exclusively down to the current economic climate.

Free housing, free education, free money, free health service.

Yup, they have very little, I'm amazed so few people want to come to this country.

hallmark

I suspect Labour & the Unions are secretly hating what's going on (even though they've not bothered to appear on TV to condemn it - Milliband - the leader of the opposition !!!!!! - TWEETS his view? what a joke).

Anyway as I say I suspect they are very dismayed by this because all those TUC plans to cause havoc with "demonstrations" (that amazingly always seem to be "hijacked by a criminal minority") during the lifetime of this parliament are now in tatters. The public will have no sympathy for any organization that encourages & organises crowds of thugs to run riot after this.

StevieJ

heathcote123 wrote: »

If he said this in 5 years time, he may (though probably not) have a point.

The cuts have barely begun, and were only very slightly more aggressive than labours 'plan'.

Anyone trying to hang this on the current govt really is a bit dim, or manipulative.

Be just a coincidence then, like 81 and 85

hallmark

Hardly a coincidence. Both times labour bankrupted the country then there were demonstrations by people (& supported by people) too stupid to realise who did the damage.

Actually not all of them or their supporters are stupid. Lots of them have vested interests.

StevieJ

BTW who has told the thugs that they are cutting police numbers? without doubt reducing morale (and not just of the police) :eek:
It reminds me of a Man Utd shareholder meeting when Fergie first became manager, and I quote (I was there)
Alex, I know you have only been here a week but you have already cocked it up by giving that t*** Stapleton a contract extention'

StevieJ

hallmark wrote: »

Hardly a coincidence. Both times labour bankrupted the country then there were demonstrations by people (& supported by people) too stupid to realise who did the damage.

Actually not all of them or their supporters are stupid. Lots of them have vested interests.

I have some news for you, Labour weren't in between 81 and 85, and it was the Tories who bankrupted the country in the 70's under Heath. If you need me to explain i will refer you to previous links

freeoffers

ukcarper wrote: »

I would add that respect for authority in fact respect for anything has decreased.

I think this is true but parents, police, MPs still have to earn respect. I think - as a parent - my son respects me because I treat him the way I wish to be treated. Its do as I do and not do as i say.

We also have to understand that as parents, once a child reaches 13/14, we generally lose them to their peers but if we've instilled in them a sense of right ad wrong then that should prevail.

We all saw how Clegg was treated today in Birmingham - booed and told to go home. MPs have lost our respect what with their lies and their expense-fiddling and the police have taken a knock too over the phone hacking.

For me the problems lie deeper than just a few kids who want stuff for free. Some don't seem to care about anything and that's scary. Remember, even with stiff sentences these people will be back on our streets and not all will be caught. My question is whose coordinating them? Whoever it is are most likely their role models and not their parents.

freeoffers

vaporate wrote: »

Anyway, my money is on kids from run down council estates single mother families.

Oh and dare I say it, 'ethnic minority'.

That's the usual stereotype. Of course you obviously didn't see the white kids out there doing this too. Yes, most were black and this type of lawlessness does seem to be more prevalent among blacks, but I'd also like to discover what made these people so brazen, so uncaring of the consequences, so that it does not happen again.

MacMickster

freeoffers wrote: »

I think this is true but parents, police, MPs still have to earn respect. I think - as a parent - my son respects me because I treat him the way I wish to be treated. Its do as I do and not do as i say.

We also have to understand that as parents, once a child reaches 13/14, we generally lose them to their peers but if we've instilled in them a sense of right ad wrong then that should prevail.

I agree with you largely, but as a parent there have to be times when its "do as I say" and if respect isn't given it has to be enforced.

Young teenagers think that they know everything and are right about everything. They need to be made to follow their parents' rules at this age whether they agree with them/respect them or not. As a parent I would not let a young teenager be out of the house at 11pm onwards. At the moment, with potential rioting taking place, I wouldn't let them be out on the streets at all.