The UK is hit by a tsunami of violence as copy-cat riots hit major towns across London & Birmingham

[TheBigotBasher]

Many will dismiss the rioters as "scum", many others will give them a political credibility that they neither aspire to or desire. Others will say it is because they have "nothing better to do".

One thing is for sure, these riots are no longer (if ever) about Mark Duggan.

For many on the streets it is a protest. Youth unemployment is hitting 1 million. The "cure" proposed by the government is not job creation but punishment for unemployment.

I got a lucky break 4 months ago. I found a new job. Yes temporary but still good. Before that job, I was depressed, on the verge of suicide and angry. Government cuts mean that there is very little carrot left to find a job and a lot of stick to find that non-existent job.

My next door neighbours, scientists, were raided by the police because they were Muslim. I see no other reason for the anti terrorist police storiming up the stairs like a scene of out of life of Brian.

For those demanding racial profiling in the US - this is the inevitable consequence. It is not an excuse it is a response. If people are poor, trodden on and see no way out people will react back. Young black people, young Muslims are targeted for no other reason than they look black or Muslim.

As I said, a fair chunk of the rioters outside of Tottenham are just copy-cats. Their interest in Mark Duggan is minimal to say the least. However the rich had their riots over student loans, they never once spoke up for the very poorest who were having their very minimal benefits cut.

Do not be angry at the rioters, even the opportunist thieves. They may have "damaged the economy", they do not and will not ever have the power to hold it to ransom or to crash it entirely.

Most looters are opportunists. Somebody else broke the glass first. The first are violent but the rest are just quite literally taking advantage, something we are all told to do.

Robbing a tv is far less worse than being able to decide who runs a government as a result of illegally hacked telephone messages. It is far less worse than a politician dancing to the tune of their big money interests instead of the public who voted for them. It is far less worse than being able to fiddle your expenses as a Member of Parliament or win a no bid contract for a war against a Country that did nothing to anyone.

Not one of these kids could have caused the damage to the economy of the World that Goldman Sachs did. GS gets the ear of Washington. The poor of the World only get the ear of the top when they do riot.

The rioters are wrong to do this but at the moment, those in power are making the rioters look like chewing gum thieves at school.

[spin]

1. K&R, Let's hope those riots do not come here ...

but it is quite possible that they will if the Republican Tea Baggers get their way.

[TheBigotBasher]

2. If they wanted social change...

they were 10 minutes away from the Houses of Parliament and right on top of the banking industry.

Instead, like fools they killed the reason for their protest and now look like nothing but aggravated theives.

[spin]

3. Unfortunately, riots often end up to have less to do with social change ...

and more to do with theft.