Comments on: Riots: The left must respond

By: Brendan

Brendan — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 00:52:41 +0000

@ isabel I didn’t suggest we shouldn’t look for reasons, but don’t equate that with deciding you already know what they are ( which many here seem to do), ie poverty, racism, brutality, etc. I’m sure some or all of these are implicated, but the real impression here and elsewhere is of a knee-jerk reaction and leaping to familiar positions without actually thinking and listening (for instance to the victims of the riots). This is what we accuse the right of doing, but I don’t see much difference. And if you talking about complexity, then, for instance, the role of parents, gang culture, ‘discipline’, dependencynetc, may not be palatable to us as reasons, but they are certainly not simplistic.

By: Symon

Symon — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 19:10:27 +0000

This is not capitalism this corporatism. If it were capitalism, the tax payer wouldn’t be bailing out the speculative loses of the bankers and face austerity in return.

Those guilty of plunder, no matter who they are, should be bought to justice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umJ6co__lz8&feature=player_embedded

By: Heather

Heather — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 17:44:56 +0000

What no politician is prepared to say is that rampant capitalism caused these riots. Capitalism is not working, but everyone is scared to think of an alternative or is unable too. However, the participants of the riots, those committing the looting and arson come across as arrogant, selfish sh*ts. OK, capitalism made them that way, but still, if you lived in one of the affected communities, as I do, it was a thoroughly scary experience. I am all for a curfew if it stops thugs destroying our community.

By: jane

jane — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 17:41:06 +0000

The lack of ‘jobs’ always gets mentioned by the Left, but the Left refuses to admit to the fact that 90% of jobs created over the last few years have gone to migrant workers.

You can’t have it both ways.

Prioritising looking like ‘nice Lefties’ just finishes up as a gutless cop-out from the issues – issues from which, for sure, young people here are suffering the consequences.

By: Isabel

Isabel — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 15:31:37 +0000

“If we’re about standing with people who’ve been oppressed and terrorised then right now we should be speaking out for those who have been persecuted by the rioters, had their homes and businesses burnt and vandalised, been attacked, injured, and now, tragically, killed.” – Agreed. A good point – we could do more but there are efforts in this direction already. The North London Unity Demonstration has this demand:

Support for those affected by the rioting, including the immediate rehousing of people made homeless, grants for affected small businesses, and restoration of damaged areas.

This also isn’t just a demand for the protest. It is practically being carried out – people are mobilising support in Tottenham for people who lost their homes. But it is also possible to also underline the social and economic factors which contributed to the riots. The march is also a place for people to voice their opposition to what happened – it is possible to do this and ALSO demand no closure to youth services and no to further police powers and stop and search. Can people stop suggesting that thinking about the complex causes of the riots is somehow showing a lack of support for people negatively affected by them. Surely trying to address underlying problems will actually help not hinder quality of life in our respective neighbourhoods.

By: Scott ffolliot

Scott ffolliot — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:31:35 +0000

Mix poverty and oppression and voila

Next the lesson of the Troy gentrification scheme: The Capitalists move out the poverty and move in the well-heeled middle class. The wonders of the free market place.

By: Symon

Symon — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 11:19:04 +0000

How the Banks make big bucks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxfMxpB9-Ds&feature=related

We pay the interest and when we are broke and destitute they clean up yet again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjUPb4Z2M_o&feature=player_embedded

Only with the collusion of government can this looting of our economy and our wealth take place. Our governments have been captured.

This is the challenge, to restore representative government that serves the interest of the people and are not controlled or beholden to the financial elite.

By: Symon

Symon — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 07:45:50 +0000

Look… this is the true face and nature of the financial class. If you watch and listen carefully, you will get a glimpse of what is in store for us should we fail to wake up soon. Very soon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALcaU8pAtwA

They set the curriculum, they control the media, they are behind the various think tank groups etc. and they control our governments regardless of which party we vote for.

Point being you cannot rely on the system for the truth. You must look outside it.

Deceit. Distraction. Divide and Rule. That’s how they play us.

Stay focussed and inform as many as you can as to what is really going on.

By: Lee

Lee — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 06:45:11 +0000

‘In London in particular, poor inner city neighbourhoods where young people can (very reasonably) see no decent future for themselves’

Are you kidding? In London you’re only a tube ride away from some of the wealthiest areas on the planet – with loads of employment opportunities.

It’s not the same in the former mining villages of Yorkshire which have suffered decades of poverty and lack of opportunity, and there’s no way out due to poor public transport links.

Could you please point out to me anywhere in London which only has one bus an hour which then takes nearly an hour to reach the nearest economic centre? This doesn’t help when you’re trying to find a job.

By: Brendan

Brendan — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 02:58:13 +0000

If we’re about standing with people who’ve been oppressed and terrorised then right now we should be speaking out for those who have been persecuted by the rioters, had their homes and businesses burnt and vandalised, been attacked, injured, and now, tragically, killed. Yes, there other vulnerable groups we should stand up for, but NOW is the time to show solidarity and listen to what victims of the rioters are saying. Anything else will make us look like callous idiots. Given that so many victims of the riots seem to be from w/c, BME, or immigrant groups, this is doubly the case.