Backlash to Anarchy

What is the matter with this country? I'm appalled at what the politicians are suggesting when it comes to punishment for the rioters of last week. They're trying to take away the social housing of those convicted, but if someone lives in their own property then their home, of course, can't be taken away. How unequal is that? They're also talking of suspending the benefits of those convicted. Why can't they see that both of these suggestions will, if carried out, only increase social tensions?

Another of their “knee-jerk” reactions is to talk about broken, dysfunctional, families. I agree that it's possible that in some cases the lack of parenting, especially where there is no father figure, might have some bearing on the behaviour of the children who took part in the riots. But we shouldn't tar all young people with the same brush. And what about those women who are trying to raise their children alone because they've been widowed? I've always hated the way they talk about single parents, as if we all elected to be single parents. I speak from experience having been widowed myself when my child was only 11 years old. But she didn't grow up to become a "feral" child, not knowing right from wrong. It makes me very angry indeed to be "lumped in" with those who choose to be single parents.

Also, this taking the perpetrators to court so quickly … while it may be what the public wants, it doesn't really help. Summary justice is never the answer. Here again the sentences being meted out are very unfair. Prior to the riots sentencing was much less harsh than that being given to those convicted in these instances. I think that’s extremely unfair, and is again just a “knee-jerk” reaction. What we need is consistency.

Many of the pundits are saying that it’s the inequality in society that fuelled the rioting. OK, that may be part of the sheer criminality that went on, but I do blame the “Celebrity Culture” that’s so current in the UK. The idea of almost deifying celebrities and footballers, who I’ve always considered to be paid far too much money, certainly doesn’t help when the poor will never have any way of gaining a good education, let alone a well-paid job, or of owning their own home.

The Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition government ministers have absolutely no idea of what it means to live on a very low income, in poor housing, in a deprived area. No wonder people turn to gangs, drugs, and crime. They have none of the advantages in life that many of us were lucky enough to receive, and they need to be treated with compassion not even more draconian measures.

While I totally condemn the rioting, I also find the current backlash to be extremely distasteful. But then, what can you expect from these Tory Toffs!

Related articles

• PM focuses on 'troubled' families (bbc.co.uk)