On the third night of rioting in London, the most immediate reaction of every sensible person is to condem the violence as mindless thuggery. Or more cynically, not quite mindless thuggery designed to allow those who are so inclined to loot shops.
Which is quite right of course. Nothing excuses this sort of violence.
The interesting thing about the reactions of politicians is that the right-wing politicians do nothing more than condem the violence, whereas the left-wing politicians in addition to condemning the violence, also point out the economic situation is leading to a generation of young people who are frustrated with their situation who see no hope of a normal life. Or in other words right wingers are content with a simple minded answer, whereas the left-wingers are at least trying to look a little deeper.
That doesn’t excuse rioting of course, and you’ll find that most young people weren’t rioting. Not even most of the most deprived young people. The rioters themselves, would in normal circumstances be kept busy with paying jobs giving them enough money to entertain themselves without rioting.
With the present economy, there are too many young people who have no job, see no chance of getting a job, and see the government cuts take away opportunities for education which may in the end lead to a job. And in a city like London where every young person can see the incredibly wealthy around, must lead to incredible frustration.
Of course doing anything to make the rioter’s lives easier is something that grates. But what about making the lives of all the young people who didn’t riot better ?