Is it getting quieter?

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So far in London tonight at least things seem quieter, though equally that may be that it’s just being reported less. Whilst I’m very glad it’s quietened down it’s worrying as it hasn’t got quieter because the looters have been stopped, more they’ve simply stopped for now. This may be due to the vast numbers of police in the capital, if so that could be a problem as they’ll have to go home at soem point and really do we want our cities that heavily policed? Or it may be due to the London firms and other groups defending their streets? Or it could be the looters have got bored, got enough trainers and mobile phones or are just having a lie in?

Earlier Inspector Gadget observed that the police need to deliver fast to maintain any credibility. From the reporting in the mainstream media and on bloggs and twitter where trouble is happening it does seem to be being dealt with more energetically. But there simply isn’t the level of trouble yet that there was the past few days (for which I’m terribly thankful) however this also means that the police haven’t yet been able to show they can deal with the situation. So if the looters and thugs are just having a quiet night to regroup count their stolen ipods and so forth, what happens when they come back? Do the people who’ve seen neighbourhoods destroyed whilst the police were unable to do anything (for what ever reason) wait and see how the police respond next time round? Or do they decide that it might be better to not wait around? With sales of batons, baseball bats and sjamboks being reported as was up, I don’t think people are planning to stay out of the way next time round, despite the popularity of #OperationCupOfTea tonight.

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Riot idiocy from the establishment

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Having clearly demonstrated to the public at large that the police are at least currently not able/willing* to protect peoples saftey, homes and livelihoods and generally not being keen on people protecting themselves it’d seem that some council jobsworths aren’t even keen on letting people try and clean up their neighbourhoods due to the all powerful safety elf (hat tip London Cleanup).

Meanwhile Darcus Howe is an utter cock.

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Lazy comparisons a go go

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Seeing as today seems to be a day for lazy comparisons I thought I’d join in the fun and games, the relationship between my tongue and my cheek is left as an exercise to the readers.

Currently we are told have poor disenfranchised youths (who can afford to buy blackberry’s) finding their voice by looting shops, and lashing out at a society that told them to consume but that they were entitled to everything so didn’t need to work, or if you prefer the other narrative couldn’t find work despite being law abiding lovely people. This is just them reclaiming their power.

This has been variously compared to the Tottenham/Brixton race riots of the 80’s and even the poll tax riots. Because the government has been doing what it does best and ignoring peaceful and not so peaceful protests and well the Tories are in power so it’s just like Maggie being back innit! (Though comparing call-me-Dave to Thatcher is a hell of a stretch). Having given this some thought I don’t think these comparisons go nearly far enough (to quote Tom Lehrer out of context) and really these people are missing a wonderful bit of hyperbole.

Here’s a check list for a much “better” comparison:

Rampant consumer culture – allegedly
High inflation due to printing money – check
People being told that they don’t have work due to a specific segment of society – check
Roaming gangs of youth attacking/looting those that have more than them – check
High unemployment – check
Organised criminality hiding behind spontaneous violence – check
Socialists politicians telling the “disenfranchised” they’re entitled to have the state provide everything – check

So I do believe that if we can just find a Reichtstag to burn down, why then we may have the set.

Do feel free to add any comparisons I may have missed.

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