Bootstraps for breakfast

Posted at 8:49 AM on August 15, 2011 by Michael Olson (3 Comments)
Filed under: Economy

Prime Minister David Cameron echoed the sentiment of many in the United Kingdom when he put the riots that spread across Britain in context.

"This has been a wake-up call for our country," he declared.

Cameron continued, "Social problems that have been festering for decades have exploded in our face. ... Do we have the determination to confront the slow-motion moral collapse that has taken place in parts of our country these past few generations?"

Cameron said senior ministers of his 2-year-old coalition government would spend the next few weeks formulating new policies designed to reverse what he described as a country being dragged down by many citizens' laziness, irresponsibility and selfishness. He said "the responsible majority" was demanding that the government build "a stronger society." (AP)

The BBC reports that Cameron's approach is expected to mirror that which was pursued in Los Angeles after the 1992 riots post-Rodney King verdict.

The LAPD learned tactics like bringing in large numbers of police officers, and the national guard, making a huge number of arrests to show their strength.

But the police also went through a long period of soul-searching after the riots.

"Across the board we made changes in our police department, adding more officers - more women, more minorities, a lot more Hispanic officers to match the community make up," said the LAPD's Commander Smith.

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Comments (3)

Well what if the bootstraps are broken to begin with? I still think that they-Cameron- don't have the full picture.

"I know what I've done is stupid. I regret it so much and I will pay anything," said Raymond Graham, a 30-year-old Croydon resident, who admits handling two stolen televisions and shuttling looted electronics in his car. He was refused bail.

Graham, who has five previous convictions including for drug dealing, said he wanted to sell the TVs to pay off debts. "My son's 23 days old and I care for my grandmother. I will do anything. Please, please," he testified."

Unless this boils down to nothing but being a good con man, (and there are reasons why people become con men AND women), I think I would consider looking at underlying issues like being born into dense poverty and having no way out. There are deeper issues around the name calling of "lazy, irresponsible and selfish" I would ask, why?

Are there options such as accessible education?
Are there employment opportunities within the community? What is the difference between a lazy unemployed person and a lazy employed person?

I do believe some hefty research is at hand-has anyone gone into their world and tried to understand what it is that causes these problems.
Healthy and supportive environments such as healthy families and communities to grow up in.

Posted by lucy | August 15, 2011 10:28 AM

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http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2011/08/does-excessive-welfare-spending-cause-riots.php

Think if England, or Milwaukee Wisconsin had shall issue carry permits? Would the criminals be so bold?

Posted by GaryF | August 15, 2011 1:58 PM

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//Think if England, or Milwaukee Wisconsin had shall issue carry permits? Would the criminals be so bold?

Clear thinking there Gary. In other words, London would have hundreds dead instead of five?

Posted by lucy | August 15, 2011 6:34 PM

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