Reply #2: It is a shame as there is plenty of decent analysis [View All]

[fedsron2us]

amongst the knee jerk stuff from both right and left.

The collective threads on the riots on the BBC and Guardian are well worth reading in full.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/london-riots
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14452097

For example the BBC has the interesting statistic that 83% of the suspected rioters were over 18 which rather gives the lie to the claim that most of those involved were bored out of control school kids. The reality seems to be the majority of the rioters were young adults.

Even the Telegraph and the Mail have had some considered articles amongst the inevitable hang and flog all benefit claimants drivel. All the better pieces have pointed out that the acquisitive must have consumer society pushed at the young 24/7 by the media shaped way the riots played out. There is also a growing recognition that the values displayed by the financial elite are trickling down to the rest of society even if the cash stays at the top. As A.A.Gill (not normally my favourite commentator) put it rioting looters were technically 'shorting their neighbourhood' in search of a quick profit perhaps because they instinctively realised the goods might not be there in the future. Thus are the dubious morals of corrupt bankers, media moguls, police officers and politicians are played out on the street.