The Riots.

Through the Smoke, Fire and Destruction a Face Now Looms: The Government’s True Face. One of Glory-Stealing, Headline Hunting and Ruthless, Backstabbing, Cut-throat Brutality.

And You Thought the Looters were the Worst this Country Could Get? The Government Is Just Getting Started.

Iconic

Last week saw some of the worst riots and rioting this country has seen in recent memory. It left us every evening wondering what the scene would be the following morning. 24 Hour coverage allowed many of us to watch horrific scenes that will become part of Modern history unfold before our eyes. (Alternatively, we could have just looked out of our window).

But, now, as the dust settles, the glass is replaced what are we left with? Devastation, destruction, and perhaps most importantly of all: Unanswered questions and a government that has, at last, shown the public its true face: a face that passes blame, glory hunts and a ruthless nature.

To begin with, David Cameron has openly criticised police tactics throughout the beginning of the violence that started this week. This, is bullshit. The police were simply unprepared, as was the country and the Prime-Minister himself for the level, scale and sheer feral-mindedness of the gangs that roamed the streets. The police we have, should be trusted (as Parliament is) with the protection of this country and the upholding of its laws. Last time I checked, MP’s were stealing from taxpayers through false expenses claims, MP’s were selling themselves, their loyalty and information to aging media baron Rupert Murdoch and that Ginger-Haired bint who is the most evil and two faced women I’ve ever had the displeasure of not meeting. And MP’s lied in such atrocious amounts in the run up to elections, that I’m not sure exactly whose policies were whose or which landfill site has been put aside to deal with sheer amount of shite they were shovelling down our throats. MP’s and Parliament are power-hungry, two faced and the least trusted people in this country.

The police, cancelled annual leave to its overworked, underpaid and thinly stretched force before David Cameron had returned to his ‘favourite Italian Restaurant’ to pay a ‘forgotten’ tip. (Any photo opportunity eh Dave?). The police are being subject to massive cuts, job losses and cutbacks from the MP’s who now openly criticise and pass blame on to them. And the police, require (in what I find utterly bizarre, pointless and frankly dangerous red tape) permission to crack out the water cannons and rubber/plastic bullets. What UTTER nonsense that is.

I think any one of us would have welcomed rubber bullets after the first night. Water cannons even more so. If a rioter gets shot and dies later? Fuck them. They’re old enough to destroy their own communities, their own country and in some horrendous and truly tragic cases, take lives themselves, they’re old enough to accept the consequences. If a rioter had died after the first or second night rather than those protecting their community, I guarantee that would have been the end of it. (the police and media showed what utter cowards these people are – masking their faces, but willing to be interviewed (below), and a gang of 40 youths running away from 6 unarmed police. Heroes and cowards both shown in one heart lifting scene of bravery.)

Police are charged with the protection of our streets. If that protection requires them to bruise a couple of would-be-vandals or spray a couple with water, let them. They should not need to have to wait, and struggle through and in many cases simply watch helplessly whilst criminals take control of our streets for over three days whilst MP’s and the hierarchy to decide what plane meal they devour on their return journey from a holiday tragically cut short. I’m sorry, police work too; they had their leave cancelled after the first night of violence. Get some perspective.

MP’s for once stand united over the issue of how to deal with this level of violence, blaming everything from parents, to a lack of community projects, to schooling and education, almost everything it seems but their own policies.

Now, I am not saying that the aforementioned things did not have an effect. The fact that youths who broke into the Arndale centre in Manchester headed not for the Apple Store, Superdry or any other high quality, high priced item store, but rather JD Sports and Footlocker shows that something is wrong with the education system – lessons on looting need to be placed higher up the academic ladder I think! But let’s look at the bigger picture.

Yes, these youths and young people require direction, require stimulation and require activities within which to partake, no one denies that, and education, community and parental guidance take a frontline part in that. BUT, the government cannot pass responsibility to these authorities, without giving them funds to invest into them. The cuts, the job losses, they affect every family, wages are squeezed, it has to go further and youths requiring direction are in homes where parents have had jobs cut, or obliterated, and of course they will be angry.

Again, I do not tolerated or condone their actions and in many cases, the vast majority of looters simply were hopping on a band wagon and wanting free trainers (clearly). But, look past that, look at the minority of actual rioters rather than looters. You will see a frustrated, isolated and suffering underclass. An underclass that is ignored and an underclass that finally had attention on them… attention that sadly shifted to another class… a class lower than mud.

The Government ignores these people, and ignores them at its peril.

Communities have had blame placed on their shoulders. Communities who themselves openly condoned the acts of violence. Communities that took it upon themselves to clean their own streets. They did not wait for an indecisive, red tape swathed government to get off its arse. They got out, they swept, cleaned, hammered. Police joined them; riot shields were used as tea trays. Looted shops took further losses by offering these people biscuits and refreshments free of charge. THIS was the true face of England. A true face that the Government should perhaps study. They did not blame one another, wait for someone else to do the job for them, pass the blame and say ‘they made it, they should clean it’. No.

They took, the high road.

A phrase so rarely used nowadays. And a route even fewer choose to take. But not this week. This week the public showed the Government and the looters who were the bigger, and the better people in this country.

Emergency debate should suggest urgency and swift action. Yet still I see no action being taken by Government… still I see any action being taken is being taken by police, who still have to work overtime, who still have their annual leave postponed. Any action I see comes from communities, spitting in the face of the labels placed on them by the media and a government. Any action I see comes from people like you, or like me.

Take note government. You’ve turned the system to your advantage, putting up so much red tape that even after blatant theft and fraud you still have jobs. And yet, that red tape has seen you and so the country come undone.

Democracy is about giving power to the people; People that throughout this story have shown you that given power, it is used responsibly. Police need to be able to do their job without waiting days for the go ahead, and communities and the country, want that to happen.

Communities and Police have shown what this country can be, and what at heart, this country is. Looters and the Government have emphasised our public and international image: one of louts, corruption, and slow, dim-witted leaders.

The question is… all-be-it obvious. Which do we prefer?