[kj] Broken Britain

[gingoblin at easynet.co.uk]

Sorry to hear this Paula... but I honestly don't think it can be said there 
is no poverty in this country. Perhaps not in comparison to Africa or 
something, but how about OAP's dying 'cos they can't afford to heat their 
homes, people having to eat crap cos they can't afford decent food blah 
blah blah.  It IS there.

Totally can't be arsed getting into an argument with the (rather depressing 
amount of) right-wingers on this list, not least because in my 15 years of 
being on it I don't think I've ever seen the phrase "actually, that's a 
fair point... you may be right" hahaha!  But if we don't try and understand 
the reasons for things happening, we'll never understand them.

I still go with


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"Create a society that values material things above all else. Strip it of 
industry. Raise taxes for the poor and reduce them for the rich and for 
corporations. Prop up failed financial institutions with public money. Ask 
for more tax, while vastly reducing public services. Put adverts 
everywhere, regardless of people's ability to afford the things they 
advertise. Allow the cost of food and housing to eclipse people's ability 
to pay for them. Light blue touch paper."

that was posted the other day.

Anyway, I'm going to see Jerry Sadowitz tonight... he'll no doubt make me 
feel better ;)

Dave in Edinburgh






>On 12 Aug 2011, at 11:25, Paula Cook wrote:

>

>

>

>I live in Ealing. The nearest the riots got to my home was about 200 

>yards. I couldn't sleep Monday night with all the noise, sirens and 

>helicopters. The next day, most of the town centre was cordoned off. I 

>just couldn't believe the destruction. My hairdresser, beauty salon, 

>corner shop, and all my other local shops had been attacked. A family 

>member of the beauty salon's owner had been attacked trying to protect his 

>business, his face a mass of cuts and bruises. Some people had been 

>attacked in their homes and had to flee, their homes burnt out. Others had 

>their cars burnt. Local people, including myself, were in a complete state 

>of shock.

>

>I couldn't sleep Tuesday or Wednesday night because I was so frightened. 

>I'm in my mid-40s, live alone, am 5'1" tall and under 9 stone - and I only 

>have kitchen knives to protect myself against a mob invading my home.

>

>Gatherers, no disrespect to any one of you, but I don't want to hear any 

>more excuses and justifications for this behaviour. There are none. London 

>is a city of opportunity. There is NO poverty in this country, the welfare 

>state ensures that. Poverty exists in parts of Asia, Africa and Latin 

>America; I've seen the shanties of Guatemala City, Managua and Panama City 

>with my own eyes, they are shocking, nothing like that here. We have it 

>very good indeed in this country compared with most other countries.

>

>I want the full force of the law to come down on those responsible. I want 

>the law, for which I pay through my taxes, to protect me and make me feel 

>safe again in my own home. 3,000 police for 9 million Londoners is a joke, 

>we need the 16,000 we've had in the past few days to become permanent. I 

>would like to see a highly visible police presence in London from now on, 

>police have been conspicuous by their absence for a long time now. We need 

>the authorities to come down like a ton of bricks on all this "gangsta" 

>culture, hoodies and suchlike. I don't want to live my life in fear.

>

>Stay safe Gatherers

>Paula aka Nuclear Girl

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