tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099099432720184584.post2447367994578032999..comments2023-10-28T19:42:01.039+01:00Comments on Going fast, getting nowhere: Riot sentences "too severe"Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15743685798068014455noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099099432720184584.post-28287719793499573022011-08-18T07:12:04.712+01:002011-08-18T07:12:04.712+01:00MPs, whatever their faults, and there were and are...MPs, whatever their faults, and there were and are many, were not violent. Bankers, conscience-free graspers though they are, were not violent.<br /><br />Money is only money. Torching people's homes and businesses and murdering people is something else. You cannot conflate expenses cheating and financial skulduggery with violent disorder and mob aggression. I am pleased to see that, for once, the judiciary appear to be taking this seriously and are handing out penalties which are more commensurate with the crime.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15743685798068014455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099099432720184584.post-2647626666585151172011-08-17T23:03:34.472+01:002011-08-17T23:03:34.472+01:00It's a little easy to write off the rioters an...It's a little easy to write off the rioters and pretend that harsh sentences will allow "us feel that the problem has been dealt with".<br /><br />The backlash against these "people" is justified - but our focus is poorly aimed. There should be a genuine attempt to understand and correct why so many resorted to this act of wanton looting and destruction.<br /><br />If this isn't done - it will happen again. Perhaps its the influence of rap music, the fact hoodies make you evil or a symptom of capitalist consumerism on the verge of collapse signalled by a Spartacus moment where the unemployed, the poor, the ones with no future, took back what was taken. <br /><br />Judge for yourself, and lets face it, we have judged every single one of them without judging the very sick society that has produced them.<br /><br />Each one convicted so far has been responsible for from anything to a few quid to thousands and thousands of pounds damage. Let us not forget our MP's stole the same from us not so long ago.<br /><br />Let us not forget the financial collapse built on a pathetic house of cards has caused untold damage. And still they haven't fixed the foundation.<br /><br />The MP's are still free.<br />The bankers are free and getting their bonuses still.<br /><br />Tell me, who really is costing this country?Harrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099099432720184584.post-69060348839566106842011-08-17T17:22:49.702+01:002011-08-17T17:22:49.702+01:00"Just think: if we were in the habit of givin...<i>"Just think: if we were in the habit of giving sentences like as a routine, would the rioters perhaps have thought twice about burning and stealing other people's property in the first place? "</i><br /><br />It's hard to say - no-one ever seems to expect to get caught, after all.JuliaMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07844126589712842477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099099432720184584.post-27103046744146778952011-08-17T16:45:16.268+01:002011-08-17T16:45:16.268+01:00I knew it wouldn't take long for some lilly li...I knew it wouldn't take long for some lilly livered MP to start wetting his pants about people actually going to prison.<br />Restorative justice? Throw away the bloody key.<br />I know I wouldn't want to sit and have a nice chat over a cup of tea with some bugger who had ruined my livelyhood.<br />You're right. He's definately a muppetBuckohttp://fuelinjectedmoose.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com