Has that Darcus chap chap seemed quite certain this would happen.

So has he gone on record anywhere to say, before it happened, that it was coming?

Your take on the interview was misleading and I'm just correcting your characterization of him as a "commoner". Why did you think he was? He was a magazine editor, had a song written about him, organized a march of 20,000 people, hosted a TV show on Channel 4, and made a documentary. HARDLY a commoner

It's quite obvious he strongly empthises with the plight of the commoners, having been one himself. Granted he went on to fulfill himself in his own way, accomplishments we deem to be a mark of "success." It seems to me that he hasn't forgotten his roots despite his achievements. Happens to a lot of people, including myself.

Just read his wiki page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darcus_Howe

Sounds like a very bitter person to me, seems he likes to play the race card as well.

Has that Darcus chap chap seemed quite certain this would happen.

So has he gone on record anywhere to say, before it happened, that it was coming?

It's easy enough to have a sense that, given certain indicators which to some are more than obvious, an event has a high probability of occurring. You won't find many who will attempt to predict the exact timing. Lots of people saw the economic crisis coming. Few predicted the exact timing. Lots of people saw the stock market crash of late coming. No one predicted the timing or would be foolhardy enough to attempt it. Too many variables and also predicated on current events not changing course.

Just read his wiki page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darcus_Howe

Sounds like a very bitter person to me, seems he likes to play the race card as well.

Of course, you're not playing the chevs card, are you?

David Icke predicted a global economic crash, should we all start rushing out to buy his books.

And yeah, I am playing the chav card, because that's what it is. A load of greedy, sponging chavs taking the opportunity to sponge some more.

Looking out of my window I see thick smoke about well...it looks like next door really. Sirens helicopters...I wish I'd moved here when I was five years old...that would have been spot on.

Your take on the interview was misleading and I'm just correcting your characterization of him as a "commoner". Why did you think he was? He was a magazine editor, had a song written about him, organized a march of 20,000 people, hosted a TV show on Channel 4, and made a documentary. HARDLY a commoner

It's quite obvious he strongly empthises with the plight of the commoners, having been one himself.

More Wiki:

"Howe was born in Trinidad and Tobago, the son of an Anglican priest. He left Trinidad for London aged 18[1] to enter the legal profession at Middle Temple, but he swapped the law for journalism. He returned to Trinidad, where his uncle and mentor, radical intellectual CLR James, inspired Howe to combine writing with political activism. A brief spell as assistant editor on the Trinidad trade union paper The Vanguard was followed by return to Britain as editor of British magazine Race Today."

Anyone arriving from Trinidad and Tobago 50 years ago to take up a place in the Middle Temple certainly wasn't a 'commoner'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfnPMey9IVI&feature=player_embedded

Anyone arriving from Trinidad and Tobago 50 years ago to take up a place in the Middle Temple certainly wasn't a 'commoner'.

Well, then, I stand corrected.

David Icke predicted a global economic crash, should we all start rushing out to buy his books.

And yeah, I am playing the chav card, because that's what it is. A load of greedy, sponging chavs taking the opportunity to sponge some more.

I give you credit for admitting it. Unfortunately, I don't think the cause of the rioting boils down to as simple an explanation as chavs being, well, chavs.

From CNBC:

London's press has reported that discontent has been simmering among Britain's urban poor for years, in neighborhoods like Tottenham, where the riots started.

But as one man told NBC News about an economic protest two months ago, "There was not a word in the press about our protests. Last night (Saturday) a bit of rioting and looting and now look around you."

In response to the violence, Prime Minister David Cameron has said law and order will prevail in Great Britain and he's doubled the amount of police officers in the streets and instituted curfews for young adults.

Cameron's conservative government is under fire for spending cuts to social programs in order to help reduce the country's debt. Among those hit the hardest are large numbers of minority youths who have been at the forefront of the unrest.

None of that ties in?

I've stolen the headline from the article you quoted:

"Economic Uncertainty Leading to Global Unrest"

No - none of that ties in. The people who are exhibiting 'global unrest' wouldn't understand 'global unrest' if if snook up and chewed their <deleted> off. They're just small time crooks who are getting away with what they can because the Met have left their nuts at home.

None of that ties in?

Not really. It is mostly about creeps being creeps.

It's not just that the MPS has lost it's balls.

The european Court of Human Rights will not tolerate strong policing. That will infringe the human rights of the perps. Never mind the victims - they don't count.

Personally I'd send in the army to support the police, but all 27 of them are in Afroghanistan at the moment, waiting to welcome HRH back with a mug of tea and some K rations.

When I was in Iran, during the revolution that brought in Khomeini, there were tanks at every cross-roads, plus soldiers pointing loaded rifles at you. Makes you behave very politely.

I think most of them are British by nationality, a mix really. I's not confined to race either, unless chav is a race.

What's "chav"?

Sorry

Lower class 'common' people. Not necessarily poor people, but working class people who are unsociable and often aggressive. They usually live on government handouts.

Thanks.

It's not just that the MPS has lost it's balls.

The european Court of Human Rights will not tolerate strong policing. That will infringe the human rights of the perps. Never mind the victims - they don't count.

Personally I'd send in the army to support the police, but all 27 of them are in Afroghanistan at the moment, waiting to welcome HRH back with a mug of tea and some K rations.

When I was in Iran, during the revolution that brought in Khomeini, there were tanks at every cross-roads, plus soldiers pointing loaded rifles at you. Makes you behave very politely.

Too right. I was in Suva after the 2nd coup; armed soldiers everywhere. Everyone was on best behaviour.

Spare the rod and spoil the child, I say.

(Actually, I have never taken to my son with corporal punishment....bless him he's a good boy )

From CNBC:

Cameron's conservative government is under fire for spending cuts to social programs in order to help reduce the country's debt. Among those hit the hardest are large numbers of minority youths who have been at the forefront of the unrest.

I'm just asking a couple questions because I don't know about UK social programs...according to the above, among those hit hardest by social program cuts were large numbers of minority youths.

1) what type of social programs are these minority youths part of? Subsidies for their Blackberrys?

2) the statement might explain why the minority youths are running wild, but why are the whites doing it? Are they simply white trash?

I for one don't think poor people are more prone to violence and theft. There are many more poor people who are not on the street doing committing these crimes. It is a nice excuse to use though for the criminals to get sympathy from some segments of society.

It is an excuse koheets.

You can see this by the general reaction of their communities: They are appalled at what is happened and vigilantes are taking to the streets to stop them, these rioters are in no way representative of the communities they live in.

I think it's largely the PC brigade that can be blamed for this. This would of thing would normally be nipped in the bud straight away but the police are so shackled out of fear of hurting somebody they are impotent.

Is it true that some people destroyed a post office one night, and then the same people stood in line at the same post office the next morning to collect their unemployment benefits?

This rumour is making the rounds. I don't believe it, but thought I'd ask.

Even the birds were looting there.

Three brothers (of Asian origin) killed last night trying to defend their street in Birmingham from the rioters/thieves.

Car driven at them at high speed.

The troubles were started by Afro-Caribbean ethnic rioters, but now seem to be muticultural - all the teenage (and above) yobs in the country out to smash and steal whatever they can.

Personally I'd use all the funds allocated for social welfare to compensate those shopkeepers and such who have had prperty damaged/looted. No unemployment benefits or income supplement to anyone for the rest of this year. Or next year.

Nothing for any immigramts either.

Even the birds were looting there.

Nice to able to have a laugh at something which was going on!

I think the killing of the three Asians in Birmingham may well have been a spur-of-the-moment action; there seems to have been remarkably little personal violence involved. The rioting starting as a reaction to the killing of an Afro-Caribbean man (I can be PC too, HB), but very soon developed into a looting spree, mainly involving A-Cs and Caucasians... but apparently not Asians. I know it's fashionable to blame Asian immigrants for everything which goes wrong in Britain... which is why I think it's important to realise that they were, in this case, victims rather than perpetrators.

The three brothers were standing in their street, turning away potential trouble-makers. A car was driven at them at high speed.

Police say the car has been found and an arrest made. Say they are treating it as murder. Good for them - this was no traffic accident.

I know it's fashionable to blame Asian immigrants for everything which goes wrong in Britain... which is why I think it's important to realise that they were, in this case, victims rather than perpetrators.

By Asians, we are talking about South Asia and the Middle East? Not East Asia (Chinese, etc)? In either case, when I think of looting, I tend to think more of blacks and whites.

I know it's fashionable to blame Asian immigrants for everything which goes wrong in Britain... which is why I think it's important to realise that they were, in this case, victims rather than perpetrators.

By Asians, we are talking about South Asia and the Middle East? Not East Asia (Chinese, etc)? In either case, when I think of looting, I tend to think more of blacks and whites.

In UK 'Asians' is code for Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis. Even Sri Lankans and Goans normally get credited with their country of origin.

Middle Easterners are normally defined by country as well.

We've got so many of 'em in UK, it's quite easy to know the different clothing, style of dress, etc., for all these countries.

I know it's fashionable to blame Asian immigrants for everything which goes wrong in Britain... which is why I think it's important to realise that they were, in this case, victims rather than perpetrators.

By Asians, we are talking about South Asia and the Middle East? Not East Asia (Chinese, etc)? In either case, when I think of looting, I tend to think more of blacks and whites.

Yes, in England, when people talk about Asians they are usually thinking of people from the Middle East and South Asia. There are plenty of Chinese, etc., but they tend to keep to themselves.

In either case, when I think of looting, I tend to think more of blacks and whites.

If you look at any of the British newspapers you'll see dozens of photos of the looters - and yes, black and white, didn't see any browns.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2024690/UK-riots-2011-Britains-liberal-intelligentsia-smashed-virtually-social-value.html

The three brothers were standing in their street, turning away potential trouble-makers. A car was driven at them at high speed.

Police say the car has been found and an arrest made. Say they are treating it as murder. Good for them - this was no traffic accident.

Two of the men were brothers, and the third man was their friend.

http://www.rediff.com/news/report/uk-riots-3-asians-killed-in-birmingham/20110810.htm

This is murder indeed.

The three had emerged from a mosque and were on the streets protecting their car wash company after the previous night's violence when the incident happened, reports from Birmingham said.

Kabir Khan Isakhel, a relative of one of the dead brothers told Sky News that two cars had approached at high speed and struck the three. A police spokesman said, "They were not in the way or blocking the road. The car swerved towards them. They went flying up in the air".

But I guess they might think twice before messing with the Sikhs:

http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-sikhs-wield-swords-to-protect-gurdwara-as-uk-burns/20110810.htm

Armed with swords and hockey sticks, over 700 Sikhs took to the streets to protect the Guru Singh Sabha gurdwara in Southall as the police in United Kingdon were stretched to maintain law and order in London.

But I guess they might think twice before messing with the Sikhs:

http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-sikhs-wield-swords-to-protect-gurdwara-as-uk-burns/20110810.htm

Armed with swords and hockey sticks, over 700 Sikhs took to the streets to protect the Guru Singh Sabha gurdwara in Southall as the police in United Kingdon were stretched to maintain law and order in London.

There was a piece on the BBC website (which I can't find now) where the same thing happened in a part of London where there are lots of Turkish shops and restaurants. They interviewed a Turkish guy who said it was a cultural thing that they all banded together if ever they were threatened.

They also interviewed a black lady from the West Midlands who simply refused to let the mob smash her shop up. She just stood in front of it and told them to bugger off - so they did