We as a society are part & parcel of the reason why they rioted - you cannot sit on your high ground & complain that it was just thieving.

Just over a century ago, young people (as well as old) were sent down or transported for stealing a loaf of bread - why do you think they were stealing? When we live in such a divided society, there is no point pointing the finger at them, because at least 3 fingers are pointing back at you.

When the likes of Cameron have no idea how their policies affect people on the lower income scale & their continued belief that cutting jobs is the answer to the economic problems - the maths do not add up - more unemployed, more spending on welfare, simples!

As for the killing of black men, whether it is the police or black people themselves, you have to ask yourself why is this the case - the Met police have been accused of racism before, they are under investigation for corruption yet again, they are in cahoots with the media to stop investigations into phone hacking etc. Our society is not only divided on class lines but racial ones too - why is our prisons filled up with young black men - one of the reason maybe because of the bias people have towards black people.

Both my children felt very let down by some of their teachers who stereotyped them & gave them no encouragement whatsoever. They have succeeded inspite of the prejudices of their teachers,

Do you actually think the people that rioted were angry about not working?

Or were they angry that the jobs they could get were not anywhere close enough to provide them the things they see and want on a daily basis.

The route of the problem is that the generation has grown up believing they can have almost anything they want and there is a severe lack of discipline through parenting and school.

Rose G at #36, and elsewhere and others.
I note your comments as they relate to the EU, and remember reading your conclusion that you will vote UKIP.
Can I bring to your attention an article from the Daily Telegraph - Neither spending cuts nor the eurozone are to blame for Britain's weak ecnomy., by Roger Bootle., available through citywire Monday's Papers.
The DT is not know for its support for the EU, so I think it is something worth reading. Could prove to be an eye opener for you.
I think we in the UK are rapidly approaching a position wrt the EU as the Scots are wrt the UK.
There could be many changes happening, including those within the EU. Whether they will be for the better remains to be seen.

As far as welfare claimants are concerned, I cannot justify the looting etc. But the looting did not take place because of need, but because of those who do not feel part of a society that cares for those lower down the economic scale - the ability to care for vulnerable people is a direct indicator of a caring society & one which I am proud to contribute towards.

Welfarism is something that we have to address in terms of how it has been abused by a variety of people in the UK.

On the other hand, giving tax breaks to millionaires, lowering corporation taxes is another form of handout which is viewed by most of the Citywire posters as being a good policy - but this too is a form of government spending we cannot afford, but most on this board are in favour off - horses for courses rather than leftwing, methinks!

Mrs T's policies in the 89s was responsible for closing down whole sectors of employment, chief among them were the mines which led to increases in unemployment. These ex miners (mostly in the 40s & 50s) are probably still on benefits because one of the consequences of being long term unemployed is depression leading to other illnesses.

However left wing it is, it is better to keep people in employment than pay for them to be unemployed - the tories have never accepted this as a strategy. They are happy for taxpayers to pay the price for the unemployed, as long as they can claim to have reduced state expenditure, (which they have not actually been able to because the welfare bill has increased, in line with the increases in the numbers of unemployed).

Two more interesting articles to look at.
The Independent to-day, Paul Krugman: 'Greece will leave eurozone within 12 months.' by Ben Chu, and
The Guardian-Paul Krugman attacks Britain's austerity drive as 'deeply destructive' by Josephine Moulds