|
Post by oliworth on Aug 12, 2011 12:35:41 GMT
I think it's highly likely the 6 month sentence will be reduced on appeal, but it's difficult to argue against a custodial setence on the facts as reported: he knew what he was doing was wrong, it was sheer opportunism and, as the prosecutor said, when you have people who are on the face of it 'upstanding' citizens, it contributes to "the atmosphere of both chaos and sheer lawlessness" which resulted in extensive criminality and damage.
|
|
gstictok
Youth team star
Posts: 1,806
Favourite CUFC player: Tom Cowan
Favourite CUFC match: 9th November 1991 Ipswich 1 - 2 Cambridge Utd
Member is Online
|
Post by gstictok on Aug 12, 2011 13:02:43 GMT
|
|
|
Post by sandypants on Aug 13, 2011 10:50:28 GMT
I'm amazed it took 57 posts for someone to point out the error in this underclass blame game, and another 23 for someone else to bring it up again.
It isn't just young people on benefits going out on the rob, and the longer the country keeps pointing the finger at that particular demographic, the harder it will be to implement a proper solution. Don't let the government paper over these cracks with this absurd notion that it's just youngsters on JSA; they have to be held to account.
People are going on the rob because they don't think they'll get caught and they don't fear the punishment if they do. In my personal experience with the police—as a young, underclass male who sure as hell ain't rioting—this is understandable. I know of a guy that had a month in juvenile for stealing a car and running over a policeman. As soon as he got out he was back in his little gang, destroying property and assaulting people with little punishment. One of the boys I grew up with went to juvenile, too, for armed robbery, but he only had to stay until his eighteenth birthday... a few months, give or take.
In fact, the little 'gang' that I grew up dealing with were caught breaking into property, causing thousands and thousands of pounds worth of damage, resisting arrest, possession of drugs with intent to supply, arson, underage drinking, stealing cars, the works... All they ever got were small community service sentences, fines and cautions. Of course people like that are going to go out rioting, 'cause they've had it easy from the police for a very long time.
|
|
Lurid
Reserve team star
Unita in conatu
Posts: 5,045
|
Post by Lurid on Aug 14, 2011 19:58:11 GMT
www.landvaluetax.org/latest/name-and-shame-the-scroungers.htmlLand tax would take a lot of back bench pressure off the government to cut services to reduce the budget deficit (we still have one) and it would have a positive effect on the economy. While the economy isn't the only factor encouraging riots, it is one component. Greater development of land with planning permission (another result of land tax) would also reduce homelessness/overcrowding and increase employment. The huge mountain of private debt (personal loans, mortgages and credit cards) is far larger than public debt and yet government spending has been left carrying the can. I'd like to see legal caps on interest rates above base rate for both secured and unsecured loans. Interest rates reflect the level of risk. There should be a limit on that as government seems obliged to carry the can for bad loans that lead to bad debts. Even if the only difference this makes is that marginal loans are charged less interest (wonga.com take note you legalised sharks) it would reduce defaulting by making the loans more affordable. However it is more likely that there would be less incentive for lenders to risk a percentage of bad debt in exchange for higher returns overall. The cutting of sentences (Justice secretary, Ken Clarke) and police funding saved a penny but cost a pound. Just as limiting investment to reduce borrowing did. By all means cut other spending (as Alistair Darling published plans to) George Osborne is an idiot and the coalition are idiots for leaving him in charge of the purse strings. He will hang us all with them. Then we already know that the PM is a poor judge of personnel. Not a good quality in a prime minister. He could even have done better just by swapping Clarke and Osborne's jobs over. Too late now, the damage is done. Or is there more to come? Can we survive a full term of this undemocratic government? If the sole motive of the riots were criminality, there are far better ways to go about that. As the fat cats have shown. Even limited imaginations could come up with better than smash and grab. There is more to this than the view that the media serve up.
|
|
Lurid
Reserve team star
Unita in conatu
Posts: 5,045
|
Post by Lurid on Aug 14, 2011 21:17:29 GMT
How do you disagree with the first half?
I'll move it to a separate topic (or two) as it branching off the main point a bit.
|
|