In the news

I can use the same meme to try to provoke more thoughtful responses from two different people.

BMMF resents paying for criminal justice, so I suggested a much cheaper solution which he is bound to oppose to see whether his parsimony had limits.

pascalo thinks the judiciary is playing to the crowd, yet it is obvious that the crowd he thinks is being played to will not be satisfied, and I don't believe the English bench is inclined to populism anyway, whatever their other faults.

So you're just being a troll?

So you're just being a troll?

Only if you think BMMF and pascalo are too stupid to recognise reductio ad absurdum

Only if you think BMMF and pascalo are too stupid to recognise reductio ad absurdum

Nice try.

What it sounds like to me is this: you've decided you'd rather not express your own opinions on the subject matter, but instead enter into debates with other people's, regardless of their perspective. This may not be the literal defintiion of a troll (and I'm sure you'll tell me if it's not), but in my mind, you're trolling.

Anyway, I'll let it drop.

(After I get the last word in! Sweet internet arguing skillz!)

internet arguing skillz

Oxymoron

Your mum is an oxymoron!

(Sweet internet arguing skillz!)

Where does America get these people from?

Texan Governor Rick Perry will run for the Republican Presidential nomination, on a cuddly card of pro-gun, anti-abortion, wacky-evangelical Christian beliefs etc. Most likely he's got a very good chance.

I cannot wait to hear the dirt on this guy.

This is the only thing which would appease that constituency:

I'll give you that one. Comfortably in the 'kill zone'.

As far as the actual sentencing goes, rather than the evictions and all that nastiness, why not make a total fucking example out of them. They have committed crimes in quite possibly the most visible manner ever, showing a complete disregard for the consequences of their actions. In a very high proportion of the looters, this was not opportunism, it was greed (see cunt above with all of her life dependant goods) and a big 'fuck you' to the laws of this country. Yes, some politicians and other people have committed crimes and received lesser sentencing. So what, this is the here and now based on mass theft and violent actions across the country, the likes of which have never been seen before. If we see every single person involved in the recent riots/looting sentenced to the maximum allowed by law, is that so wrong?

I'll give you that one. Comfortably in the 'kill zone'.

As far as the actual sentencing goes, rather than the evictions and all that nastiness, why not make a total fucking example out of them. They have committed crimes in quite possibly the most visible manner ever, showing a complete disregard for the consequences of their actions. In a very high proportion of the looters, this was not opportunism, it was greed (see cunt above with all of her life dependant goods) and a big 'fuck you' to the laws of this country. Yes, some politicians and other people have committed crimes and received lesser sentencing. So what, this is the here and now based on mass theft and violent actions across the country, the likes of which have never been seen before. If we see every single person involved in the recent riots/looting sentenced to the maximum allowed by law, is that so wrong?

Yes. From a financial/fiscal point of view. From a social point of view. From a humane point of view. Probably other points of view as well. Jesus'? Probably.

In every single way I can think of, it would be wrong if "every single person involved in the recent riots/looting [was] sentenced to the maximum allowed by law."

the likes of which have never been seen before

You clearly haven't been listening to The Long View, I'm sure they'll be getting around to coverage of this recent minor kerfuffle in its proper historical context fairly soon. Or read one of these:
[ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Violent-London-Years-Rebels-Revolts/dp/0330483080"]Violent London: 2000 Years of Riots, Rebels and Revolts: Amazon.co.uk: Clive Bloom: Books[/ame]
[ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/London-Mob-Violence-Disorder-Eighteenth-century/dp/1852853735"]The London Mob: Violence and Disorder in Eighteenth-century London: Amazon.co.uk: Robert Shoemaker: Books[/ame]

you've decided you'd rather not express your own opinions on the subject matter, but instead enter into debates with other people's

Well, I'm not really entering into debate if I don't express my own opinions, but simply mock other people's, am I? As they say, it's easy to knock, but what's your alternative?
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5eufYYpHwE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5eufYYpHwE[/ame
]

Well, I'm not really entering into debate if I don't express my own opinions, but simply mock other people's, am I?

Of course you can debate topics without expressing your own opinions. And mocking, albeit one frowned upon by many, is certainly a rhetorical technique.

I didn't watch the video, so: sorry if I missed something.

#failedatdroppingit

You clearly haven't been listening to The Long View, I'm sure they'll be getting around to coverage of this recent minor kerfuffle in its proper historical context fairly soon.

Agreed, and I realise I shouold have finished that statement "in our lifetime".

The initial sentencing is only the first stage in what *should *happen in the future, which I hope will encompass addressing all the social issues that have led to the current situation. However, this first course of action is probably the most important part of the process. How many of the looters are happy to state their reason for taking part as 'there will be no consequence'. Quite a few. This is totally wrong IMO as everyone, not just the rioters, should have an awareness of what their actions may lead to in the future.

We say the sentencing is a joke every time a bike thief gets caught, well, lets not get into that for these guys.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/49-50/38/enacted

prolly pearost. but if you had your shit fucked up by the 'riots' get your moneyz back.

BMMF resents paying for criminal justice

I'm more than happy to. Justice for all though, please.

Regarding sentencing, I'd be much happier seeing those who got caught (for relatively minor misdemeanours) being roped into community service, probably helping to clear up and rebuild small businesses that were fucked over during the riots, working under the supervision of the people running those businesses. Hopefully this would better address the whole 'must be made to understand the consequences of their actions' concept.

Agreed, and I realise I shouold have finished that statement "in our lifetime".

Maybe for you nippers, but some of us are old enough to remember the [ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1981_England_riots[/ame]

Maybe for you nippers, but some of us are old enough to remember the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1981_England_riots

As stated previously, I remember the Toxteth riots very well. Seeing first hand the devastation left behind after the 6 days was truly shocking. I hoped I would never see that scale of destruction ever again.

Just reading the stats on the '81 Brixton riots. 56 Police cars burned etc. I haven't read the papers today but has anyone seen similar stats for what happened this week?

I don't know, but I'll feel fucked off at having to contribute to the cost of keeping her there, and still confused at the 'revenge sentencing' being dished out in the midst of widespread awareness of theft/fraud by high profile public figures.

What do you think about the mother of two in Manchester (1 and 5) who's got 5 months for accepting a stolen pair of Vans shorts from her housemate? Are you happy for the children to be punished, and the huge costs which will ensue for the taxpayer?

Commit the crime....

Just reading the stats on the '81 Brixton riots. 56 Police cars burned etc. I haven't read the papers today but has anyone seen similar stats for what happened this week?

Saw 1 in Woolwich. If other posters can get another 56, we win.

Commit the crime....

Reported for attempting to instigate civil disorder. Expect an early morning wake-up call...

Commit the crime....

…and get anything from a hefty sentence to nothing at all, dependent on manifold social, economic, and political criteria.

Your point?

"Cameron and Miliband go head to head over riots"

How fucking depressing.

"Cameron and Miliband go head to head over riots"

How fucking depressing.

Miliband: This happened on your watch.

Cameron: These kids grew up under 13 years of NewLabour government.

Miliband: This happened on your watch.

Cameron: These kids grew up under 13 years of NewLabour government.

Miliband: This happened on your watch.

Cameron: These kids grew up under 13 years of NewLabour government.

Miliband: This happened on your watch.

Cameron: These kids grew up under 13 years of NewLabour government.

Miliband: This happened on your watch.

Cameron: These kids grew up under 13 years of NewLabour government.

Miliband: This happened on your watch.

Cameron: These kids grew up under 13 years of NewLabour government.

Miliband: This happened on your watch.

Cameron: These kids grew up under 13 years of NewLabour government.

Miliband: This happened on your watch.

Cameron: These kids grew up under 13 years of NewLabour government.

Miliband: This happened on your watch.

Cameron: These kids grew up under 13 years of NewLabour government.

Miliband: This happened on your watch.

Cameron: These kids grew up under 13 years of NewLabour government.

(see above)

Warren Buffett asks US to tax him and his billionaire friends properly i.e. more tax please.