From the outset, there can be no justification for the violence, looting and destruction of recent days in Tottenham and other London boroughs! Angst with current government policy is readily comprehensible given the UK coalition governments indecision, incompetence, lack of leadership and back-tracking on ill-advised courses of action. However the riots in Tottenham only cause further pain to a community which is already suffering. And those who are hurt are ordinary people who through no fault of their own now find their lives and livelihoods shattered by the collective angst of the ignored and criminal opportunists.
But the coalition must shoulder much of the blame for these events. It is time they stand up, acknowledge their failings and demonstrate leadership moving forwards, not just for Tottenham but for all of the UK. Tottenham MP David Lammy had warned of tensions following the shooting of Mark Duggan and had spoken of building tension in the area. Had his words been heeded and leadership demonstrated, it is likely that this entire bout of unpleasantness could have been avoided. Instead, as usual, the coalition ignored the warnings and proceeded with the usual strategy of reactive responsiveness rather than proactive leadership. Perhaps we should view this as a warning of things to come. If the coalition were unable to proactively resolve building tensions in Tottenham despite the warnings, then what hope is there for the future of the UK under Cameron?
When the coalition were busy imposing funding cuts to students, heavy handed policing measures were rapidly employed to suppress the masses. Austerity measures which impose the burden of recovery onto the poor whilst protecting the rich are similarly building tensions within the UK. And recently, David Cameron and George Osborne have made suggestions of reducing the top tax rate for high earners as early as next year. Is it any wonder that tensions are building to a fever pitch? Britain may not be as reactive as our latin counterparts. We are fortunate not to be subjected to wildcat strikes as are sometimes observed in Italy and France. But this does not mean that the public will withstand oppression indefinitely. And when the British respond, the results are likely to be severe. Such as recent events in Tottenham. But to paraphrase Churchill, 'is this merely the end of the beginning'? Remember the riots in Paris in 2005? Warning signs had been building for years of growing tensions which were ignored culminating in a 4-month state of emergency imposed on Paris. Yet, proactive leadership to deal with developing problems could probably have resolved this disaster.
So too England. Now is the time to recognise the cuts from austerity measures are too sharp, too deep and too fast. Austerity measures may be required, but they must be implemented with equanimity. The rich benefited the most from the years of plenty so it is only right that they now pay their fair share in the economic recovery. But recent cuts threaten our social services, the NHS and the security of the UK. Those paying for the recovery may have no retirement to hope for as the pension pot is whittled away whilst. Our children lose reason for hope of better things from the increasingly vanishing option of affording a university education, which thanks to Cameron & co has become a privilege, not a right. The time to act is now before Britain becomes Greece. If Britain can't handle policing a single London borough, what hope for the UK next year with the Olympics?
If simmering tensions remain ignored, the future looks bleak indeed. The time for a leader is now and Cameron, if you're not up for it, please stand down and offer the position to someone who is. This is not the time for misguided pride, it's time to realise that real people could die very real deaths. Unnecessarily.
This is a democracy; listen to the people, listen to the majority. Act with equanimity and history will remember you kindly. If not, God help us.
But the coalition must shoulder much of the blame for these events. It is time they stand up, acknowledge their failings and demonstrate leadership moving forwards, not just for Tottenham but for all of the UK. Tottenham MP David Lammy had warned of tensions following the shooting of Mark Duggan and had spoken of building tension in the area. Had his words been heeded and leadership demonstrated, it is likely that this entire bout of unpleasantness could have been avoided. Instead, as usual, the coalition ignored the warnings and proceeded with the usual strategy of reactive responsiveness rather than proactive leadership. Perhaps we should view this as a warning of things to come. If the coalition were unable to proactively resolve building tensions in Tottenham despite the warnings, then what hope is there for the future of the UK under Cameron?
When the coalition were busy imposing funding cuts to students, heavy handed policing measures were rapidly employed to suppress the masses. Austerity measures which impose the burden of recovery onto the poor whilst protecting the rich are similarly building tensions within the UK. And recently, David Cameron and George Osborne have made suggestions of reducing the top tax rate for high earners as early as next year. Is it any wonder that tensions are building to a fever pitch? Britain may not be as reactive as our latin counterparts. We are fortunate not to be subjected to wildcat strikes as are sometimes observed in Italy and France. But this does not mean that the public will withstand oppression indefinitely. And when the British respond, the results are likely to be severe. Such as recent events in Tottenham. But to paraphrase Churchill, 'is this merely the end of the beginning'? Remember the riots in Paris in 2005? Warning signs had been building for years of growing tensions which were ignored culminating in a 4-month state of emergency imposed on Paris. Yet, proactive leadership to deal with developing problems could probably have resolved this disaster.
So too England. Now is the time to recognise the cuts from austerity measures are too sharp, too deep and too fast. Austerity measures may be required, but they must be implemented with equanimity. The rich benefited the most from the years of plenty so it is only right that they now pay their fair share in the economic recovery. But recent cuts threaten our social services, the NHS and the security of the UK. Those paying for the recovery may have no retirement to hope for as the pension pot is whittled away whilst. Our children lose reason for hope of better things from the increasingly vanishing option of affording a university education, which thanks to Cameron & co has become a privilege, not a right. The time to act is now before Britain becomes Greece. If Britain can't handle policing a single London borough, what hope for the UK next year with the Olympics?
If simmering tensions remain ignored, the future looks bleak indeed. The time for a leader is now and Cameron, if you're not up for it, please stand down and offer the position to someone who is. This is not the time for misguided pride, it's time to realise that real people could die very real deaths. Unnecessarily.
This is a democracy; listen to the people, listen to the majority. Act with equanimity and history will remember you kindly. If not, God help us.
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