Virgil

Actually, that sounds fantastic! Or funtastic! Either/or. Let's do it!

Ah, we can dream, can't we?

Yeay! I'm always up for a book grab!

Sadly, Virgil, the so called 'intelligensia' of this country understand the rioters much more than they're letting on. We all know about it, so the hypocrisy levels are also running high. You can read all about it here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/ar...ent-image.html
I bet none of those got a 6 month prison sentence, like the 19 year old who took £3.50 worth of water frrom Lidl, probably because the term 'taking responsibility' means as long as Daddy can pay for the damage it's all okay.

Sadly, this kind of behaviour exists at all levels of society in Britain, and worse. Right now there's not much in the way of leadership. We've had the banks screw the country over and get away with it, and you still see those responsible walking away with million pound bonuses and no one's been convincted of any crime, the Met accused of corruption in relation to phone hacking but nothing's happening there either, MPs screwing everyone over on expenses - so maybe a rioter took a TV but then an MP can claim over £8k on expenses to get their's legitimately and at the cost of the tax payer. Peter Osbourne wrote a very insightful article about it, which you can read here: http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/pe...as-the-bottom/

We seem to be in a situation where the rich can break and bend the law and get away with it, but the poor go to prison. And the rioting was wrong, terribly wrong. Lives were lost, homes were broken, and that shouldn't have happened. But neither should those other things have happened either - we shouldn't be at the mercy of the banks and our MPs shouldn't be able to live a life of luxury at the taxpayers' expense. You should be able to trust the police, but few people do because they're either ineffective or looking out for their own, or that's how it seems anyway. Something's seriously wrong here, and it's been wrong for a while. Goodness knows how we're supposed to fix it. But perhaps the biggest danger is generalising about the looters - putting them into the 'chav' category as though they must all be ill educated wasters. It's not the case, as you can read here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...fan-Hoyle.html
And in any event we've got well educated wasters running this country who have displayed the exact same behaviour. The only difference is that they got away with it. But you can be sure they haven't ever really taken responsibility for it.

Noble colleague,

One does feel bound to draw your attention to the local media reports from this Sceptered Isle, that even teachers and college lecturers have indulged in opprotunist ecclectisism Doubtless their expertise lies in the field of engineering or micro-electronics.

As for organising a rampage of intellectuals to rob bookstores, really, come now, sir... How can the intelligensia who make their living by the pen even consider such a thing? Just think of the royalties they'll be deprived of. If they can't eat, sooner or later they'll stop writing (or doing anything for that matter). How short sighted is this plan that you propose? By your own admission, the members of Lit-Net crave the stimulation of literary output.

No Sir, I have seen through your dastardly plan. I can see that what you hope to create is a world without those contemporary authors, like Jackie Collins, and Sebastian Faulkes. With all the contemporary authors dead from starvation, the publishers will have to turn to us, the unpublished genii to fill the the shelves of the deserted bookstores. - lol.

Actually, I have little need to loot a book store. I have a substantial library of my own which continues to grow by the good offices of a charity shop working to the benefit of a Hospice. The volumes on their shelves are practically given away. Now robbing second-hand bookstores wouldn't threaten the royalties

Live and be well - H

@Hawkman - Good points. Thanks and be well too.

@Fifth
Fifth, I can't possibly talk about the nuances of your country. In fact I don't engage in the politics of any country but my own. Hypocrisy in politics is the norm in the US and I imagine everywhere. My blog was not intended to be all that serious. It was more a reaction to that article. In fact I can't even vouch for whether it's true that bookstores haven't been raided.

As to the nature of society, let me speak in general terms, not specific to your country. Besides the social dysfunctions that have become prevalent in western countries (idolizing drugged out pop stars, fragmented and single mother families, sex as a recreational activity) that have contributed to the state of conditions, the central problem I see can be discerned between the difference in how society offers social services. Do we offer them as a helping hand - and therefore that comes with certain obligations from the receiving party - or do we offer them as entitlements? For me, the notion that someone is entitled to the fruits of someone's labor is repugnant. The psychological state of someone who feels he is owed is the problem. I don't believe anyone should receive anything for free. There ought to be strings attached to all services.

Let me also say, that the financial problems that every country faces are not a result of the services they offer to the poor but of the services they offer to the middle class. The middle class are draining the coffers of the government. Everyone should be paying for services directly and that includes sacrosanct services such as education and healthcare insurance. Why are they free? Someone is paying for them. I can agree to means testing on the price, but everyone should be feel the cost and the obligation. No one, including the middle class (and I'm part of that middle class) should feel entitled.

Oh boy that was fun reading Virgil.

The Huffington Post poses a couple vexing questions: "Did the bookstores survive because the rioters respect reading--or because they simply don't care about books? Is this a positive or a negative sign for the future of the industry?"

British author Patrick French tweeted. "I guess the rioters have Kindles--bought or looted."

"The rioters respected reading" ha, ha? That thought can't be serious but fun anyway. After gang warfare and wanton violence there is nothing a rioter likes more than a book at bedtime and a nice mug of coco...

Of course on a more serious note, as pointed out, Britain is certainly as corrupt as they come with criminals at the top who regularly get away with screwing us all over even more than the scum rioters.

Solution = emigration...

What a fantastic blog entry. Written with your usual engaging style and opinions.

While I won't comment on the politics/my view of the rioters (which is disapproving, no doubt, but I think they're far from stupid), I do think this is HILARIOUS.

Though before you go insulting people next time, you might want to re-check your grammar 'They're basics' - their? :P

Thank you Neely, Jersea, and Becca.

Neely - too funny, but don't emigrate. The whole western world is falling apart. Look what happened in Norway.

You're right Becca, that should have been "their." For some reason I've been making that mistake a lot lately. I'll go change it. Thanks.

Excellent entry. I'd be no good rioting in bookstores. I'd spend too long brosing and get left behind and arrested.

I agree with Fifth that the reaction is ridiculous and they will probably get reduced sentences on appeal. With too long sentences, the point would be lost anyway. Short and sharp with community sentences for minor offenses.