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The underclass strikes back

9/8/2011

5 Comments

 
It is no accident that the troubles in London and many of our major cities are taking place in the context of the North Atlantic economic crisis. The two stories competed for our attention on this morning's news, and when I tuned in first thing this morning to hear a voice claiming that "This is a failure of the system, a failure of the political class", I assumed that the speaker was a community activist from one of our more disadvanted boroughs.

It wasn't. It was a banker, discussing the economy.

But the fact is, there is a failure of the system, a failure of the political class, which is far more important and far more fundamental than the volatility of the markets. The system and the political class has failed huge numbers of young people, black and white. In Tottenham, there are more than 50 applicants for every advertised job, but the 10,000 or more existing on unemployment benefit are nonetheless targetted each day by companies exhorting them to carry the right phone, wear the right trainers, watch the right TVs, and embrace the spectacle of the consumer society. That is why, although it is heart-breaking to watch the destruction of these communities, to call it 'mindless violence' is to miss the point totally.

It is mindful violence. Those on the streets are going for expensive trainers, smart phones, plasma-screen TVs, Louis Vuitton luggage. They know what they are doing. They know what they have not and what they must have.

This is the reality of the Big Society. And there is something iconic in the image of Cameron and Johnson flying back from Tuscany and New York to 'take charge of the situation'.

Since the coalition came to power, and announced that "we are all in this together", the fortunes of the richest 1000 people in the UK have increased by more than 30% to £335 billion. The richest 10% are now one hundred times better off than the poorest 10%. The underclass is growing inexorably.

It is this increasing inequality that must be addressed. Because whatever measures the political class introduces to restore calm to the streets of our cities, until this fundamental failure of the system is sorted, it will only be the calm before yet another storm.

Today's listening: BBC News 24.









5 Comments
Charlotte link
9/8/2011 07:23:27

Yes, I broadly agree with what you say,Max. Both Ken & myself are very affected by this not direcly but in empathy for the people unwittingly and helplessly caught up in the riots. Years of career politicians and a hollow education system have created a fractured ,alienated, acquisitous section of society and Pandoras bloody box has opened.

Reply
laurence
9/8/2011 11:57:41

Hello Max
I was zapping on the channel news last night, looking for news... as I was on Euronews I saw a Rolex advert ; I thought the same thing :-(
That makes me sad & worried for the future.
I look at all those "kids" breaking shops, houses... Makes me think of their powerlessness (impuissance in french), and when someone feels that his only answer is violence... so that they dont have this feeling of being powerless.

The same events happen in France reguraly, cars set on fire (42000 cars burned in France in 2010)... police come, government give little... until the next time...

Tonight I feel lucky to live in a quiet village in the south of France

Reply
Parn
9/8/2011 16:05:26

To get an idea of what went on, do look at this series of 25 photos from AFP/Getty Images:

http://www.globalpost.com/photo-galleries/planet-pic/5672739/london-fire-violent-riots-spread-photos-gallery

This is not just some deprived kids from the underclass making "a statement". The photo on Tuesday's Daily Mail front page shows a guy straight out of Vogue Men in chic riot gear - these folk already own the top branded trainers and BlackBerrys etc (gadgets very much in the news just now). They are there for the adrenalin surge - much more intense than what you get as a football hooligan.
Of course this is not to contradict your analysis Max, but unfortunately the euphoria of the 1997 Labour election victory and the subsequent 13 years of socialist (?) government did nothing to change the system - as was promised. If anything, it made the political class even more complacent. It would take a real revolution of some kind to do that - a bunch of mostly well-meaning but inexperienced politicians tasting power for the first time didn't stand a chance. And now the Tories ?? ...

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Sean link
10/8/2011 04:12:42

Just written on the same issue which is no surprise considering.
We cannot keep telling people what they cannot live without and also deprive them from gaining the education, skills or knowledge that might facilitate them getting them.
A nation, and a society, built on greed.
Oh well at least the rich can hide away till it all blows over.

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Max link
10/8/2011 07:00:08

Thanks all.

Charlotte: and when Pandora's box was opened, only hope remained.

Laurence: yes, we were discussing the parallels with France with MoMo on Tuesday. And we too are grateful that we live in a small village in the south of France, and especially grateful that daughter Cass, whose home is in West Norwood, London, close to the epicentre, is with us here at the moment. Bisous.

Parn: point taken - I think there is an element of that, and any protest will attract such people. But I stick by my argument re the fundamentals. Have you seen the YouTube footage of Clegg predicting riots in the streets if the Tories got in and carried out their cuts, with Cameron's rejoinder that it is a "very silly thing to say". I commend it to you.

Sean: will post on your blog when I've read it. But glad to see you back in the blogosphere ...

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     Max Smith

    European writer, radical, restaurateur and Red Sox fan. 70-something husband, father, step-father. and grandfather. Resident in Warwick, England.

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