Wtf ....

I'm not surprised that people are rioting in the streets, but I have been finding it a bit hard to sort out my own feelings - being brought up a good socialist - about it all. The following extraction from a 'Workers Liberty' article helped me clarify things a bit:

'Socialists should not moralise about the rioting - and in a confrontation between working-class black youth and the police, socialists should not have to ask which side they are on. But the riots have terrified many people, and left others homeless. Burning homes and shops will further depress poor areas, and give the Tories confidence to push forward with a reactionary crackdown. There have been attacks on firefighters and medical personnel. It is not a question of moralising. These things divide and weaken the working class, when it needs unity and strength to fight back.

The article goes on to state that 'an organised, political response would be a thousand times more effective than the undirected - and sometimes misdirected- explosions of anger of the last few days'. Yeah, right, but where is the charismatic, knowledgeable leadership that could make that response? Nowhere within a million miles of Westminster at the moment.

Grrrrrr.

ps: there was another piece of grafitti I could have used for this entry but I think I'll save that for tomorrow.