Well, I was going to write a lengthy tract about the riots – why the unstoppable growth and spread of Capitalism is the real reason why they happened: unchecked greed and “gimme gimme” replacing aspiration and effort. The erosion of the idea of “us” over “me”.

That’s it’s no surprise that people feel disenfranchised from society when they see MPs, bankers, journalists and the police get away with all manner of things. Some illegal; all immoral.

That any amount of tub-thumping rhetoric by the privleged hypocrites who for too, too long have preferred the trappings of power over actually doing the best thing for the bloody country.

But it’s been said far better elsewhere already.

The only “good” thing from the riots was the sight of the people who came to clean it up (except for Mr. Cameron practically claiming that as his, which spoiled it) and the amazing dignity of Tariq Jahan.

” Amidst the bleakness of this social landscape, squinting all the while in the glare of a culture that radiates ultraviolet consumerism and infrared celebrity. That daily, hourly, incessantly enforces the egregious, deceitful message that you are what you wear, what you drive, what you watch and what you watch it on, in livid, neon pixels. The only light in their lives comes from these luminous corporate messages. No wonder they have their fucking hoods up.” From Russell Brand

“It is not just the feral youth of Tottenham who have forgotten they have duties as well as rights. So have the feral rich of Chelsea and Kensington” From Peter Oborne

“But, of course, this [expenses claims] is different. This is just understandable confusion over the rules of how many houses you are meant to have as an MP. This doesn’t show the naked greed of people stealing plasma tellies.” From Nathaniel Tapley

Tags: capitalism, Politics, riots