_If you_re a left-winger, the causes of

Tim Hutton - 2011-08-10 20:02:35+0000 - Updated: 2011-08-10 20:02:35+0000

"If you're a left-winger, the causes of the violence and looting are straight-forward: they're the result of monstrous inequality and historic spending cuts; while the youth running amok through branches of JD Sports are what happens when you offer a generation plastic consumerism rather than meaningful jobs.

For the right, explaining the violence is even simpler – because any attempt at understanding is tantamount to condoning it. Better by far to talk of a society with a sense of over-entitlement; or to do what the prime minister did yesterday and simply dismiss "pockets of our society that are not just broken but, frankly, sick". You can expect to hear more of the same rhetoric in today's debate in parliament, especially from backbenchers on either side."

UK riots: political classes see what they want to see

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Rickbot Bot - 2011-08-13 07:05:38+0000

The odd thing is that Thatcher created a generation of hard workers motivated by profit, asset accumulation and social mobility, and then labour created a generation motivated by consumerism and bland celebrity with an ever growing contingent of benefits dependent underclass. So why can the left see what's wrong but the right can't?

Disclaimer: I think the ideal society lies somewhere in between.

Tim Hutton - 2011-08-13 09:49:19+0000

Is there some evidence for those statements? Sounds more like right-wing dogma.

Tim Hutton - 2011-08-16 13:01:53+0000 - Updated: 2011-08-16 13:02:12+0000

During the Thatcher years inequality in the UK grew massively. Since then it has been more controlled but still increasing. Source:
http://www.ifs.org.uk/publications/4637
http://www.ifs.org.uk/bns/bn33.pdf

Rickbot Bot - 2011-08-16 13:56:54+0000

Oh I'm still bruised from the right-wing dogma jibe.

Tim Hutton - 2011-08-16 14:04:55+0000

Oh god, sorry! I didn't mean to be insulting. Maybe one day I will be able to make a sensible argument without getting worked up and rude.

Rickbot Bot - 2011-08-16 14:18:48+0000

I voted Labour at the last election, and I make things up rather than repeat dogma.

Anyway, social mobility is different from inequality. If we all move upwards, and those at the top faster than the others, then there's genuinely nothing wrong with that.

Tim Hutton - 2011-08-16 14:33:10+0000

I voted Lib Dem. Someone at work said to me when I was moaning about the government "Well you voted for them." Ouch!

I might agree with you about 'the rising tide lifts all boats theory' versus 'inequality' were it not for some of the things I've read about The Spirit Level book which gives evidence that actually inequality is in itself problematic.

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