How could the riots change Great Britain? The Telegraph’s Robert Colvile gives us this list of 10 ways.
Meanwhile GO HERE and watch two almost giddy teen rioters explaining why they’re doing what they’re doing (to “show the rich people”).’
UPDATE: Meanwhile, the (always must read) Christian Science Monitor reports that the British government is now moving towards tougher tactics:
The fact that it took British police days to quell rioting and looting in London’s streets – and that it continues elsewhere – has many British asking why the police are so reluctant to turn to more aggressive tactics.
While police brought much of London under control overnight Tuesday, residents wondered what took them so long, the Monitor reported today.
“It’s good to see so many police on the streets, but where were they last night when everything was going off?” lawyer Samantha Jones, who lives in [Clapham Junction, in South London]. “People were definitely fearful last night about what happened and frightened. This area is normally really buzzy this time of night, but not tonight. I don’t know whether they’re still scared or intimidated by all the police but people seem to just want to go home … like me.”
The British government has now authorized the use of water cannons and plastic and rubber bullets in quelling the riots (the latter of which has have never been officially used by police on the British mainland), but the permission comes several days after riots and looting turned parts of London into a smoldering husk – too late, according to many London residents.
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.