Reply #6: This 'moral decline' issue refers to the idea, popular in the RW press, that British morality is

[LeftishBrit]

far worse than in the past, and it's all because of single mothers and a welfare systemt that 'rewards' them. The more right-wing think it's all because of the welfare system making it possible for people to 'live in idleness on the taxpayers' money' without facing 'consequences'.

Actually, there may be some truth in the view that chronic unemployment is socially and ultimately morally corrupting - but the reason for chronic unemployment is that THATCHER ENDED THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF A FULL-EMPLOYMENT STATE; Blair modified Thatcherism but continued it; and moreover NOW THE WORLD ECONOMY IS DOWN THE DRAIN AND THE TORIES ARE MAKING IT WORSE HERE WITH THEIR CUTS! It's not because those pampered poor people are refusing the innumerable jobs that are offered to them. Gaaaaah!

As for the riots, there are many causes, but the immediate reason why they were able to get so severe is that the cuts have also included major cuts in front-line policing.