England's riots shouldn't be blamed on 'moral decline', says Tony Blair

[alp227]

Source: The Guardian

Tony Blair has launched a fierce attack on widespread claims that this summer's riots showed that British society is in "moral decline". The former prime minister warns that rash talk of a broken society threatens to harm the country's reputation abroad.

While admitting that he was guilty of a similar reaction to the murder of two- year-old Jamie Bulger in 1993, he calls for the government not to play politics with the crisis and mounts an impassioned defence of Labour's legacy after 13 years in power.

Writing in the Observer, in his first public verdict on the riots, Blair says: "In 1993, following the Bulger case, I made a case in very similar terms to the one being heard today about moral breakdown in Britain. I now believe that speech was good politics but bad policy. Focus on the specific problem and we can begin on a proper solution.

"Elevate this into a highfalutin wail about a Britain that has lost its way morally and we will depress ourselves unnecessarily, trash our own reputation abroad, and worst of all, miss the chance to deal with the problem in the only way that will work."

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/aug/20/englands-riots-tony-blair

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Blair's article: ""

[provis99]

1. Idiot Blair.

He says moral decline is not to blame, and blames it precisely on moral decline, while denying his rotten administration had anything to do with it.

From the article, Blair's own words:" The big cause is the group of alienated, disaffected youth who are outside the social mainstream and who live in a culture at odds with any canons of proper behaviour." That's blaming them for moral decline, Blair you ignorant ass!!!

[alp227]

4. I interpreted it as the kids having bad families, less broad than just moral decline n/t

[LeftishBrit]

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

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.

[dipsydoodle]

17. "front-line policing"

The issue started when the Tottenham riot moved down the road apiece to Wood Green which is adjacent to Tottenham.

Our front line police are not trained beyond crowd control which in normal circumstances doesn't extend beyond keeping two football firms apart or keeping two protests apart such as EDL march with another occurring at the same time. In neither case are the public normally affected. Once it was clear on tv news coverage that the police were completely out of their depth it became obvious that looting elsewhere across London couldn't be policed......and so it started.

It doesn't now follow that failure by the police to maintain order would reoccur if the issue was to repeat. I'm not too sure the cuts you mention have started yet

btw - written for the benefit of others outside of the UK here - not so much for you who is already aware.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

2. Moral decline? Moral decline is his own, as he helped GW Bush lie his way into his desired war nt

[applegrove]

3. The "Banksters" started the moral decline in this millenium.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

9. In order to decline there has to be morality in the first place.

[LeftishBrit]

5. Well, pick me up from the floor! I've actually agreed with something that Blair has said.

[BNJMN]

7. It's only 'moral decline' when we break the law. [nt]

[HysteryDiagnosis]

8. England's involvement in beating the shit out of Iraq should not be blamed on a

lack of morality on Blair's part, but it was.

[LetTimmySmoke]

10. When the Scotland Yard is done with Rupert, they ought to turn to Tony...

...and bring a case against him for perjury and falsifying intelligence.

[Nihil]

11. "a highfalutin wail"???

Screw you Blair you gutless spineless sellout.
Go crawl back up Bush's "highfalutin" arse.
:grr:

[hifiguy]

12. The Poodle is a moral pygmy

and a total shitheel.

[UTUSN]

13. I agree: Tony BLAIR is who should be blamed for moral decline. Hi, Cheri, n/t

[undeterred]

14. Blair blames his moral decline on his association with Bush.

[daleo]

15. Decent paying jobs

Turn around that kind of "moral decline" in an alienated underclass very quickly.

War mongering and upper class theft are a lot harder to turn around.

[indurancevile]

16. no, they should be blamed on YOU, tony. and your buddies.