Sunday, February 25, 2007

10 Years in Prison - For Being Rational!

As I write this I am listening to 50cent – and guess what? I don’t have the sudden urge to go on a murderous rampage.

Well, that’s what many people would have you believe is the influence of this gangster-turned-superstar. After the spate of shootings in London this week, the BBC’s ‘Have Your Say’ site was filled with helpful hints from people on how to tackle gun crime.

“Ban rap music!” they shout. “Blame the single parents!” they roar. “Return to traditional values!” “Bring back National Service!” “Let people own guns to protect their homes!” (what more guns?) “Blame the immigrants!”… I could go on but for fear of sounding like a headline roll-call from the Daily Mail I shall stop there.

Ok, just one more nugget: “Enforce a zero tolerance policy like in the US!” proclaims ‘Jones’ from London. Funny that, I wasn’t aware the UK ever tolerated gun crime? I could spend hours picking holes in each one but I trust you would have already done that.

So why is it we look for such easy answers in what is a very complex debate. The politicians may have to, for the sake of publicity, blame it on one, maybe two key events but surely we can understand better than that?

Gun crime comes mainly from drug culture. Drugs culture leads to gangs on the streets. Faced with a low-paid job or a more ‘glamorous’ (and yes, popular culture does have some role here) gangland life, it is an appealing prospect.

As young people find themselves in the poverty trap – unable to make money or get a job, instead relying on the little that the state provides to get by.

And with little money and subsequently little education it is no wonder that many young men are turning to crime. So why not nip the problem in the bud? Reform the welfare state, legalise and control the drug trade and provide better education. Then we might have the answer.

Blaming rap music and calling for draconian measures can only make things worse. The same people who call for these measures would then surely be up in arms about state interference and a breach of civil liberties.

I’m no expert, the problem is complex and deep-rooted and it will take a lot to address it. In the meantime, I am going to continue to listen to rap music and watch gangster movies – if that makes me a criminal then so be it.

Saturday, February 10, 2007

Milliband's Inconvenient Truth

The Environment secretary, and one of Gordon Brown's rising stars, David Milliband has set tongues wagging after hs recent appearance on
Question Time.

In his interview, Milliband suggested that, soon enough, people will be wishing Tony Blair had never left office:
“When I come back on this programme in six months time or a year, people will be saying ‘wouldn’t it be great to have that Blair back because we couldn’t stand that Gordon Brown’.”

He added that this would be true of whoever took over from Tony Blair - and it's not because he believes nobody can match him, simply that it is the nature of being Prime Minister.

And he has a point, it is almost inevitable that the job will end in failure. With criticism from all sides, there are always calls for a return for times gone by - it's the natural order at the top.

But, alas! Milliband's comments were spun in the media to be a crticism of Gordon Brown, turning them from a good and reasonable point to an attack on the premier-in-waiting.

And yes, you do feel for him personally but as a member of the Labour party - those who brought the phrase 'spin doctor' into the public lexicon - one can only say: 'those who live by the sword...'

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Obama? outFOXed?

One of the best TV news cock-ups your lkely to see for some time:

Barack Obama - Sex Offender? Click here!

Fantastic!

Policing the streets: as easy as A - B - C


A moral dilemma for you:

Disaster! You’ve run out of milk, midway through making that cup of tea you had been looking forward to for hours. So what do you do? You walk down to the shop to get some more of course – it’s easy. But on your walk, you come across a young hoodlum kicking a granny half to death in pursuit of her pension. So what do you do? Well, that’s the problem, nobody quite knows…

Viewers of BBC’s Panorama programme last night would have hoped to gain an insight into the solution – the official word from government on what you, as a responsible and concerned citizen should do.

The answer comes from the minister for police and security Tony McNulty: "I think the general line must be to get in touch with the authorities and make sure that, if things are as bad as you paint, the police will be there as quickly as they can."

So, do I walk by, go and get my pint of milk, making a call to the police on the way?

McNulty to the rescue once more: "I think you should in the first instance. It may well be simply shouting at them, blowing your horn or whatever, deters them and they go away."

Ah yes, blowing my horn! Shame, forgot to bring it with me today.

Don’t worry public protector McNulty is here! Without a hint of sarcasm he offers: "Try some distractive activities” and when Jeremy Vine suggests jumping up and down, McNulty agrees: "I would say you know sometimes that that may well work."

So there it is folks – next time you are faced with such a dilemma jump up and down, blow your horn but for god’s sake, don’t kick ten bells out of him!