England Riots, Cameron's Righteous Ire and Social Justice in the UK

With Britain seized by the most widespread burst of street violence for decades, two diametrically opposed schools of thought have emerged to give account of the events.

Both are wrong, or at least one-sided.

The one, supported by PM David Cameron, his cabinet and conservative - and liberal - circles, puts the blame on the moral corruption of the perpetrators, who have allegedly forgotten all sense of shame and responsibility.

The other, supported by "leftist" circles, puts the blame on the moral corruption of a system, which has allegedly systematically marginalized segments of society, leaving them without a choice or a good perspective for their future.

Rightists accuse leftists that they are in effect excusing the vandals themselves; leftists accuse rightists that they are in effect covering up the way they helped build a society on greed and division.

As a matter of fact, there is a middle way that need not go to either extreme.

Saying that there are deeper causes for the rioting and looting than just the plain depravity or wrong choices of a bunch of persons does not exempt those persons from guilt.

The perpetrators should face the legal consequences of their actions and be punished with the all due pains of law, as Mr. Cameron - and many reasonably outraged British people - would have it.

Yet, beside the undeniable legal culpability, there also exists such a thing as political responsibility, which too involves some deep moral concerns.

The UK political elite - not just Conservatives and Liberals, but also Labour, with their disappointing, neo-liberal governance - need to consider in earnest just what made it possible for all those young men to act so irresponsibly.

When such vast numbers of people are eager to give vent to their viciously anti-social behavior, something in the capacity of the very society to socialize its members must be askew.

Britain has a prime chance to lead the world beyond the bland talk about order and respect for the law, beyond seeing budget cuts as panacea, beyond xenophobia and contempt for the poor. And she'll probably miss it.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!