http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/janet-street-porter/editoratlarge-dont-blame-the-looters-ndash-blame-our-hypocritical-leaders-2337142.htmlIn a crisis, those struggling to assert authority rapidly develop a common language. Last week, experts, politicians and community leaders engaged in another battle – the prolific use of "R" words: responsibility, respect and rules. And robust – as in the desired policing strategy. We're told one section of Britain doesn't want to abide by the rules. They don't know the real meaning of respect, and they have no interest in shouldering responsibility. That might be true of many who took part in the casual violence and happy- go-lucky looting and arson, but we need to look closely at our own personal ethics before rushing to blame one age group or social class.
On Wednesday, David Cameron talked about "a complete lack of responsibility" in some sections of society. Ed Miliband did the same on Thursday and Friday. The trouble is that many young people have a completely different idea from our political leaders of responsibility and respect. In broken families, or homes where mum is a teenager, respect is what you want from your mates. Respect is not something you naturally grew up with, learnt from a set of boundaries or rules imposed by your parents. To the young, respect is a way of making you feel important when you have very little and no support system at home.
One man who works with gangs told Ed Miliband that some kids attack their mums if they are told what to do. They don't know any better. Kids know teachers aren't allowed to touch them. They can threaten to report to the social services anyone in authority who disciplines them – that's how far the balance of power has shifted. The fact that kids, black and white, have adopted quasi-American slang, where the police are "feds" and pals are "bruvs" shows they regard life as a battle in which they are warriors. They have no high-minded cause but a complicated set of rules and regulations. Discipline exists within their peer group; it's just not the kind most of us understand.
The majority of young people work hard, never break the law and try their best to get on in life. For others, life is more difficult – the Government seems determined to cut youth projects (75 per cent of the youth services budget has been slashed in the deprived north London borough of Haringey, for example), reluctant fully to fund apprenticeships and invest enough resources in getting all kids literate by 11. There are nearly a million young people under 25 out of work and 17 per cent of 15-year-olds can't read and write properly, a shocking state of affairs. In many of the areas where rioting took place, up to 90 per cent of the kids receive support via the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA), which is also to be cut. How many will be able to afford to go to college in a year's time?
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