What caused the UK riots?

I think that we in the States need to be watching as well. Any people who excuse dishonesty and cheating leave themselves open to this kind of end result. Even when politically we disagree on many things, right is right, and we can agree on that you would think. We need to escape the mindset that anything is okay if you do not get caught.

There are a lot of different things which have happened to collectively let this happen. It started by stopping children being disciplined in School, followed by the 'Human Rights Act' which gives rights to everyone, especially criminals, but not the victims. Anyone who does commit a crime then seems to have lots of people find reasons for their crimes which then has any punishment reduced considerably. Police are not allowed to do much to protect the public. 1 policeman recently lost his job by trying to protect firemen putting out a fire who were being attacked. So many young people feel that the world owes them a living as long as they don't have to do anything to earn money themselves. They see politicians and bankers being very greedy, and don't see why they shouldn't get goods for nothing either. Fixing this mindset will be very difficult, but it may not be too late if the government can put in place the right methods.

As a Brit who has been out of the country for 27 years, I thought irradiation by Chernobyl or mad cow disease had done something pretty nasty to the British in general since those I've come across seem quite idiotic! Riots are actually quite common in Britain. I blame it on the under-entertained youth! But now, with all classes of society having more than their fair share of idiots, I am believing those glow-in-the-dark cows really did do some harm.