Reality TV?

What the hell is happening to this country?!? I switched on the news at 10.00 yesterday evening and at midnight I was still glued to the screen, absorbed by the events I was witnessing. I can remember, just, the riots of 1981. From what I can gather though, the cause of that period of chaos was the perception of the police held by the resident South East London Afro-Carribean community. Then, as now, the country was in the grip of recession but from what I have read (good old Wiki!), the situation in London was exacerbated by there being an underlying and simmering racial tension that was ratcheted up by an undercover plain clothes police operation aimed at reducing the soaring crime rate. This led to over 1,000 people being stopped and searched in the Brixton area within just a five day period. The simmering resentment quickly turned into outright anger and a rejection of the authority of law. So when a black youth, bleeding badly from a knife attack, was apprehended by police tardy in providing medical attention, a growing crowd started to turn nasty. More police were called into the area, and that did nothing to calm tensions. It was the spark that lit the fire of riots in London and further riots in Moss Side - Manchester, Toxteth - Liverpool, and Handsworth - Birmingham.

Don't know about you, but I'm not sure that these comtemporary riots are a result of recession, racism, or an overly intrusive and insensitive police operation. These riots are surely just a load of scumbag kids who see the opportunity to get away with causing havoc, destroying property and stealing goods. There is no 'cause' here, is there? This is not a rise against apartheid or communist rule. This is just wanton criminality by opportunists.

Now I'm a fairly liberal, slightly left of centre, wishy washy sit-on-the-fence pontificating type (unless the discussion turns to football) but even I want to see these people suffer. Prison is far too good for them. Their actions en masse are so antisocial, then they have forgone any right to play any part in society. Why should the tax payer pay for these scroats' prison terms? No. We need a more radical solution.

I suggest that we find an unoccupied island in the middle of the Pacific, dump them all on there, set up a few closed circuit television cameras and hey presto, we have a reality tv programme that is the exception to the rule - ie. it would be worth watching. Out of the thousands placed on the island, the ONE survivor has the right to retake his place in society...providing he can swim to the coast of the nearest mainland, two thousand miles away.

It's either that, or send in the army.

Whaddya reckon?


Today's Betting

A very small loss today, but that was no fault of PJA NH, who found a lovely winner amongst their four selections today (Mibleu - Newton Abbott - 12/1).

ProBandit's each way selection finished second but they also had a loser, and no success today for Northern Monkey (0/1), The Market Examiner (0/1), On The Nose (0/4), or Chasemaster (0/1).

Northern Monkey: Staked 0.5pts, -0.5pts.
PJA NH: Staked 3pts, +4.35pts.
The Market Examiner: Staked 1pt, -1pt.
ProBandit: Staked 1.5pts, -0.572pts.
On The Nose: Staked 2.5pts, -2.5pts.
Chasemaster: Staked 0.25pts, -0.25pts.

Tuesday 9th August: Staked £223, -£13.20.
Month to date: Staked £1,749, +£588.71, roi 33.65%.
Running total (inc. fees): +£279.91, roi 3.1%

Hope you don't mind the diversion from the gambling today. Historic times.