http://www.economist.com/blogs/bagehot/2011/08/civil-disorder-and-looting-hits-britain-0
We had riots in England a couple of weeks ago. Our media was full of people, including reporters, stating this was a new issue and unprecedented. I did not believe this as I watched - though I did see a great deal I recognised from GTA games. The above link to the Economist makes use of a book by Pearson I read years ago - it casts a very different view that our riots were really only history repeating itself. I don't believe human thought can 'rid itself' of emotional response (or should). I do believe we can do better than 'knee-jerk reactions' - but I also believe this is quite difficult and beyond many people left to their own devices. I believe our democracies are weak at the moment and that this is because we can't argue very well - hence politicians appeal to much that is populist and wrong using highly dubious techniques. I'm sure I could identify the protocols that appeal to 'ignorant Idols' that lead to situations of 'nopolitics' in our societies and thus the rule of the very rich through "economics" in a way far more centralised than any politburo. I've pretty much given up on democracy. Teaching is very frustrating because you want to encourage self-learning and resourceful human beings and also know this is too much for most - democracy is similar. The struggle is knowing this and not wanting to be elitist and sneer at others. I succeed a bit in 'adventures with ideas' but the same mistakes in reaction crop up time and time and time again in wider social action. I wonder if outing the protocols of the dreary positions people take in reaction could help us actually find dialogue?
