Pensioners in prison

Sam_Garland wrote:

............... constant social unrest, vandalism, drug abuse and crime..............

I think people should take reponsibility. Although the government makes some dumb decisions with regards to investment and the like, it is ultimately people who cause problems not areas.

Yeah, of course. Nevertheless - what would you have people do? Take law into their own hands? Confront drug abusers and criminals? It's a bit unrealistic to believe your average joe (especially a 60-something year old, in this case) would be willing to do so.

Just to throw a spanner in the works..........

I've read a few stories recently which suggest that Josephine Rooney is not quite the saintly old lady we might have first thought:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2092-2252269,00.html

Interesting article Jayne.

I am glad they locked her up after reading that..she can afford it, whether she is over 65 or not!

As regards to people taking responsibility, I think personally I would do whatever I had to do to get out of such an area, if I lived in one (Like work hard, live within my means, continue education and get a better paid job..). No I didn't mean taking the law into their own hands. Simply finding an excuse for not paying your taxes is not good enough imho. Other people have to pay more then.

jayne30165 wrote:

Just to throw a spanner in the works..........

I've read a few stories recently which suggest that Josephine Rooney is not quite the saintly old lady we might have first thought:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2092-2252269,00.html

Hah, my earlier post on this topic asked the question how you would respond if she was not quite so saintly and there you have it.

Sam_Garland wrote:

Yeah, of course. Nevertheless - what would you have people do? Take law into their own hands? Confront drug abusers and criminals? It's a bit unrealistic to believe your average joe (especially a 60-something year old, in this case) would be willing to do so.

Confront no but people do have to stand up to them and be prepared to step forward as witnesses if required, the problem is that people are not willing to do this and expect the police to sort it out themselves.

I can understand people being scared but if you want things to change you have to stand up and be counted, if enough people do the criminals will not try to intimidate anyone but move on to an easier target area.

atticusuk wrote:

Confront no but people do have to stand up to them and be prepared to step forward as witnesses if required, the problem is that people are not willing to do this and expect the police to sort it out themselves.

But why shouldn't ordinary people expect police to sort it out? That's what we rely on them to do. Society is based on the fact that there is law, and those appointed to enforce it.

atticusuk wrote:

I can understand people being scared but if you want things to change you have to stand up and be counted, if enough people do the criminals will not try to intimidate anyone but move on to an easier target area.

And what will that solve? So - the criminals move to an 'easier' target area and terrorise that instead... what then? Wait until they move to a niche where no one is willing to stand up against them? The government needs to get involved - it's too much to think that ordinary people can deal with it (or even stand up to it) on their own.