Well, the streets are quiet again, but the trouble is hardly over. The moral vacuum left by the sixties continues to suck the life out of many of our people, especially those in what is called the "underclass" (or do we call them politicians? I always get that confused). When materialism and deterministic philosophies take the place of "Society" and the Church, it is the ones who have little to lose who are most likely to seize the opportunity to take indiscriminately from the 'haves'. And why would they not? Any sense of a social contract has been ripped to shreds by eiher direct assault (the sixties) or by conscious neglect (the nineties).

The Church evacuated its influence by a seeming inability to translate traditional categories into modern terms. Its failure to evolve its teachings in the face of new insight and science has resulted in increasing irrelevance. The old order of respect for authority, the legitimate demands of a concept called "Society", and the powerful symbol of the monarchy, have all been replaced by rampant individualism. Instead of an evolutionary reforming zeal in the face of contemporary issues, we find a take-what-you-can-get-as-quickly-as-possible-before-it-all-collapses self-centeredness from top to bottom.

While the Queen rarely puts a wrong foot forward, it does seem to me that this is sometimes from lack of putting any foot forward. Her speeches are too careful and obviously vetted. Too often they are reactive instead of inspiring. She cannot be political, but she can use her position to model compassion. The best parts of her Christmas address are when she speaks from the heart and addresses issues from the perspective of love. One can raise the issues of the day without prescribing a political solution. If it is politically incorrect to ask what Jesus would do about something, is it also incorrect to ask instead what Love would do? I was no fan of the Princess of Wales, but this was something she actually managed to do well without crossing the line into politics (usually). Other Royals, including our beloved Queen, could learn from this. If they want to continue to be seen as necessary, or even relevant, they had better.

Our politicians are almost beyond redemption. While not quite as stultified by re-election politics as our American cousins, they have (literally) bought into the materialism, selfishness, and greed of the culture, instead of being leaders who make just laws for all.

Maybe the riots will have galvanised the great British public into trashing all the pseudo-psycho bullsh*t that feeds and rewards anti-social behaviour. Maybe, the sight of some of our young people looting casually enough to try on for size their loot will trigger the 'enough button'. Maybe someone will run for office who represents the people who do their duty to God, Queen, and Country.