SmokyDave said:
The explanation is that we have been too tolerant and too understanding for too long. We gave inch after inch as some people took mile after mile.
These sentences, although harsh, are at least a small indicator that someone out there is slowly starting to 'get it'. Switching these people over to voucher-based benefits rather than cash-based would be nice. Destroy the emerging black market in it's infancy with more harsh sentences.
For very obvious reasons, I cannot possibly agree with any of this, but I especially hate the implications and possible ramifications of the bolded (and that's me grinding my teeth to enamel dust and putting it in terms that won't get me banned for a year).
A couple of days ago, I had a short discussion with Zomg about how I believed some of the sentences being handed out by judges recently have been overly harsh, and that the punishment should fit the crime no matter what. If you want deterrent, just stick the yobs in orange dungarees and fluffy bunny ears and make them clean up their own mess in public view, that's fine. However, four years in prison for writing joke Facebook pages is just too much, even as an example to others, and is akin to a miscarriage of justice IMO. Not that it matters, since the decision will be appealed, and will probably be greatly reduced. Not that that will be widely reported, but eh.
Oh, and Cameron has shown just how much of a typical English politician he really is by publicly backing these harsh sentences. When -
not if - most of those sentences are quashed or reduced on appeal in six months, how's he going to look then? It's the PM's job to lead opinion, not follow, and Cam's shown himself to be a mediocre leader...and an excellent follower.
(Not that Red Ed's any better, mind. Dude...
get rid of Harman and Balls. Seriously.)
As for kitch9's chav mum, problem - just smack her upside the head* and move her on. She wouldn't grass, I can guarantee it.
*verbally, of course. God forbid I ever incite violence on the Internet, I might get four years!