There's a fair bit of venting taking place in this thread about a wide range of stuff. In my book, having the paint damaged on one's car by vandals doesn't really fall into the same category as a crowd of thousands rioting in the street.
I agree that rioting doesn't solve anything directly, but it certainly has a way of focusing attention. Sometimes, attention is focused on morons, such as those who riot after their local sports team loses, or wins, an event. Food riots, on the other hand, focus attention on desperate people trying to find a way to survive. Race riots focus attention on racial injustice.
Let's use the example of the state of Wisconsin to see how serious (non-sports) riots could easily develop right here in the USA.
1. Deregulation of the financial industry causes everyday hard-working people to lose a big chunk of their savings.
2. Deregulation of the financial industry causes everyday hard-working people to lose their homes, as loans dry up and they can not find refinancing.
3. State government rescinds existing taxes and does not replace that source of income.
4. Then, having put themselves into the situation by their own actions, state government then claims "we are broke".
5. State government uses "we are broke" claim to slash contributions to school systems. School systems are forced to fire teachers and administrators by the thousands.
6. Claiming "we are broke", state government slashes "pass down" contributions to cities and counties, putting tens of thousands more (formerly) everyday hard-working Americans on the street.
7. Social radicals elements within the US government refuse to impose reasonable taxes on the wealthiest individuals and obscenely wealthy corporations, focusing instead on placing the load directly on middle and lower income people.
Now then, here's the formerly hard-working person (and neither race, nor gender, nor country of origin are of any importance, unless one is a bigot...), still looking for work after a year, and still not finding it. Rent is due. Cupboard is bare. Kids are hungry. Though he has worked hard all his life and is willing to continue to do so, he finds himself fully screwed.
Then, still claiming "we are broke!" radical elements within the US government cut the length of unemployment insurance payments, knowing full well that millions nationwide are out of their homes and out of work.
The out of work turn to their elected officials for help, but they get a recorded message saying "Your Congressman is busy right now, making sure he gets through the primary elections by kow-towing to Grover Norquist."
In other words: "Eat cake".
As difficult as it may be, try to picture yourself in that position. You go to the state (or federal) capital to try protest the lack of jobs, lack of food, etc. Now there are 50,000 people; all of them angry. The power keg is there. The match is lit.
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