The arguments used today against the Hispanic immigrants here in the States, and the various immigrant populations in Great Britain, echo the arguments used in the 19th century against Italian and Irish Catholics. It is very easy to know "who" is doing these things. It is whatever group is societally disadvantaged at the moment. The things happening, for example in Bill's neighborhood, are the signs of a societal problem that occurs whenever a group, be they ethnic or religious, or whatever, is at the bottom of the opportunity ladder. This could be from racial discrimination, or due to economic conditions spawning immigration (legal or illegal). The simple fact is that it is always economic at its root. Race just makes it easier. Bill's comments are in no way racist, he simply can see who is at the root of the problem in his area. The areas I give no quarter on is that of race, and the greediness of worldwide capitalism as it exploits men, women, and children. Until and unless we rid ourselves of the laissez faire attitude about business, we will continue to create more and more groups of "them". Until we stop looking for easy answers, we will allow the shape shifters of the capitalist system to divert our attention from the real problem, and they will continue to spawn conditions that put more money in fewer hands, and create more and more hopeless folks. Where hopelessness reigns, triggermen flourish. Only when it starts to hit the great middle will we begin to react. IMO.

Mick