Burning Down The House

The thing that struck me about the L.A. riots after the Rodney King verdict was how foolish these people were.
On the first night, I drove around the area with a girl who looked like Angela Bassett - getting a few thumbs-up from the native Angelinos.
People would just look in your car and somehow issue an emergency "Ghetto Pass" for that day only.
By the time I made it to my cousin's house (near Raymond and Alondra), the nearby streets were on fire.
But how wise was it to burn down the businesses on which you rely?
How wise is it to tear down what you have no ability to replace?
Who suffered worse - those who were being protested (Well... maybe Reginald Denny) or those who were doing the protesting?
Whose quality of life improved?