Quote:
Originally Posted by Lodestar
More money isn't the solution. Some people know how to be good for nothing.  You can't cause internal changes in values systems and the resulting behaviors by throwing money at them. After fifty years of that we should be able to see that we will always have these kinds of problems because it is a human problem and not an economic problem.
The city of Baltimore has been liberal for decades and has a multitude of Black people in all areas of safety, business and government. They have definitely been "allowed" to participate so I don't see how your theory is valid. The same has been true of other liberal cities.
Even more conservative cities have people of other races participating in government, business and safety. There are very few largely populated areas anymore which aren't conscientious about having diverse leadership.
It would be more accurate to say that in any society there are a number of individuals who don't care to participate and in these liberal cities people have mistakenly believed that giving them money and things will change their antisocial behaviors.
green_mariner suggests giving them money to go away. What would that accomplish? They will go somewhere where they feel even less a part of the community. And there I don't see any reason for them not to continue being alienated and angry.
What would make people either more productive citizens or make them move away is if the laws intended to keep people from violent rioting were enforced. Rewarding or ignoring bad behavior is what allows it to grow. |
I'm not suggesting that throwing money at a problem is the solution. Nor do I advocate giving money away. However, there are public policy issues that can be put into effect to reduce crime and that does take money. Money that we have been deprived of in building this nation has been wasted building failed nations around the globe. That includes money that could be used by police for equipment and training to maintain order. It is much easier to maintain order than to try and install order when it's out of control. When trust is broken between a community and the police a spike in crime should be expected as criminals seize the opportunity. That is the time when they are most likely going to get away with a crime and not get caught. That is the situation we have in Baltimore now.
As far as Baltimore being liberal your correct. Liberals own this in that they did not implement public policy that would prevent what is happening. And in any Conservative city where this might happen the same could be said. Because the solution is good public policy and it is not liberal or conservative.
High crime rates are not inevitable. High crime rates have not prevailed throughout this country's history. The 40's and 50's had low crime rates. Few subjects have been studied from as many angles as has crime and punishment. So far no one has been able to link crime with DNA. What is interesting about rioting is it was the violent riots during the civil rights movement that helped to bring about social change. It was the use of overwhelming force by police on unarmed civilians that changed opinions.
I agree that ignoring criminal behavior is not a a good solution. Juveniles are committing more serious crimes at an earlier age. If not too serious they are not punished in the current system for the first offence. They get a free pass. That is a form of encouragement.
Here is what we know, that is generally agreed upon, about who commits violent crimes according to the Economic Theory.
https://www.richmondfed.org/publicat...s_of_crime.pdf
1) the poor and uneducated
So if you are a teenager who is poor and uneducated your high on the list and public policy needs to address this.
2) unemployment is a factor
People who are working and meeting their needs are not as likely to be involved in crime.
3) Where family structure has broken down , parents on drugs or alcohol, children neglected by one or both parents.
The solutions that seem to work in other communities are education, and employment. That is also where you find greater family values. If you don't take action when they are young and shape their values you most certainly will deal with them as adults in the future.
Boston is another liberal stronghold and yet they are winning awards for the programs they have implemented and the statistics show a dramatic improvement. It took time money and a lot of hard work but they thought the people of that city were worth it, maybe that is the real difference.
Boston Strategy To Prevent Youth Violence -- Boston, MA
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