Opa-Locka: a great place to raise a family!

[Banx]

Originally Posted by dadeguy

this topic was handled with great panache in an indy film directed by redford called the milagro beanfield war. if you get a chance view this excellent 1987 film and play close attention to the role of the hippy lawyer charlie bloom (brilliantly played by john heard) and his speach during the town meeting.

this is one of my all time favorite films.

Nice, I'll check it out. It's good to know I'm not the only person who see's the negatives of gentrification. People on the Chicago forum think I'm a nutcase cause of my views.

[Cougar Beach]

Originally Posted by dadeguy

here is where we disagree. crimes are committed by individuals who decide to commit them. for instance if I were to commit a crime it would be my decision and my responsibility for the act. it would not be my parents fault or the fault of anyone else, especially not the mayor of my town. there is no shame in being poor however I would agree with you that there is considerable shame in being a criminal. poverty does not create crime. people who are irresponsible do.

The thing is, people don't live in a vacuum. Are you saying that "bad" people just aggregate in certain areas? Doesn't that seem a bit elitist? Do all the "good" people go to places like Coral Gables? And doesn't that just dumb down the problem, and leave no plan of action other than shrugging your shoulders and wagging your fingers at those "uncivilized" folks?

Is the solution to just write off a large part of our population, and let them sink or swim on their own?

[dadeguy]

Originally Posted by Cougar Beach

The thing is, people don't live in a vacuum. Are you saying that "bad" people just aggregate in certain areas? Doesn't that seem a bit elitist? Do all the "good" people go to places like Coral Gables? And doesn't that just dumb down the problem, and leave no plan of action other than shrugging your shoulders and wagging your fingers at those "uncivilized" folks?

Is the solution to just write off a large part of our population, and let them sink or swim on their own?

hello cougar beach, your above quoted response was a reply to my post which follows:

here is where we disagree. crimes are committed by individuals who decide to commit them. for instance if I were to commit a crime it would be my decision and my responsibility for the act. it would not be my parents fault or the fault of anyone else, especially not the mayor of my town. there is no shame in being poor however I would agree with you that there is considerable shame in being a criminal. poverty does not create crime. people who are irresponsible do.

I'm a bit confused here. what does my post have to do with your reply?