[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by dellinger63

I can only speak for Chicago but the violence isn't a black-white issue at all. It's a gang problem nurtured and protected by black and latino political and community leaders crying racist every time police target them while crying for grants that are pocketed or wasted on useless programs like midnight basketball leagues. Police and those in the neighborhoods know who the gangbangers are and police don't target them because they're black or latino but because they're gangbangers. It's true there have been and are bad police officers but condemning an entire force based on the actions of few is akin to condemning all the residents of Englewood because the actions of a few gangbangers among them.

Rudeboy is correct though in that the poorest of the poor are the ones being hurt as they're the ones living in the neighborhoods amongst the gangbangers. And when you have a black President who lives less than a couple miles from the problem publically making statements condemning the actions of police anytime a black man dies while ignoring the dozens killed in his backyard every month there isn't much hope. When that is compounded by a black attorney general who doesn't hesitate filing RICO charges against biker gangs and an international soccer league but ignores inner-city gangs the hope dies completely.

Just as a lawn can't flourish with weeds a neighborhood can't with gangs.

Education is the fertilizer and seed to escape poverty but without accountability by teachers, administrators, students and parents it's like throwing the seed and fertilizer on concrete hoping grass will grow.

I agree Dell