Martin Luther King.. "I had a nightmare: North Minneapolis"

[ComradeBurg]

I blame deadly assault weapons and gun show loopholes.

There ought to be a law!

[Squib Joe]

A "positive male role model" does not have to be the father but instead can be any man of good morals that the child has a stable relationship with.

To put it bluntly, I think young men between 12-18 years of age need somebody in their life that they think might kick their ass if they get into trouble.

[infidel]

A "positive male role model" does not have to be the father but instead can be any man of good morals that the child has a stable relationship with.

To put it bluntly, I think young men between 12-18 years of age need somebody in their life that they think might kick their ass if they get into trouble.

Yes. And parents wanting to be their kids friend instead of a parent.

[Jeff Bergquist]

None of what's going on here is new, and statistically things have been improving until now. I would not choose now to live on the near north side, (I spent most of my childhood living in the southeast projects and various duplexes on the north side, and now live on the outer edge of North Minneapolis.) but this kind of violence has been going on there all my life and is not a bolt from the blue heralding the end of the world as we know it. Lamentable yes, but mostly situation normal.

[traveler]

Nonsense all.

The real solution is to create an "adult" court. Seventeen year old children should be brought before the court and a decision made if they are to continue to use oxygen or not. Simple solution to a complex problem. No weepy mothers allowed into the courtroom.

[SparkyJeff]

I blame deadly assault weapons and gun show loopholes.

There ought to be a law!

I think I'm going to throw up.

[xd ED]

A "positive male role model" does not have to be the father but instead can be any man of good morals that the child has a stable relationship with.

To put it bluntly, I think young men between 12-18 years of age need somebody in their life that they think might kick their ass if they get into trouble.

That is true in some cases, there needs to be a defining moment when limits are tested/ the envelope pushed. With some kids there is no substitute for the object lesson corporal punishment provides.
But that won't happen with surrogates.( and in most cases even a biological parent in this era.)
But a whole lot of good can be done with the consistent presence of a trusted guy who can quite literally teach a kid how to do stuff, how to get by, and offer counseling guidance when needed.

[White Horseradish]

To put it bluntly, I think young men between 12-18 years of age need somebody in their life that they think might kick their ass if they get into trouble.

12 is a little late.

[tman]

To put it bluntly, I think young men between 12-18 years of age need somebody in their life that they think might kick their ass if they get into trouble.

12 is a little late.

This, sadly, has been my experience watching kids in juvenile court and especially how they act just outside of the courtroom.

I have seen too many ruined twelve year olds.

[autobahn]

Do you guys seriously think these problems will be solved simply by electing conservatives?

[traveler]

Do you guys seriously think these problems will be solved simply by electing conservatives?

It would be an excellent start. Adding program after program hasn't helped one bit. Reducing programs might be an experiment worth conducting. Only conservatives would proffer such a plan. Maybe personal responsibility could be forced on folks. Taking it away hasn't worked.

[xd ED]

Do you guys seriously think these problems will be solved simply by electing conservatives?

What's your solution?

[Jackpine Savage]

Anyone remember Patrick Moynihan? Not a very conservative fellow. This is about his study in 1965:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Negro_Family:_The_Case_For_National_Action

[xd ED]

So you're defending his comments?

No, cause they are really just anecdotal.

[Jackpine Savage]

Crime has been going down everywhere, significantly. I don't see how you can look at data that shows things are getting better and say "Look, things are getting worse!"

Incarceration is working. But it's expensive and a waste of lives. Better to fix the root cause.