[ClearCase_guy]

The ethnic makeup and the economic makeup of Boston are not the source of the problems: the destructive policies of Boston politicians are the source of the problems.

Your post is good. I agree with much of it. The government policies in Boston and in MA are terrible and we need to recognize the role that bad policy plays in creating these problem. However ...

The part above seems to me a bit too broad-brush. I agree with Bill Cosby (and others) that the urban black culture is self-destructive. Policy needs to change, yes, and so does the culture of this demographic group.

[wideawake]

The part above seems to me a bit too broad-brush. I agree with Bill Cosby (and others) that the urban black culture is self-destructive. Policy needs to change, yes, and so does the culture of this demographic group.

Cosby is right and I agree with you on this cultural issue.

But I would point out that Boston and New York City have almost exactly the same percentage of black residents (25%), and yet Boston has a murder rate almost twice New York City's.

That's an amazing statistic.