Response to Ferguson Rioters: Restitution and Shaming

Townhall.com ^ | December 2, 2014 | Cal Thomas

[onedoug]

Eff Ferguson.

[rdb3]

Neoliberalnot, I both understand and concur with most of what Fred writes here. Yet it's extremely frustrating to me.

Jesus Christ: You can't impeach Him and He ain't gonna resign.

[frog in a pot]

I hope you go back and read the entire article when you have more time.

At your urging, I went back and read the article a bit closer. If you support the author’s argument for restitution and shaming, then we will disagree. From the article:

Too often many blame others for their circumstances.
Too often many feel entitled to what others have achieved through hard work and dedication.
Too often too many feel justified in taking and destroying the property of others instead of working and building for themselves.

The author states the matter accurately, and it reminds one of the “law of the jungle”.

Notwithstanding, IMO punishment in the form of wholesale convictions, paycheck attachments, reduced public benefits or public shame is not likely to be the most effective solution in this case as it will only tend to harden the views of many and serve to drive them away even further.

Nailing one or two of the most visible rioters or inciters with criminal penalties is important and would no doubt be helpful, of course, but for the most part we need to bring the group back into the larger community. In this regard, see the 3rd world ghettos in many of our major cities. That situation is truly of our own doing and anti-American political forces have been using it for their agenda.

It seems to me the real culprit is an education system that has failed them entirely. There are reasons so many are unemployed, from a lack of confidence and the ability to present themselves effectively, to the inability to grasp much beyond basic concepts. That is followed closely by a welfare system that provides them with a false security, together with a lifestyle that disregards the necessity of a family unit.

This is clearly a job for our federal and state governments, IMO, just as is standardizing weights and measurements, but only if it is not a liberal/progressive government.