[webstersII]

“In fact MSM functionaries will express their puzzlement that “even though the crime rate has gone down the prison population has risen,” in almost exactly these words.”

The part you are ignoring is that the huge increase in the prison population has been largely due to nonviolent crimes, like possession of marijuana. The problem is that people get thrown in prison for something like that and they become a ward of the state for essentially the rest of the life, as the recidivism rate is incredibly high.

I’m all for locking up violent criminals but the increase in the prison population has taken away alot of potentially (marginally) productive members of society and shaped them into career criminals. We are witnessing the unfortunate fruit of that policy in the black community, as 25% of black males now have a record and the gangsta life is romanticized on TV shows, TV documentaries, and movies about prison.

[Elsiejay]

There is much of value in your observation, something we should think about, deeply.

[avataricfugazie]

With the youth growing up in families with little to no stability and only one parent present, supervision of the kids is nonexistent allowing the street to be the major influence on the impressionable youth of Baltimore. They learn the rules of “the game” from the ones that play it. The view that is presented is biased, romanticizing it and leaving out all the negatives. They pray on these impressionable youth that are susceptible due to lack of strong adult influence by saying that there is no other choice for them. Despair rules while hope dies each day more and more. Someone HELP?

[avataricfugazie]

With the youth growing up in families with little to no stability and only one parent present, supervision of the kids is nonexistent allowing the street to be the major influence on the impressionable youth of Baltimore. They learn the rules of “the game” from the ones that play it. The view that is presented is biased, romanticizing it and leaving out all the negatives. They pray on these impressionable youth that are susceptible due to lack of strong adult influence by saying that there is no other choice for them. Despair rules while hope dies each day more and more. Someone HELP?