[GOPJ]

Nor did Wilson buy the argument that unemployment drove people to crime or welfare. He noted that "the work force was at an all-time high at the same time as were the welfare rolls." Nor were minorities frozen out of this economy. By 1969, "the nonwhite unemployment rate had fallen to 6.5 percent," he pointed out.

By systematically confronting the prevailing notions and rhetoric with undeniable facts to the contrary, James Q. Wilson began to wear away the prevailing social dogmas of intellectuals behind the counterproductive changes in law and society. It was much like water wearing away rock — slowly but continually.

The common sense that had once produced and sustained declining crime rates began to reappear, here and there, in the criminal justice system and sometimes prevailed. Murder rates began to decline again. James Q. Wilson was the leader in this fight. He said, "We have trifled with the wicked."

There is no way to know which ones of us are alive today because of his work. But we all owe him a debt of gratitude.

True - many of us owe our lives to the "uncommon" common sense and bravery of James Q Wilson - just as many of us also owe our lives to the bravery and uncommon common sense of men like Thomas Sowell.

[jazusamo]

Well said.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

There is no way to know which ones of us are alive today because of his work. But we all owe him a debt of gratitude.

True - many of us owe our lives to the "uncommon" common sense and bravery of James Q Wilson - just as many of us also owe our lives to the bravery and uncommon common sense of men like Thomas Sowell.

There is Thomas Sowell, and there are men who are not like Thomas Sowell. Unfortunately.