Just a side note since we're talking about good ol Hank:

 

Hank Aaron tied Babe Ruth's record of 714 HR's on 4-4-74 in Cincinnati off of pitcher Jack Billingham.

 

One day before that was the crazy 4-3-74 Tornado day.

 

Lots of downtown offices and businesses had shut down early because of the storms.

 

A great friend of mine left his office, and was searching for a place to grab a bite to eat. Although everything was closing or was closed, he was recognized by a waitress while looking in the window of a cafe that he frequented, and she unlocked the door for him waving him in out of the high winds.

 

There happened to be only one other customer inside having a meal. Luck would have it that it was Hank Aaron, who invited my friend to share his table with him.

 

Awesome memory for my friend, as he had the distinction of having by mere chance, a meal with Hank the day before he tied the record. He spoke highly of him, and said that he was quite the gentleman.

 

Now that is really cool! One of my childhood idols.

It will take more than people want to do.

 

-rebuild all of the inner cities in large metropolitan areas and make them suitable places to live

 

-reform the education system in inner cities and ensure inner city kids are receiving a proper education

 

-job training programs for inner city families who are stuck in the cycle of never being able to leave the ghetto

 

-more welfare and food stamps for the poor

 

-a true effort from all politicians to make a difference and concerted effort to end black on black violence

 

I like most your thoughts. I would put much more money behind point #3 then point #4. Point #4 is the reason I believe for the never ending cycle we have right now. I do think a focus on skilled labor trades in the inner city with the fact we have a strong need for those positions through out the country is a great idea. Having trade school setup in the inner city or a much more direct path from those schools to those careers would be a great help.

 

Again if you look at history the poor populations of Irish, Italians and Germans in this country used those skill labor jobs to move into the middle class and maybe we should look back at history for our answers.

I like most your thoughts. I would put much more money behind point #3 then point #4. Point #4 is the reason I believe for the never ending cycle we have right now. I do think a focus on skilled labor trades in the inner city with the fact we have a strong need for those positions through out the country is a great idea. Having trade school setup in the inner city or a much more direct path from those schools to those careers would be a great help.

 

Again if you look at history the poor populations of Irish, Italians and Germans in this country used those skill labor jobs to move into the middle class and maybe we should look back at history for our answers.

 

 

Great point.

Again if you look at history the poor populations of Irish, Italians and Germans in this country used those skill labor jobs to move into the middle class and maybe we should look back at history for our answers.

 

The virulent racism of the 19th century meant that black men were locked out of a lot of the professional organizations and trade unions that dominated those jobs. That virulent, public racism is gone, but its consequences aren't.

 

Trade schools should definitely be making a comeback; they aren't. Everything I hear and read suggests that various employers can't find enough people with competence in their trades that require expertise and training but not a college education.

 

College education is being massively subsidized while career training programs are not. Part of the problem there is that government is good at throwing money at things but not necessarily figuring out the best particulars in how to spend that money.

The virulent racism of the 19th century meant that black men were locked out of a lot of the professional organizations and trade unions that dominated those jobs. That virulent, public racism is gone, but its consequences aren't.

 

Trade schools should definitely be making a comeback; they aren't. Everything I hear and read suggests that various employers can't find enough people with competence in their trades that require expertise and training but not a college education.

 

College education is being massively subsidized while career training programs are not. Part of the problem there is that government is good at throwing money at things but not necessarily figuring out the best particulars in how to spend that money.

 

Very good points. There is no questions this country is lacking skilled labor in those trades and it seems like an obvious solution to help with two problems. We have discussed on this site many times the college education vs career training comparison and I agree 100%.

It will take more than people want to do.

 

-rebuild all of the inner cities in large metropolitan areas and make them suitable places to live

 

-reform the education system in inner cities and ensure inner city kids are receiving a proper education

 

-job training programs for inner city families who are stuck in the cycle of never being able to leave the ghetto

 

-more welfare and food stamps for the poor

 

-a true effort from all politicians to make a difference and concerted effort to end black on black violence

#2 is the number one priority, but it's not money that is missing it is bigger and better education ideas that are needed. Money has been hauled in dump trucks to many inner city schools but without results...educating with a purpose needs to be the focus, kids need to have a future to strive towards that's off of the streets.

 

#3 is equally important but all of the jobs training in the world does no good if there aren't jobs...tax code needs a complete overhaul to encourage job growth, currently all we hear is how can we punish the successful and take more of their money. Need incentives for companies to bring manufacturing jobs back to the US...without jobs, education and jobs training are wasted...we have to become a country that makes stuff again.

 

#1 has been tried and tried and failed, but it needs to be done over and over until it sticks and people have something they are proud of.

 

#4 should be a hand up not a hand out...but this could be a thread all on it's own

 

#5 black on black violence will not end until the communities are fed up with it, that change has to come from within. All of the other points listed can be brought about or assisted by outsiders, violence only stops when there are other opportunities and there is not upside to living a violent lifestyle.

#2 is the number one priority, but it's not money that is missing it is bigger and better education ideas that are needed. Money has been hauled in dump trucks to many inner city schools but without results...educating with a purpose needs to be the focus, kids need to have a future to strive towards that's off of the streets.

 

#3 is equally important but all of the jobs training in the world does no good if there aren't jobs...tax code needs a complete overhaul to encourage job growth, currently all we hear is how can we punish the successful and take more of their money. Need incentives for companies to bring manufacturing jobs back to the US...without jobs, education and jobs training are wasted...we have to become a country that makes stuff again.

 

#1 has been tried and tried and failed, but it needs to be done over and over until it sticks and people have something they are proud of.

 

#4 should be a hand up not a hand out...but this could be a thread all on it's own

 

#5 black on black violence will not end until the communities are fed up with it, that change has to come from within. All of the other points listed can be brought about or assisted by outsiders, violence only stops when there are other opportunities and there is not upside to living a violent lifestyle.

 

 

2. Not necessarily saying money is needed to fix it. Quality teachers who have a passion to go into these schools and deal with these kids and conditions must be found and are just part of the problem. I know plenty of education majors and ceritified teachers. I don't know any who want to go find a job in the Chicago Public School system.

 

3. Exactly. That's part of my point. There is a whole lot needed to be done before we can even get to helping out the inner city's problems.

 

1. Detroit looks like crap. And so does parts of Cincinnati. Those are just two examples.

 

4. I agree. It will still be needed until folks can do for themselves.

 

5. Black communities in the inner city aren't equipped to properly handle black on black violence. If they were, it wouldn't be an issue.

It probably did start with Nixon and his southern strategy. I also think you are over simplifying the war on drugs comment. There are big differences in sentencing for crack and cocaine. Despite being essentially the same drug one has historically carried much longer sentencing for convictions. Why, is a good question.

The answer is simple. Crack is the most potent form in which cocaine appears, it's also the riskiest. It is between 75% and 100% pure, far stronger and more potent than regular cocaine. It's also more additive and much cheaper, as in teens can afford it....until their addition grows beyond their means. So, the penalty has nothing to do with skin color or social status.

The answer is simple. Crack is the most potent form in which cocaine appears, it's also the riskiest. It is between 75% and 100% pure, far stronger and more potent than regular cocaine. It's also more additive and much cheaper, as in teens can afford it....until their addition grows beyond their means. So, the penalty has nothing to do with skin color or social status.

 

Disagree but that's a whole other thread.

Disagree but that's a whole other thread.

You don't think crack is worse than cocaine? I know people that have done coke and others that have done crack. Crack was, by far, worse.

You don't think crack is worse than cocaine? I know people that have done coke and others that have done crack. Crack was, by far, worse.

 

Not what I am disagreeing with.

 

 

That's a whole other thread.

2. Not necessarily saying money is needed to fix it. Quality teachers who have a passion to go into these schools and deal with these kids and conditions must be found and are just part of the problem. I know plenty of education majors and ceritified teachers. I don't know any who want to go find a job in the Chicago Public School system.

 

3. Exactly. That's part of my point. There is a whole lot needed to be done before we can even get to helping out the inner city's problems.

 

1. Detroit looks like crap. And so does parts of Cincinnati. Those are just two examples.

 

4. I agree. It will still be needed until folks can do for themselves.

 

5. Black communities in the inner city aren't equipped to properly handle black on black violence. If they were, it wouldn't be an issue.

 

Saying Detroit looks like crap is a compliment. Its much worse outside of downtown its a gangland.

5. Black communities in the inner city aren't equipped to properly handle black on black violence. If they were, it wouldn't be an issue.

 

What do you think it would take or they need, besides the other points we discussed. Granted the issues in Danville, Louisville, Chicago and LA are completely different but if you were made Czar tomorrow what do you think is needed.

What do you think it would take or they need, besides the other points we discussed. Granted the issues in Danville, Louisville, Chicago and LA are completely different but if you were made Czar tomorrow what do you think is needed.

 

The first thing that needs to be done is putting an end to the flow of drugs into the inner city. I guess if I was made Czar if I truly wanted to make a difference I would need to get rid of drugs first and foremost.

The first thing that needs to be done is putting an end to the flow of drugs into the inner city. I guess if I was made Czar if I truly wanted to make a difference I would need to get rid of drugs first and foremost.

 

I'd sign on for that, and I agree drugs have done more to devastate inner cities than any politician ever could.