I think it is much larger than who controls these cities. In order for the cities to overcome their plight the schools need to improve and that needs to be priority number one. If the schools in the community aren't capable of providing a good safe learning environment where kids actually can get a quality education then how can we expect the neighborhoods they live in to be productive neighborhoods?

 

How can we expect those neighborhoods to provide job opportunities when they are too dangerous for companies to open businesses there?

 

How can we expect those gang members to not fight over turf for drug sales when not nearly enough has ever been done to stop the influx of narcotics from other countries into the inner cities?

 

I'll go to my grave saying it is a conspiracy with what has happened in the inner cities. It is too methodical for it to not be systemic.

 

I agree with a lot of that but maybe not the conspiracy as much as just not caring.

 

So shouldnt the elected officials be held accountable for not helping the inner city problems. It is their job isnt it.

I agree with a lot of that but maybe not the conspiracy as much as just not caring.

 

So shouldnt the elected officials be held accountable for not helping the inner city problems. It is their job isnt it.

 

This has more to do with government agencies than anything else in my opinion.

 

Hypothetical:

 

Elected officials have always only been able to do so much. Especially if support from other elected officials is lacking. If a bill is introduced on the floor by a senator from Illinois to improve the school systems in Chicago and it is shot down by senators from all over the country then whose is to blame? The folks from Illinois tried but they didn't get the support needed from everyone else so things stay the same. That's why I can't blame elected officials for the entire plight of the inner cities. It's way more complex than just pointing a finger at someone.

 

That's the best I can answer without violating BGP's rule of no political discussion on the board at this current time.

This has more to do with government agencies than anything else in my opinion.

 

Hypothetical:

 

Elected officials have always only been able to do so much. Especially if support from other elected officials is lacking. If a bill is introduced on the floor by a senator from Illinois to improve the school systems in Chicago and it is shot down by senators from all over the country then whose is to blame? The folks from Illinois tried but they didn't get the support needed from everyone else so things stay the same. That's why I can't blame elected officials for the entire plight of the inner cities. It's way more complex than just pointing a finger at someone.

 

That's the best I can answer without violating BGP's rule of no political discussion on the board at this current time.

 

I understand, my goal is now to try and draw people into a POLITIC warning from GURU. hahahahaha

 

I think we all know who is to blame. Its not us common people.

 

Have a super weekend and day.

You too, Mountainref!

I think it is much larger than who controls these cities. In order for the cities to overcome their plight the schools need to improve and that needs to be priority number one. If the schools in the community aren't capable of providing a good safe learning environment where kids actually can get a quality education then how can we expect the neighborhoods they live in to be productive neighborhoods?

 

How can we expect those neighborhoods to provide job opportunities when they are too dangerous for companies to open businesses there?

 

How can we expect those gang members to not fight over turf for drug sales when not nearly enough has ever been done to stop the influx of narcotics from other countries into the inner cities?

 

I'll go to my grave saying it is a conspiracy with what has happened in the inner cities. It is too methodical for it to not be systemic.

You will never stop the influx of drugs, not as long as there is demand. It's impossible and a pipe dream.

 

That said, I expect them to not be gangs and not break the law and not sell drugs.

You will never stop the influx of drugs, not as long as there is demand. It's impossible and a pipe dream.

 

That said, I expect them to not be gangs and not break the law and not sell drugs.

 

They have no hope and no way to escape the cycle if drugs are that easy to acquire and sell in order make money.

Thank you.

 

This has been the solution for decades and anyone who has truly been paying to attention to what has gone on in the inner cities knows this.

 

You agree with integration in this thread but agree with segregation in another. Which way do you want it?

They have no hope and no way to escape the cycle if drugs are that easy to acquire and sell in order make money.

If the cycle can't be broken within and you (not you specifically) continue to look for someone like government to fix it for you then you're right, there is no hope. At some point the young men and women growing up in this have to stand up and say no more. They have to break the cycle. As long as we stand around waiting for someone else to fix our problems nothing changes.

 

Now regarding the schools, I pretty much agree. That has to be the governments job to make sure that all kids have the same opportunities and resources for education.

If the cycle can't be broken within and you (not you specifically) continue to look for someone like government to fix it for you then you're right, there is no hope. At some point the young men and women growing up in this have to stand up and say no more. They have to break the cycle. As long as we stand around waiting for someone else to fix our problems nothing changes.

 

Now regarding the schools, I pretty much agree. That has to be the governments job to make sure that all kids have the same opportunities and resources for education.

 

It all starts with the schools. Kids get educated and then they come home to make their homes better for the future. Happens in every community that I know of. If the kids in the inner city can't get educated then how can they come home to make their homes better?

You agree with integration in this thread but agree with segregation in another. Which way do you want it?

 

I like the black only dorms and would have lived in one if I would have had the opportunity. If that makes me for segregation then so be it. They still get the same education as everyone else on campus. To me that was what the fight for integration was about. Equal opportunity. If you think a black only dorm is denying equal opportunity then that is your interpretation of it. I'm not trying to change anyone's mind about it. Mine won't be changed. In the grand scheme of things it is harmless.

This has more to do with government agencies than anything else in my opinion.

 

Hypothetical:

 

Elected officials have always only been able to do so much. Especially if support from other elected officials is lacking. If a bill is introduced on the floor by a senator from Illinois to improve the school systems in Chicago and it is shot down by senators from all over the country then whose is to blame? The folks from Illinois tried but they didn't get the support needed from everyone else so things stay the same. That's why I can't blame elected officials for the entire plight of the inner cities. It's way more complex than just pointing a finger at someone.

 

That's the best I can answer without violating BGP's rule of no political discussion on the board at this current time.

 

Poor analogy. Chicago public schools aren't Federal schools, they are controlled by the state and locals. Throwing money at problems doesn't cure problems.

Poor analogy. Chicago public schools aren't Federal schools, they are controlled by the state and locals. Throwing money at problems doesn't cure problems.

 

Apply the analogy to the state then. If an elected official from Chicago goes to the state elected officials and the state officials don't want to Chicago officials then Chicago suffers and the elected official from Chicago still did what they were elected to do. It just didn't work. That happens sometimes in politics.

 

And truthfully it is a federal problem because this plight of the inner cities plagues every major city in America. If using money to fix schools in the inner cities isn't the answer then why would anyone expect anything different to happen in the inner cities?

Apply the analogy to the state then. If an elected official from Chicago goes to the state elected officials and the state officials don't want to Chicago officials then Chicago suffers and the elected official from Chicago still did what they were elected to do. It just didn't work. That happens sometimes in politics.

 

And truthfully it is a federal problem because this plight of the inner cities plagues every major city in America. If using money to fix schools in the inner cities isn't the answer then why would anyone expect anything different to happen in the inner cities?

Chicago is probably a bad example. Illinois is a funny state. There's Chicago and then there's the rest of IL. Nationally the most think of IL as a Blue state but IL when viewed by county is actually pretty dang conservative. Obama carried very few counties in 2012 however he cleaned up in the Chicago area where the bulk of the population lives.

 

I think the majority of the state feels their voice isn't heard and is overshadowed by Chicago. In turn there seems to be resentment and disdain for needs of Chicago.

It all starts with the schools. Kids get educated and then they come home to make their homes better for the future. Happens in every community that I know of. If the kids in the inner city can't get educated then how can they come home to make their homes better?

 

There has to be a partnership between school and home. Schools play a big role, but the parent/family role is vital. There are some success stories where kids overcame horrible home lives because of a teacher or even more often because of an inner drive within the child. But there are far more stories of kids who falls right back into the cycle of poverty/bad choices/etc. in spite of the opportunities that a good education offers - and often because of the examples they see at home.

There has to be a partnership between school and home. Schools play a big role, but the parent/family role is vital. There are some success stories where kids overcame horrible home lives because of a teacher or even more often because of an inner drive within the child. But there are far more stories of kids who falls right back into the cycle of poverty/bad choices/etc. in spite of the opportunities that a good education offers - and often because of the examples they see at home.

 

This is true as well.