ashe

I have lived in the inner cities and swore I'd never move back ... and I haven't. I have friends who have come from nothingness and moved on to greatness because they didn't want to be part of the cycle. I've tried helping others climb out. Their reason for not doing so? It was too hard. Believe it or not, not everyone wants better for themselves, their families or their children. Some people are content with waiting for you to do the work and simply take it from you. I'm not here to bash the poor. I took offense to Ham's "greatest challenges" statement. Wouldn't you agree it's a greater challenge for those in the inner city areas to stay out of jail or prison than to sit in one?

Look up "Cycle of Poverty". There are many articles on it and multiple sources of research on the topic. If you read them with an open mind, it will change your heart.

Tolly go look at the inner cities in America. You cant look at a city in this state, travel up north and have a look. You will find what fins just said to be true.

Research has discovered that after 3 generations, poverty reaches an almost genetic level. It becomes so ingrained that it's nearly impossible for someone to break the cycle. It's not as easy as wanting to change and then working hard. Especially if a kid is having to help provide food and money to raise their siblings because one parent is missing and the other is an alcoholic.

Again ... I've been around the economically and socially challenged and contrary to what Ham wrote, one of the greatest challenges of a person's life is overcoming those hurdles and making an honorable life for themselves, not enjoying life on my tax dollars. I do agree that many white people have zero clue about life on the other side of the tracks. As someone who has lived on that side; A. There are several whites who live there. B. If someone really wants out, they can do it with hard work. C. For those who do get caught and locked up, they have educational opportunities afforded to them while incarcerated, both GED and college degrees all on the tax payer's dime.

You make the mistake of assuming that getting a GED is automatic for everyone. For some people, just accomplishing that is going to be impossible due to their financial and social conditions. The world seems simple when you look at it only from a white perspective. But unfortunately that's not the case for everyone

Oh poor poor criminal that never had a chance in life. Bull ****#t FINS - most crimes are committed out of passion/anger or for financial reasons. There are plenty of people in prison that have college degrees - they just got greedy or thought they could get away with murder or another crime.
If an individual finished high school or manages to get a GED they have an opportunity to further their education - it's called the military. They offer the GI bill to help soldiers achieve a better life. If someone WANTS to better themselves there's their chance.
People choose crime as the easy road- an easy way to make money selling drugs, an easy way to make money by selling things they've stolen from others. Just look at the local paralegal who was arrested or the real estate agent that was charged with larceny.
And while I don't want to lock them up forever, I do think prison should be a little tougher on them. Three hots, a cot, tv, rec room and outdoor activities are not really a challenge.

Uh, oh! Better call the eye doctor. I'm seeing double!

You don't have a clue what you are even talking about. Do you think people get their college acceptance letters and when reading it go "forget this crap. I want to sling drugs and hold up liquor stores for a living"? No, they do it because of lack of opportunity and lack of education. They can't change their ways if they don't have another means to earn a living. But you've already written them off and want to lock them up forever.

You don't have a clue what you are even talking about. Do you think people get their college acceptance letters and when reading it go "forget this crap. I want to sling drugs and hold up liquor stores for a living"? No, they do it because of lack of opportunity and lack of education. They can't change their ways if they don't have another means to earn a living. But you've already written them off and want to lock them up forever.

It's been proven that capital punishment doesn't reduce crime. It also doesn't save any money. What does reduce crime is education. Education gives people the ability to find a legal way to earn a living and build something worth holding on to

Not every horse is going to drink that water, FINS. With that being said, I'm not talking about the truly remorseful who want to change the course of their life. I'm talking about the career criminal who looks for loopholes every chance he/she gets to regain their freedom only to squander it by plotting their next crime. Besides ... I still want to know how much of a "challenge" it is to be given all you need to survive without having to earn it.

I'd say a little of column A, a little of column B.

underdog2 (view profile)	Posted 1:09 pm, 05/19/2016
Clodhopper, these people that go to jail and are in jail they are your kind of trashy people.

Honestly puppy, is that the best you could do? Age must really be taking a toll on your old arse, or have you always been this ignorant?

I almost took a job setting up a college degree program for inmates. The problem was funding and commitment. The general assembly would only fund the program from year to year. If funds were needed elsewhere, this was the first thing to be cut. I was told it had been cut several times in the past. So, they spend money to start the program, then ax it and have to spend those resources again later to do it all over again.

Clodhopper, these people that go to jail and are in jail they are your kind of trashy people.

It's been proven that capital punishment doesn't reduce crime. It also doesn't save any money. What does reduce crime is education. Education gives people the ability to find a legal way to earn a living and build something worth holding on to

I was more taken aback by the "greatest challenges" statement by Ham. I'm more curious to know how challenging it was for the victim(s) of the crime(s) to deal with life after the crime. It must be nice to get free room and board on the taxpayer's dime. So very challenging indeed. I know someone who's been in jail twice and prison once. He just turned 22 years old this year. One of the most intelligent kids I've ever met, but a complete dumba**. People like him don't learn to stop committing crimes. They learn how to get away with more. Yes, everyone deserves a chance to prove they've changed and make amends for their actions, but when it becomes recurrent, I have zero pity or sympathy for the losers.

I have to agree with no tolerance. Recidivism is going to happen in over half of those released. If we would carry out capital punishment a little more often instead of offering up light sentences and parole for violent offenders it might make folks think twice before carrying out the crime in the first place. In jail they just learn more bad habits and methods of eluding arrest.

Possibly if you were more tolerant and willing to support rehabilitation programs, crime rates would be lowered, jails and prisons wouldn't be as crowded, and we could ultimately save millions in tax money

Sounds to me as if the poor ladies are looking for inmate penpals...