Study links Milwaukee, New Orleans
This might be a local story, but anyone can comment on this.
Two questions for the ages:
1. Why are there so many poor people in the inner-cities?
2. What are we suppose to do about it?
Jim, I guess this is your big chance. I am directly and specifically asking for a solution. I'll give you a heads-up however, this is really a trap. Anyone who doesn't write a 40 page paper hear and thinks they are answering the question is a bit naive. But I do want people to chip in.
Here is my answer:
1. The entire answer is a cycle of failure. A vast majority of adults in the inner city do not have the skills to get out of the inner city and find decent paying jobs. They don't have the skills because they are stuck in bad schools. They are stuck in bad schools because most of the kids that go there make it that way. They make it that way because they have no parents or parents who do not give a shit. Their parents to not give a shit because their lives suck and they have given up.
Now their kids live in a culture of learned failure. It is not cool to do your homework. Most believe they should get everything for free. Hard work is not worth it. Having sex with whomever, whenever is fine. Smoking dope and having a kid when you are 14 is acceptable...yet only providing you with a 100% guarantee for failure.
2. What do we do? Well, if I could tell you I would be the smartest man alive. My best answer is to convince inner city leaders to preach the conservative message. A message of personal responsibility. We all have to stop tolerating and accepting failure. Gov't assistance is fine, but for the short term...it is not a way of life. I have to admit it is over for most adults...but they can contribute by acting like adults, raising their children and becoming roll models...that is the best I got.
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
City is No. 9 in poverty clusters
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
9 comments:
Dude, that section 1. is the best thing I ever heard you say. Wept for saying we cant have sex with whomever, whenever we want.
ok, erased a couple letter there. Read: "Well, except" to start the second sentence. I need to eat.
My sister (in Madison) has become 'auntie' to two underprivileged sisters in Mke. One just graduated high school, the other dropped out her junior year to have her drug dealer bf's baby. They have no home life to speak of.
My sister let the hs graduate spend this summer with her in Madison. Helped get her a job, paid for everything, helped her enroll in a few summer classes.
It was supposed to be the big 'out,' the big opportunity for the girl to see a new/different way of life and to give her something to work towards. Not saying everyone needs to have the same two-spouse 2-bdrm home with a dog, but you get my point.
That same girl got pregnant by her bf and moved in with him, in an apt they had to have my sister co-sign because they couldn't afford it on their own.
I agree that it's a vicious cycle - and I'm not saying that young mothers are doomed to failure - but I am saying that one has to be willing to work hard to beat the cycle. If they aren't diligent, there's no getting out.
Sorry to be so long winded.
SSA
Game,
I agree with your point #1 for the most part.
One thing that might help to break the vicious cycle is to make education more equitable. For the most part, education is financed through property taxes. It stands to reason that property taxes in the suburbs create higher revenue and more dollars per student than in the inner city. More dollars per student, better education (all things being equal).
So, collect all the school funding revenues and distribute them strictly on a per student basis. There must be "minimal" strings attached so that distribution in NOT political, but totally equitable.
Result: equitable dollars per student, more equitable chance of a decent education.
They want government to pay their way? Then the govwernment ought to require them to work for the money rather than sit on their lazy asses and collect it. Government can provide jobs for them to do and pay them for them. If they really want to get out they would go to work.
Mark...they do not want to do anywork (the ones who don't, won't)...
Jim,
You are correct..but atleast part of the problem is that you can spend twice as much on the inner city schools, but if the kids refuse to learn and do not allow the school to be an environment for learning...it will fail as well...part of the reason the suburban schools are so great is because the kids that go there have parents that tought them what school is for and how to act while you are there...
money doesn't make a kid want to do homework..
The best answer is to get some leaders in the community that will actually promote hard work and personal responsibility...that will work better than any amount of money ever could...
Some suburban schools get 40% per kid than MPS
Jim, why not just say you are for a socialist society?
The reason the suburban schools have more money for better education, is because the suburbanites work their butts off to make that money. And they teach their children, that if they want to enjoy the good life, then personal responsibility is necessary. That means studying, just for starters.
There are PLENTY of programs out there to help those that are behind, get ahead, if they want to. For example, there are funds for college, one can get 4 years of college tuition paid for, if one is from a family where neither parent had a college degree. Not only that, but these programs have 'catch up' courses available, for those who did not finish high school. Personal one on one tutoring is offered. Long story short, the programs to help the underprivileged are out there, large quantities of them are out there. It does take some discipline, and motivation to take advantage of these programs, and become successful. That is where many fail. They lack the discipline and motivation. Opportunites abound in our country. There are even more free opportunities, if one happens to be a minority. Discipline and motivation are all it takes.
Trying to make everyone equal, instead of rewarding those who work the hardest, is not the answer. If you want to live in a socialist country, just leave the USA. I'm sure you will be happier elsewhere.
Stephanie Rose..sorry to bust your bubble but as identified in comparison with other systems, we live in a liberal democracy and think that is a good thing. ..if you don't like it you might be happier elsewhere.
Game. once again I pretty much agree here. I think we need to examine the things that make a person want to work. Study people who feel good about working. Then we must see how to transfer that feeling to the non worker.
I think you struck close to the core with the idea of hope. I also believe people will work harder if they can find something to do that they enjoy.
I know this all sounds liberal physco babble but the soultion of blame blame blame certainly is bound to fail.
Oh by the way..At least you beat Cleveland!:-)
Post a Comment