The Observation Deck

An ongoing column in the Plain Dealer explores the recent self-defense shooting of an armed Robber. Arthur Buford and his friend decided it was a good idea to rob someone at gunpoint. The victim had a permit to carry a gun, so he shot at them. Arthur Buford was killed.

The neighborhood rallied to Buford's defense, even though he wasn't killed by a white cop. Thug Culture in America means young people think it is acceptable to commit these types of crimes, then be an accepted member of society worthy of being mourned. The neighborhoods aren't going to improve while it is like this.

There is hope. there are all kinds of programs to get Televisions and computers in schools. Since a great portion of Cleveland schools responsibility is to act as day care centers, they may as well use these televisions and computers to show re-runs of Bonanza. Bonanza explored many ethical questions.

When the post-peak oil slide really gets going the best way for the U.S. will be to re-industrialize. For that reason many industrial blue collar and white collar workers will be moving back to the cities and inner ring suburbs. Thug culture has produced a few million people who aren't really fit for civil society, and there won't be money to give everyone remedial education until they're 21. The best bet is to get programs started now to offer urban teens who aren't thriving in civil society opportunities working as agricultural laborers. Social workers can teach them how to manage a checking account, book passage on trains and greyhound, and pack everything they need to fit in a chest at the end of their cots in rural bunk houses. It will be more fun than working at Cedar Point.

ryan costa wrote:Social workers can teach them how to manage a checking account, book passage on trains and greyhound, and pack everything they need to fit in a chest at the end of their cots in rural bunk houses.

Replace "rural bunk houses" with Section-8 Lakewood apartments.

It would seem to me, that first you have to get them to give a damn about anything period, before any programs will work.

Gangs have been around a long time and are growing not decreasing, much like the drug problem.

For all the money put into fighting drugs by both political party's Presidents since the early 70s, how much good has it done? Drug use continues to climb, the cartels grow, on and on and on.

With the thug culture growing, that growth speaks volumes on what is ahead crime and violence wise. We (the people) need to find some effective answers and effective political leaders that are willing to do something about it fast.

Mark Allan Crnolatas