Need for change.

[Plane]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mayors_of_Baltimore

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_McKeldin

In 1967,Baltimore had a Republican Mayor.

Now Baltimore needs to do some drastic changes.

To what?

[Xavier_Onassis]

This assumes that the mayor of Baltimore has the power to change the conditions of people who live in its slums.

[sirs]

Mayors have much power.....especially when they're supported by Democrat Governors, and DC Democrats "representing their interests", with Democrat led policies

[Plane]

This assumes that the mayor of Baltimore has the power to change the conditions of people who live in its slums.

      I do indeed make this assumption, who moreso?

      How much influence does two generations in power imply?

       How much does the party in power have responsibility for the hiring and training policies of the police?

      How much influence does two generations in power imply?

[Xavier_Onassis]

The idea that the people will be able to get productive jobs because the police are integrated seems to me to be defective.

How much power does a mayor have to end poverty in such a place?

[Plane]

  If government is not able or responsible for prosperity and civil society......


     How long have you been a libertarian and when were you going to tell us?

[Xavier_Onassis]

The government COULD end poverty, but in the current situation that the mayor of Baltimore is in, it is impossible, she does not have the budget or the power.

It is clearly possible, because it has been done elsewhere.

What SHOULD BE is one thing, what is PRAGMATICALLY POSSIBLE is something quite different.

[kimba1]

Actually baltimore was on track for improving. It had the CVS store as a anchor business for further development.

I recently read an article that when the residence stood to stop the riots they gave no protection to non black businesses.

Lets just say the situation is not entirely frowned upon by the residence

[sirs]

Here's the rub....in a society founded on freedom, there will ALWAYS be some level of poverty.  People have the freedom to choose...not to work, not to contribute, to be a bump on the proverbial society log.  As such, Government has no ability to "end" poverty.  That requires socialism, where everyone is made to be equally miserable, while the elites in Government take in everyone's income, then divvy it all up "equally", as they see fit, and dictate how and what everyone is to do.  THAT is the only venue where poverty could be ended by Government

In a Freedom founded society, the best Government can do is make sure no one is illegally profitting over someone else.  However, there will be poverty & there will be very rich people.  For anyone to have a problem with rich people, simply for being rich, has a serious problem themselves.  As long as they've made their money legally, its their money, to do with it, what they want, and how they want, so long as it's legal

[Xavier_Onassis]

LOTS of governments have managed to end or drastically reduce poverty. It can be done, because it has been done.

But it can't be done in Baltimore because the Mayor does not have money for it in the budget.

The fact is that because it costs $30-40K per year to incarcerate these uneducated poor people if they commit crimes, it can cost just as much to have a lot of poor people than to provide the education and benefits needed to  end poverty.

[sirs]

As I said, it can only be done, (END poverty), in a socialist society.  There will ALWAYS be poverty in America, because we are a country founded on freedom, which includes the freedom for people to not want to do anything.  It can't be done in Baltimore, not because the mayor "can't", but because its not possible in a freedom founded country, that runs on capitalism.  It has nothing to do with his budget, since that's just peptuating the cycle of poverty....handing out more tax payer subsidies to reinforce the status quo

[Xavier_Onassis]

Then capitalism needs to be modified to serve all the people, just like the water in the city reservoir needs to be piped to all the people.

[sirs]

No, it doesn't, because regardless of whatever "modifications" are attempted, there will ALWAYS be poverty, in this country.  People are free in the country to do as much....or as little as they want.  And reap what they sew.  It's not up to the tax payers to reward bad behavior, thus perpetuating the status quo of continued poverty and ever expanding govermnent "assistance" (read MORE tax dollars)

[Xavier_Onassis]

You are some sort of Fascist sirs. 

You piss and moan about how every pregnant woman must be forced to give birth, but then you would refuse to provide anything to the mother to feed, house clothe and educate the little bugger once he is born.

[sirs]

You are some sort of Fascist sirs. 

Quite the contrary.....Fascists are those who would use the Government to force everyone to act & function, for the greatness of the country.  Fascists are the ones who would disarm the populace, and make sure they all attend the proper "schooling".  And if need be, send folks to reeducation camps.....all with the best of intentions of course. 

I on the other hand support people doing whatever they want, so long as it doesn't infringe on the rights or life of another.  Nor that I pay for their reckless behavior, thereby reinforcing even worse behavior