Thursday, October 26, 2006
the two sides of crime
There's been alot of discussion on the crime issue and it has become clear that there are people who get it, and people who never will. One group would rather spend millions on a fancy building that is underused and overfunded. One group would rather get the crime rate down, city sewers and roads in good shape, and hold someone accountable. To the people who say the Bible says to help the poor and needy, give till it hurts. I think somewhere in the Bible, and I am correctable, that it says God helps those who help themself. To the people that say, but crime is high all over, you're right. But if a murder doesn't happen here: is it ok? The Bible also says "Thou shalt no kill." I am not prejudice against any race, religion, or economic class. The rich get that way by working their butts off more hours than I care to. There has always been a poor class. Some have no education, some can't speak our language very well, and some are just lazy. I just feel with all the government money some get, that the money could be put to better use. I also feel welfare should have limits, and when it expires you shouldn't get it again. As I have said, alot of people get in a bind, but it doesn't last a lifetime. Throwing money at them to keep them quiet is not the answer. Teach them self-relience and pride, not how to milk the system. We have a great country and a great city, what is wrong with wanting it nicer? Why should we lower our expectations, instead of raising them? Politicians can't help much because they can't get along long enough to get something meaningful passed. If one person is for a good idea, and others aren't, it's not going to get passed. If politcians really cared about what the people thought they would start by redoing the juvenile crime laws. If they just set probation for minor offenses, and first offenses, and charge everyone as an adult otherwise it would be a start. People who think like me are not going away, myself included. I doubt anything will be resolved because of my occasional rant, but when it comes to crime I say not on my watch. So we can either agree to disagree, or part company, but if you want to insist on name calling then we will part company.
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12 comments:
Lonely in that world, isn't Cruiser...
Nope. Just most people that hold my views aren't as stubborn as I am. If you other guys are ok with the decline of morals in this country that's fine with me. If you haven't heard about the crime around here then you're world is alot scarier than mine.
Where was the name calling?
Cruiser and folks find way to discredit anyone that disagrees with them
To me when Alderman Meyer said he didn't know about the Sears building, and was called a liar.
Anonymous at 4:09 PM
Your post is exactly one of my points. If you are going to accuse me of something you'll have to be a little less vague. How did I discredit someone and who was the someone. I have stated facts which no one has disputed; I have mentioned news coverage of the crime in our area and that discredits someone? Seems to me you prove my point better than I do.
Yeah, but on my blog nearly all the name calling is directed at me...
Alright guys, I think I have halfheimers or something, because I know it's not alzheimers. I used one instance because it's all I could remember. I don't care who has more or less name calling. I thought the idea of a blog was to get an exchang of opinions. And I also don't think it matters who it's aimed at. I just think the snide remarks waste everyone's time.
Interesting stuff for the most part. If Adlerman Meyer didn't know about it, he still shares the blame. Other gvernment folks don't want to communicate with him because he doesn't want to listen to anybody's view but his own. Agree or disagree with him that is a problem for people in his ward because he won't ever be effective if others won't work with him, even if he is right.
Part two, Davenport Schools had to shut down their after-school programs in the middle schools last year. They served 1200 kids between 3-5 M-F. It is not a coincidence that DPD has contact with more than 900 new juvenile faces during that time. If you want to make a dent in juvenile crime, raise taxes and fund after school programs.
I know that parents ought to be more responsible but until they are it is cheaper for us to take up the slack than to let these kids tear up neighborhoods, go through the revolving door and become part of the system permanently. Are we going to save them all? Probably not, but we will save many of them.
Stick to your guns Cruiser. But keep talking AND listening. We should all change our minds a little. If we aren't open to it then what is the point of the discussion?
I have talked 1 on 1 with Alderman Meyer a few times, and from my experience he does listen. And you hit on the problem that other government folks don't keep him informed. If the entire remainder of the council are keeping him out of the loop, it's sounds more like their problem also. Look at Nicki Bowles, who had some good ideas, but was labled a kook.
i agree that there is a problem with the Davenport School District and funding. I feel there are too many high level management positions eating up the school budjet. I don't want to save any kid, I just want them held accountable. The juvenile court system isn't working as is, so I say change it.
As for my changing, I've been changing all my life. 20 years ago if you told anyone who knew me that I could go longer than 1 day without a beer you'd get laughed at. As of last month I've been sober for 19 years. But some of my opinions are based on actual experiences with our court systems, and believe me you don't ever want to be a victim with the system the was it is today. The police tell you to let the criminals go on probation, the county attorney's office tells you the same thing; and when the criminals face their accuser {you}, they more more about you than their friends. But I will keep cruisin and I'll make an honest effort to do a bit better at listening.
10:46 here. "I feel that there are too many high level management positions". Then you don't know squat. I expect better from you Cruiser. The facts are on the Iowa Dept. of Ed. website. You are spouting the easy party line for the Republicans ( who created several of the positions to report on NCLB).
Just raise taxes and be done with it. It will be cheaper and more effective in the long run than hiring cops. Regarding Adlerman Meyer, I wasn't talking about other councilmembers not communicating with him. I was talking about other governments and their agencies. They don't trust him and they won't work with him. That is a liability considering all the government and government-sponsored property in the 3rd ward.
He can keep pushing ahead thinking that he is always right, but pretty soon he sounds kind of like George Bush (who now seems to be saying that his way wasn't the best after all, although that isn't what he is saying).
I appreciate your response, and I believe you when you say you are listening. On this then we agree to disagree.
Since I don't have any figures and you don't have any figures, we'll agree to disagree. And a Thank you to all posters.
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