Quote:
Originally Posted by Philadelphia
When exactly? Never. Don't do anything to improve the lot of your fellow man, fellow residents of your Commonwealth and fellow Americans. You're right that's it's not your obligation and you bear no responsibility to do a thing.
But number one, don't sit there so sanctamoneous and tell us about how eradicating the entire population of a city will resolve its problems. It's ridiculous to even remotely consider that as a solution. We join wars over foreign gov'ts that do that sort of thing to some of its people. It won't happen here and it shouldn't.
Number two, you might notice that I get annoyed when people lump the entire population of the city into one bad bunch. We've got plenty of problems, but the vast majority of people who live here are decent, honest, hardworking people just like your neighbors out in the burbs. Many of them earn a good deal less than your neighbors and that does create some issues with regard to the city's tax revenue and funds to deal with those who are problems.
Three, the burbs get tremendous benefit from the cities in the sense that the burbs can zone poverty virtually out and push it into concentrated pockets called cities, and that's exactly what tends to happen.
And finally four, yes, the city population includes an inordinate number of feral predators who belong excluded from decent society and in prison. I didn't create them any more than you did. We all did. I am a firm believer in personal responsibility but there is (and will always be) a segment that needs a bit more, shall we say, guidance. If you are unwilling to provide that guidance (in essence, pay for it -- it isn't free) then stop complaining about the product. These antisocial kids are the natural and expected result of a complete and utter lack of parenting and your surprise and disdain for it borders on irrational.
In some ways, you're doing what Nutter is doing. You want to ignore reality by wishing -- wishful thinking that if only there were not poor single mothers pumping out another generation of children who are never really raised, etc., the sun would shine over pretty rainbows, the same as Nutter is wishing that if only H'Burg would give him a few new laws all would be well. Well there are these single mothers and parents who sire the next generation of monsters. That's the reality. You can choose to turn your back on it or try to do something about it. Again, you are absolutely right that you bear absolutely no responsibility to try to do anything for your fellow man or to leave a better place behind when you go.
Not everyone can cut a swath much wider than themselves and I'm sure what you leave behind when you go will be good things. But I can, I am and I will and I need the resources to do it. Parochial thinking is an obstacle that we all need to overcome.
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I think that some of these points are valid. The issue herein, is that for a majority of criminals, crime and other illegal activity is a culture. You can't "help" someone who doesn't first want to help themselves. There is an entire culture that like being criminal. You can throw education, money, time, and effort at these problems, but as long as the crime culture remains nothing will change. "Gangsta rap", mob movies and other forms of entertainment that glorify and idealize the crime culture will ultimately breed more who buy into the crime culture. The solution to these problems is diffucult. I see valid points why folks should help, and why folks should not.
My viewpoint is that while I am not responsible FOR the actions and decisions made by others, I do have a responsibility to help those whose live are affected by those who make those poor decisions. Like Philadelphia said, the majority of people in the city are good natured and hardworking people. It's terrible that they're subjected to the fear and lawlessness created by the crime culture. Things can be done to help them. Taking guns away is not one. It's not socialist to help a neighbor.