tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468175154167862989.post2723289825994650531..comments2023-04-26T05:48:32.674-07:00Comments on Urban Latino - My story : I’m Not a Man… Until I’m FreeUrban Latino Magazinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16561277102494437978noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468175154167862989.post-61631949390127766692012-06-25T17:30:59.158-07:002012-06-25T17:30:59.158-07:00While I would agree there is still a terrible disp...While I would agree there is still a terrible disparity in both wealth and opportunity between different races and, now, different income levels I think what we may see in the future is less about race and more about class struggle. As the resources of this planet become strained, those who "have" will retreat to their enclaves of privilege. They will bar the gates by raising taxes, cutting pay, and eliminating benefits. They will complain that they shouldn't have to educate the poor or pay for their health care, even if the poor have been paying into the system for decades via insurance and taxes. They will also raise tuition to increase the slope of upward mobility. The last decade has been insane as those in control seem to be trying to take us back to an almost feudal system. <br />Playing devils advocate, however, it does sicken me to see so many violent criminals released simply because the jails are overcrowded. There's at east one police chase, robbery, or killing a day down here in Miami where someone with a lengthy criminal record was allowed out because of overcrowding only to harm another innocent victim. <br />I've always viewed these two scenarios as a question of opportunity. I'd like to think that, given the opportunity, a person can work hard for their pay and move up the ladder; to be treated fairly. This isn't always so. I'd also like to think that, given the opportunity, a street thug would take a good paying job with a promising future over a life of crime. There is no excuse to chose crime, but one can understand the reasoning a person would use to chose the wrong path, particularly when the right path is obscured, blocked, or cut off entirely. <br />Sadly, there used to be a few among our leaders that once cared about trying to create opportunity, whether it was by promoting job growth, promoting education, or providing assistance when needed. Now many of those voices are gone - replaced by people who would cut for the sake of cost saving or to gain political points. What they don't understand (or don't care about as everyone thinks short-term these days) is that the cost must be borne by society one way or another. Denying someone a job or an education will only put them on the public assistance line where society will pay for them anyway; whether it's unemployment benefits or paying for their defense lawyer and prison stay. Help them get an education and the opportunity for a good job and they pay into society - as everyone should. <br />Excellent article. You're right. More people need to care.TheDuke570https://www.blogger.com/profile/06375737119018785858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468175154167862989.post-5297831902533210012010-04-07T21:39:22.323-07:002010-04-07T21:39:22.323-07:00I believe people are a bit complacent... or just a...I believe people are a bit complacent... or just afraid.Liza Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11938339487527265495noreply@blogger.com