Jonathan Last at Galley Slaves reports that his birthplace of Camden, NJ has been rated "Most Dangerous City." Last says "it's about time."
I've always thought that Camden would be the perfect laboratory for a government that wanted to fix inner-city blight. It has all the afflictions of Compton or Detroit, but it's small enough to manage. If someone in either New Jersey or the federal government was serious about figuring out how to rescue America's inner cities, they would start with Camden and try every tool in the box--empowerment zones, school vouchers, broken-windows policing, faith-based community outreach--to see what works.
Sounds like a great idea, think any of the policy makers on either side would have the guts to actually put their concepts to the test? I grew up next door to Compton, and worked there for several years, it too is a small city. This would be a fantastic idea.
Posted by: Silence Dogood at November 23, 2004 04:50 PMIf you put a budget on it, they'd do it. A proving ground for the true believers and patronage for the crass politicos.
Compton & Camden -- let's go. (Compton always makes me think of "Boyz in The Hood" -- even those kids were afraid to go to Compton...)
Posted by: jk at November 23, 2004 05:39 PMI always thought Lynwood, just to the west of Compton was worse, empty lots with burned out cars, like what I imagined Beruit to look like. Compton was in our league for high school, the 5 Long Beach high schools and Compton High. The football team went alone on a bus with a guard, no cheerleaders, no band, students not encouraged to attend games at their field. During homecoming at my high school my Sophmore year a car driving by on the street behind the football field backfired. (sounds like a gunshot) The entire Compton team hit the ground instantly - in the middle of a play no less! That's conditioning. I think this is why my views on guns differ from most folks around here. Interestingly I have a coworker of my age who grew up in rural Utah where everyone had guns, even in thier pickups parked in the high school parking lot, yet no one was ever shot, it was simply inconceivable that you would settle a fight by going to get your gun.
Posted by: Silence Dogood at November 24, 2004 10:56 AMI was thinking about gun views yesterday (sorry for the detour but you pointed the way) and came up with a saying. "White people from Blue states expect the police to arrive in time."
And I think in a fairly safe city, you can make a good argument that you are better off contracting your safety to the authorities. I hold 2nd Amendment rights pretty dear, but I never bought a gun until I was almost 40 years old. And that was for recreation (I tell people target shooting is just loud, long-distance bowling).
I have since come to view the right as an essential part of liberty -- especially seeing the chaos in the UK, where they have virtually outlawed any type of self defense.
Condoleezza Rice has pointed out that registration would have allowed the Bull Connor types to disarm her Grandfather in the deep South. He and his neighbors used firearms to defend themselves.
One of my favorite bumperstickers: "The 2nd Amendment Ain't About Duck Hunting!"