Don't Get Me Started
Don't Get Me Started
Of crime and poverty
By ANDY HEFTY
JACKSONVILLE, FL - I have had it with those who would make the lamest of excuses that poverty is at the root of crime. More than that, I had it up to my continually receding hairline with these same apologists demanding more confiscated tax money to "fix" the problems.
Some have discounted the "simple" solutions, such as doing what's right and obeying the law, as not enough. So what is the "nuanced" answer? More money. Sure, a "modest" increase in taxes, fees, or whatever confiscatory method of bleeding the law abiding may raise the money necessary to put more cops on the streets. But some of the other "programs" only point to more bloated government, just as effective as the current system:
Education, Intervention & Rehabilitation, Law Enforcement & Deterrence, Neighborhood Safety & Stability, and Positive Youth Development are the five recommendations that the Jacksonville Journey presented to the Mayor.
First of all, education is already covered by the local school board. A teacher friend of mine is known for telling her students' parents, "I'm with your kids about six hours a day. You have them the rest of the time. Who do you think should spend more time and effort with your kids?" The answer is painfully obvious. And anything beyond the three R's is a waste of time, money, and effort.
Rehab is best performed privately. When the government usurps the authority of those who are doing charitable or industrial work of any kind, it's bound for disaster. Welfare, social security, farm subsidies, energy policy, and transportation waste are just a few instances of when government overstepped its bounds and took over where it should not have. If a man, woman, or child needs to rehabilitate his or her life, the private organizations unfettered by government bureaucracy and regulation are the most effective. Anything else is a waste.
I agree that putting more cops on the street is a good idea. But why should we have to increase taxes when I am quite certain that the city government could easily pare back the money going down other wasteful rat holes to pay for additional law enforcement.
When it comes to neighborhood watch programs, I always thought that neighbors helped each other. I didn't know it took so much money for a group of neighbors to gather, walk the streets, and let criminals know that they are not welcome.
Finally, "Positive Youth Development" is not the job of government. It is the job of churches, charities, friends, and above all parents.
Poverty is no excuse for criminal activity. And stop trying to extort the tax money from the citizens. Threatening that if we don't cough up more cash the crime will only get worse is becoming old. We're getting weary of the crying wolf.
Want to rid the streets of crime? Lock up the criminals. Want to prevent crime? Don't commit any. Want to improve your city? Get up off your keister and do something for yourself instead of demanding a big-nanny government do the job you should be doing.
Andy is a father of 13 children who lives with his wife of over 23 years in Baker County, Florida. His opinions usually center around mixing politics and religion with hot-button topics as his specialty. You can contact him at ACHefty@yahoo.com.
