Listening to the morning news I learn that this is a " cease fire " weekend in Baltimore. Yes, you read that correctly, Four weekends a year religious groups declare a cease fire in the city of Baltimore. It never works, the shooting continues, but you can always hope. Each time I hear about these cease fire weekends I take pause. It's a rather amazing and sad thing. Cease fire! And as you would expect it's about drugs and turf. Gangs killing one another over money. And as we have all come to expect in these Democratically controlled war zones, little is being done to deter it. No, instead the talk is finding a way to reward these thugs, We need to find them all high paying jobs, provide them with luxury townhomes, provide counseling and services. They shouldn't be locked up or held accountable. It's not their fault. If only all the rich white people in the city would give more! If we did that, the shooting will end!
Now beyond that what I find more disturbing is that these so called cease fire weekends are reguarily scheduled events. What does that say? Tells me no one really expects this to end any time soon. So we might as well put it on the schedule of events. Well you know, for planning purposes. Baltimore city chamber of commerce has deep concerns about the tourist industry. The have determined that people tend to not want to visit war zones. The latest concern in the city is now " squeegee kids. " If you are not familiar with that they are groups of young people that take up position at the red lights. When you stop they swarm out to wash your windows. They have gained a reputation for taking revenge if you refuse. People have been physically attacked, cars damaged, and threatened by this " kids. " People have reported that they will no longer drive in the city as a result of this. The chamber of commerce is deeply concerned now.
But the discussion centers around the legality of these squeegee kids. It's legal as long as they don't step into the street, which they do. But you can't stop them from standing on the sidewalk or crosswalks. The Police can't just stand there and issue tickets every time one of them steps into the street, they are too busy with gunfire. But then the discussion turns to finding them employment. Oh but the problem is, by threats and intimidation some of these " kids " can make forty, fifty dollars an hour. It's only fair we provide jobs that would pay an equal amount! That will require getting all these kids a proper education. Of course they can't afford that so we should all foot the bill for them to go to college and become professors. If we did that, no more squeegee kids. Well because these kids all have dreams! Remember, it's not their fault.
I don't live in Baltimore and seldom travel to that city. There isn't anything there that interests me enough to risk my life for. Yes the Orioles play there and the Yankees come into town. I've been to the stadium and it does make me nervous every time. The last time my son from New York was down he took his wife and daughter to the aquarium. I chose not to go, not wishing to risk it to see fish. With me, it s all about risk and reward. If there is something I want, I'll risk it, if not, I won't. It doesn't have a thing to do with fear. It's generally pretty safe around the inner harbor, the stadiums and such. You know the venues that generate income for the city are protected. Lately though even those areas are seeing a rise in crime. That's because it is also the area where " regular " folks go to buy their drugs. Hey a snowy white guy had best not go into the hood looking for his drugs, if he survives he'll be broke with no drugs! The thugs know that and so go where the customer will be. Not hard to figure out. As a result the " safe " zones aren't so safe anymore. With the policies the government offers up these drug dealers and thugs are emboldened. Heck if I do get caught nothing will happen to me. Get the right lawyer and I'll be sent to a rehabilitation center, provided with everything I need, and be given a job. Might even get a few speaking engagements. No problem.
I don't have any answers for this. Apparently it's all the fault of rich white people. It doesn't have anything to do with the last four Mayors in a row being crooked. It doesn't have anything to do with revenue being diverted to pet projects of the legislators. No, it's because we aren't giving these folks everything they need to be successful. Here's what they need, a college education or be a graduate of a trade school, a high paying job including all benefits free, an automobile and a smart phone. That's just the basics. They certainly can't be expected to gain these things all by themselves! No, the rich people should be giving them all of that. And it is the rich politicians that are telling them that! Those same politicians want to redistribute the wealth of everyone else to accomplish that. Now they don't want to redistribute their wealth, just everyone else's. After all they are the leaders. They know best. Meanwhile the rest of us can hope for a cease fire weekend, you know, take a trip into the city.
Now beyond that what I find more disturbing is that these so called cease fire weekends are reguarily scheduled events. What does that say? Tells me no one really expects this to end any time soon. So we might as well put it on the schedule of events. Well you know, for planning purposes. Baltimore city chamber of commerce has deep concerns about the tourist industry. The have determined that people tend to not want to visit war zones. The latest concern in the city is now " squeegee kids. " If you are not familiar with that they are groups of young people that take up position at the red lights. When you stop they swarm out to wash your windows. They have gained a reputation for taking revenge if you refuse. People have been physically attacked, cars damaged, and threatened by this " kids. " People have reported that they will no longer drive in the city as a result of this. The chamber of commerce is deeply concerned now.
But the discussion centers around the legality of these squeegee kids. It's legal as long as they don't step into the street, which they do. But you can't stop them from standing on the sidewalk or crosswalks. The Police can't just stand there and issue tickets every time one of them steps into the street, they are too busy with gunfire. But then the discussion turns to finding them employment. Oh but the problem is, by threats and intimidation some of these " kids " can make forty, fifty dollars an hour. It's only fair we provide jobs that would pay an equal amount! That will require getting all these kids a proper education. Of course they can't afford that so we should all foot the bill for them to go to college and become professors. If we did that, no more squeegee kids. Well because these kids all have dreams! Remember, it's not their fault.
I don't live in Baltimore and seldom travel to that city. There isn't anything there that interests me enough to risk my life for. Yes the Orioles play there and the Yankees come into town. I've been to the stadium and it does make me nervous every time. The last time my son from New York was down he took his wife and daughter to the aquarium. I chose not to go, not wishing to risk it to see fish. With me, it s all about risk and reward. If there is something I want, I'll risk it, if not, I won't. It doesn't have a thing to do with fear. It's generally pretty safe around the inner harbor, the stadiums and such. You know the venues that generate income for the city are protected. Lately though even those areas are seeing a rise in crime. That's because it is also the area where " regular " folks go to buy their drugs. Hey a snowy white guy had best not go into the hood looking for his drugs, if he survives he'll be broke with no drugs! The thugs know that and so go where the customer will be. Not hard to figure out. As a result the " safe " zones aren't so safe anymore. With the policies the government offers up these drug dealers and thugs are emboldened. Heck if I do get caught nothing will happen to me. Get the right lawyer and I'll be sent to a rehabilitation center, provided with everything I need, and be given a job. Might even get a few speaking engagements. No problem.
I don't have any answers for this. Apparently it's all the fault of rich white people. It doesn't have anything to do with the last four Mayors in a row being crooked. It doesn't have anything to do with revenue being diverted to pet projects of the legislators. No, it's because we aren't giving these folks everything they need to be successful. Here's what they need, a college education or be a graduate of a trade school, a high paying job including all benefits free, an automobile and a smart phone. That's just the basics. They certainly can't be expected to gain these things all by themselves! No, the rich people should be giving them all of that. And it is the rich politicians that are telling them that! Those same politicians want to redistribute the wealth of everyone else to accomplish that. Now they don't want to redistribute their wealth, just everyone else's. After all they are the leaders. They know best. Meanwhile the rest of us can hope for a cease fire weekend, you know, take a trip into the city.
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