The vulnerable populations of the inner city worry me. While I am grateful for my sheltered suburban existence that I grew up in, but I want a greater level of economic equality in America. While the United States has made some strides in racial inequality and gender inequality, there seems to be an acceptance of economic inequality in the United States.
Anyone can have the American Dream, right? The playing field is equal. The opportunties are equal.
Yeah, well, that's not so true as we all know. This country is not a place where you can automatically work hard and earn a decent living. Not by a long shot.
The economic and political isolation of poor minorities in the inner cities is caused by flight or sprawl, and fragmentation. Most often, minorities are often located in these urban areas that are highly concentrated neighborhoods of poverty. While the people with a bit more money, get out. Escape.
You are poor. Stay where you are. We are going over here.
This seems to be the message.
While my first instinct says to help as many people as possible out of the inner city to get away from the hopelessness of the environment, I realize that this would not help that many people. The plight of the inner city population is huge and should be addressed by our politicians. When the Democrats get back in power, there are more steps that can be taken.
I would suggest start with the youth. Here is a bit from an abstract for an article that I liked.
Although they also have a keen awareness of the social problems that impact negatively on their opportunities, they come equipped with potential solutions. These findings suggest that research and policies should continue to address risk factors, but also must look beyond the reduction of risk. It must consider how to enhance the protective effects of education, jobs and job training, connection to caring adults, and community-based programs that offer youth creative outlets.
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/109/6/1136
We may not be able to put an end to the negative social problems that affect the youth living in the inner city. But we can protective effects as the article suggests. I think this research definitely supports the idea that preventative programs that provide outreach to the vulnerable youth is an opportunity for these individuals to improve their lives.
We as a society can and should help people living in dangerous poverty-stricken inner-city "I wouldn't want to live there" areas of this country. We cannot simply turn our backs on them.
I am happy to be part of the Democratic Party because I firmly believe that they care about ALL people. We have the big tent and we need to invite the politically isolated in with open arms.