The connections

Is there a degree of responsibility that the “silly council” has in criminal activity? Minneapolis continues to have problems with sexually assaults, murders, drug dealing and other high crimes. Nobody really ever looks at the responsibility that local government has in these problems. Government’s number one job is to protect the public. It’s even in the oath of office that the public officials take when they are sworn into office. However, the local news lately has been a man found dead in his backyard, man shot in North Minneapolis, and a young girl near sexual assault. Of course no government, police force, or band of community activists can totally eliminate all crime, but I don’t believe that the “elected” that represent Minneapolis at the city, state, and federal levels have done everything they can do in order to curb crime in Minneapolis.
A lot of people have a world view that sees government’s job as taking care of people from cradle to grave. If this is the type of results I get from that promise, I think I’ll say no. No degree of handout is going to take care of the root problems related to crime. When it comes to gang activity and drug dealing one can’t help but wonder if these are crimes of hopelessness. Human nature is to do positive activities, but that breaks down when it is seen that one has no other choices. How government runs it’s itself has a part to play in that. Working to solve problems instead of doing things that are against the natural order of things causes huge problems. I have found by spending a great deal of time with the “elected” that most decisions that are made aren’t made from a standpoint of what is best for the community in which they serve but is made from a standpoint of which is most politically efficient. Until this practice stops, we will continue to have problems like this running rapid among us.