[Jeff Higgins]

Cam, from your answer to Mul's post, it is clear you do not "see the difference". I'm not sure how the politics of racism are played in your country, but I sure hope it is a better situation than it is here. Mul throws some extremely far-right rhetoric out here for us to peruse, but this time he hits the nail squarely on the head.

We have a huge problem with inner-city blacks that must be addressed. The dissagreement is in what the nature of the problem is, and therefore what to do about it. One side would prefer to coddle and support them, and thereby rather cynically earn their trust and therefore their votes. I say "cynically" because the rich fat cats understand deep down inside that they will never build a rapport; but that's o.k.; they still get the votes. I also believe these movers and shakers that provide lifelong welfare to these people could really care less if it helps them or not; again, it gets the votes.

The other side prefers the "tough love" approach. Wean them from the welfare teat; they CAN be productive and contributing members of society. They understand that generational listlessness and laziness is a very tough cycle to break. They understand that the other side paints them (rather successfully) as mean racists. They are willing to accept that, however, to restore the dignity and productivity of these people.

I have a number of successful black friends and acquaintences. Guess which side of the argument they ALL land on? They have more open disdain for "ghetto niggas" than any white folks I know. None of these folks that I know were born with the proverbial silver spoon up their asses either - they all started life about where I did, in middle-class America. With two parents, one or both of which was gainfully employed. They are married and raising healthy families; very much the anti-thesis of the "ghetto nigga" (their description, not mine).

We do have a problem here, and I suspect the nature of it is different than what you may have there, if you have a problem at all. By your employment rates, it appears you may not even have the same problems. In this country, the champions of welfare are the liberals; the advocates of "get off yer dead ass and DO something" are conservatives. So, yes, while liberals did not "cause" this problem, it is becoming increasingly apparent that their solution is not fixing it. We have had several generations on welfare now, with no end in sight. We might owe it to these folks to try something else... tough love...