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Philip Boyle's avatar

Well argued and well presented. Thanks. Two subjects I suggest be added to mix are 1. The failed urban public education system that left unreformed condemns kids of color to a life of deprivation and anger. The Charter School movement is a prominent place to concentrate support and funding. It works and Tom Sowell has done yeoman work in highlighting the value of charters to the communities of color. We have given the teachers unions too much say and influence over this failed system. 2. There is a far left ideological character to the crisis that seems devoted to tearing down existing norms and beliefs within the American culture and along with it pitting racial and ethnic groups against each other thereby producing anger, separation and disorder. George Soros and his foundation’s funding of the progressive DA phenomenon we see across the country is prominent in my thinking. Social disorder and social alienation seem to be the goal.

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Frank Rowley's avatar

Thanks Clifton... This subject is far too complex for anyone to cover comprehensively in an essay post so nice job picking out some salient points...

I would argue that society is driven by narratives... In order for a people to be cohesive, they must share a story. America was unique in that our story was one of individual opportunity based on competence and effort rather then class or race. The current narrative is the antithesis of that and is destructive and divisive.

America needs to recapture a narrative that we can all support regardless of race, religion or socioeconomic status.

Without a shared narrative, all the patchwork fixes will have little effect.

The "American Dream" needs to be brought into the twenty first century and updated in a way that all Americans can support and is reflective of our values as a people. Without that shared "center" that we can all circumambulate around we are doomed...

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