Those words were spoken by our not so illustrious AG, not so long ago.  I don’t know where this man got his degree but, I firmly suspect it came out of a package with a little blue man with a dog by his side as the logo.

 

The problems in our society are not a mystery as to how they happened and the “fix” is really not that esoteric either.  The simple facts are that there is no easy fix.

 

To repair the problem one first has to identify where the problems started and reverse the trend.  Any pilot knows that when you get into trouble or off course or what have you the first thing is not some knee jerk response but, slow small course corrections.  

 

It still boggles my mind that we are where we are at and the AG makes such a lame statement on national TV.  The answer he says is to “give minorities a pass.  Don’t correct them as harshly as you would someone who is not a minority.”

 

There are two basic problems.  The breakdown of the family unit, (no dad around) and the schools have been neutered by those that feel that grading with red pens or reprimanding children or heaven forbid, spanking a child is just simply not done!  You might damage their self esteem!  The parents have gone as crazy by giving into their children’s empty threats of “give me my way or I will hurt myself, I will cut my self and then you will be sorry!”  “Oh ok honey, here is your iPhone back and I have upped your data plan, please don’t hurt yourself.”  Kids have taken “I will hold my breath” one step further to cutting or worse.  If they do this parents, they need more help than you can give them with your parenting skills, seek help!

 

Consistent boundary setting is a lost concept today.  “Explain to the “child” I really wish you wouldn’t do that because there will be consequences to your actions if you do but, that is your decision.  I am keeping the phone for X weeks as I told you, because you did not do what you were supposed to….” 

 

When you set their expectation that “if they do or don’t do” as the case may be the consequence will be X,Y,or Z than you must follow through each and every time.

 

The legal system is real good about setting boundaries for all of us in that if we speed, and get caught, we will get a ticket which cost us money, time and yes it could be embarrassing.

 

When I was in school if we did something that was even slightly egregious, it usually meant a visit to the dean, coach or principal which usually ended up with a few swats and depending upon the offence, may be followed up with after school detention.

 

If you check the charts of people in prison in this country today you will see that there is a direct correlation between that rise in prison population and this drive to neuter the teachers from disciplining your child!  There are 2.2 million people in prison in the US, 75K from non-violent drug offenses.  If you could do the math you would quickly see that we have made an industry out of housing inmates! 

 

Let’s take that one step further, of the people that are currently on the government dole, how many of them could have benefited from a little “course correction” in school?  There is such a thing as character, and I think that between missing dad’s or sperm donors; and the lack of programs for young people and quite frankly the “Stuff” that these teachers are forced to teach, you have the elements for the perfect storm of mediocrity and or “failure as a people.”

 

For instance, if we could re-direct some of that money currently going out to welfare or to house prisoners and put it towards the space program, we no doubt would have people living on MARS by now.  Instead we have to waste our precious resources housing prisoners and paying people not to work. 

 

How about educating those “Americans” that would like to learn, before worrying about educating illegal aliens?  This is not a diatribe against Hispanics or others who come here to have a better life; it is however a statement that those that are here “legally” should have fist shot and not the other way around as we are currently doing in Texas and Mr. Christie is proposing doing!

 

The goal of school is to turn out taxpayers.  School by definition is part of the process and tax payers invest in you, your children and so forth in hopes that you will be a productive citizen. While I doubt few get up in the morning and say, “today I want to be a better criminal,” there are probably some who do, and that is a real loss, not only for them but for all of society.

 

Give the schools the power to discipline all children equally.  That means make the course correction in a way that will get through to that child.  If the consequence is embarrassing and painful enough, the odds of the kid doing something to earn it again are much lower than if you simply throw them onto the street!  You were right about one thing MR AG… We need to show these kids that “we do love them and care for them, and one way you do that is by not sparing the rod!”

 

The numbers don’t lie and I am aghast that no one has put it together and done something about it.  So get out those red pens teachers!  Not everyone wins a trophy and some need to see a big red “F” to get their attention.  No child needs to be on the street or swept aside in some “program” that is indeed a pathway to prison.  Make some course corrections before it gets that far.  How about spending some of that money allocated for “prisons” on programs aimed at working with those families with “no dad at home.”

 

It is not rocket science MR Holder but, if we would take some steps now, just maybe we could get to teaching “rocket science” instead of “how to look innocent in a lineup.” What kids see at home today they will no doubt re-peat in their lives thus adding to the already growing prison populations, broken families and homes and “Detroits,” all over America!  Stop the madness!

 

Happy 2014!