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10.16.2014

Inequality Alive and Well circa BAD2014

Treatment of Ferguson and St.Louis Residents is a perfect example of 






Inequality alive and well circa 2014.


 Webster Dictionary Defines Inequality as:

  "an unfair situation in which some people have more rights or better opportunities than other people"
Blog Action Day Inequality The treatment of my fellow St.Louisans is the perfect example of Inequality Scotty
The treatment of my fellow St.Louisans is the perfect example of Inequality Scotty  
#BAD2014, #blogactionday, #Education, #Ferguson, #Inequality 

 Even CBS news broadcasted and touched on the inequalities the Residents of Ferguson have been forced to endure.


Published on Oct 13, 2014

Vladimir Duthiers looks at what's changed -- and what hasn't -- since the fatal police shooting of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. last July.

           I feel after living a few years in the civilly deprived and racially divided  North City region of StLouis.

              I have a basic understanding of what has lead up to the ongoing conflict between the Ferguson Residents and the Ferguson County Police Department.
              The overall cause of the attitudes of my St.Louis Neighbors is basically a feeling of being 
alienated by society that controls a system which is rigged against the little man.  

     Just like a Gambler knows:

"The House always holds the winning hand...

      The disenfranchised youth feel the Deck is always stacked against them.  And its the
 ...Ferguson Court House who holds the Winning hand."    
  
    NPR
  • distrust of police that has fueled protests in Ferguson, Mo., consider this: In 2013, the municipal court in Ferguson — a city of 21,135 people — issued 32,975 arrest warrants for nonviolent offenses
    NPR
  • The ArchCity Defenders report argues that this resentment is justified. Last year, Ferguson collected $2.6 million in court fines and fees...second-biggest source of income of the $20 million it collected.  
  • NYT-The unrest served to highlight longstanding complaints by a predominantly black community that they were being harassed by the police. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/09/us/ferguson-council-looks-to-improve-community-relations-with-police.html
            
             It is abundantly clear, the Ferguson Court System levies out: harsh penalties and fines for non-violent offenses which starts the perpetual revolving jail-door of interaction and incarceration within the court system and its jails.


St.Louis PD Adds Fuel to the fire



         The killings of unarmed black kids has continued to spread in the St.Louis Region- the latest incident happened in the Shaw Neighborhood when an unarmed black youth- Myers was shot numerous times by an moonlighting St.Louis Police Officer.


                One thing I've observed while living in regions of St.Louis in various socalled hoods by the locals is the number of unemployed people trying just to get by in todays society.
"47 percent of the metro area’s African-American men between ages 16 and 24 are unemployed." Washington Post



               If I can point my finger at the one issue that is causing the high unemployment  rate among minorities: the lack of education has to rank pretty high on my list for the number one area needed for improvement.  

               The above statement comes from my experience-performing construction work in the hood.  I've noticed that many times the people that will stop by a construction job site and inquire about "Work"-are unable to read a tape measure.  (Which is a must have skill needed to work on 90% of the construction jobs I perform for my St.Louis Neighbors.)

                I don't exactly remember when I learned how to read a ruler.  But I do know I learned it in School.  
     "If the St.Louis regional area cannot even teach the next generation these basic education principles-then we are to blame and utterly responsible for failing to provide and give the youth a fighting chance to make it in the World."


           I believe it was Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens Linebacker and future Pro Bowl Inductee who coined the phrase:
  
"We must Fix this House"

The house the people of St.Louis should put on the top of the list to Fix is the School House.

           Its painfully obvious the Foundation of the Schoolhouse is cracked  and unless repairs are made. The St.Louis region could come tumbling down-just like what happens to the abandoned and neglected homes that are scattered around the city!

            Education is like the Mortar in the Rock Foundation of a St.Louis Brick Home.  When its missing like in the first photo 
Photo of missing Mortar-Stone Foundation




or when discord is allowed to grow like this tree root second and third photos
Tree Growing in Brick Wall



Getting to the Root of the Problem



You are in immediate danger of your entire home collapsing onto itself just like this home in North City
Photo Courtesy of Vanishing STL http://vanishingstl.blogspot.com
Photo Courtesy of Vanishing STL 


Just like a Rock Foundation in a home can be repaired.  So can too the failing education system in St.Louis.  I envision a 3 step process to repair the St.Louis failing education system. 
Step 1: Repair Mortar in Education System
Step 1
                  Just like I replaced the Mortar in the above picture is representative of how educational resources  can fill in the voids lacking in the current failing education system. 
Step 2: Apply Water Proofing-Skills that Education Represent
 Step 2
                  The waterproofing on this Stone Foundation Repair represents the skills that education gives to the youth of St.Louis.  (Waterproofing slows and eliminates leaks and water damage.) The same principles that a quality education will give the youth.  Stopping and Eliminating the Leaks that an under-educated life will bring.
Step 3: Show Your Foundations New Strengths to the World!

Step 3
          Just as the foundation repair project in the above brick home will continue to support the St.Louis Brick Building for the next 200 years.  

 Is exactly what a quality education will give to the Youth of St.Louis- 
Providing them a fighting chance that all the youth deserve and are desperately needed for a fully functioning society...this will also provide the younger generations the tools needed to live in harmony with todays society.  

     An Education is the Foundation that a Successful Life is Built upon.
October 2014, Scotty   



Russell Brand in the interview below in the Oct 13, 2014 Interview on David Letterman has a unique way of bringing his message to the viewers.  Mr Brand touches on the #Inequality of the poor vs wealthy and the revolving door of our Political system and the ties of Wall Street vs Mainstream America-

  • skip to the 6:28 spot to listen to this part of the interview- 
  • the first 6 minutes are spent discussing how he overcame his addictions to alcohol and drugs.





The End Part 1 on Inequality in America

Thank You for stopping by-Share and Comment below. If additional information in needed or you have a question let me know. Together we can make a difference.





Interesting TidBits on the Ferguson Region

  • Black alone - 13,753 (64.9%)
  • White alone - 6,494 (30.6%)
  • Two or more races - 437 (2.1%)
  • Asian alone - 263 (1.2%)
  • Hispanic - 156 (0.7%)
  • American Indian alone - 34 (0.2%)
  • Other race alone - 45 (0.2%)
  • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone - 23 (0.1%)
Ferguson races chart
http://www.city-data.com/city/Ferguson-Missouri.html
Web Links from Wiki Links on Inequality: 
In healthcare:
In economics:
In the social sciences:

Also From Webster:
 in·equal·i·ty
 noun \ˌi-ni-ˈkwä-lə-tē\





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