Opinions about Current Events: Baltimore and the Failure of Progressives

Baltimore and the Failure of Progressism

By Rick Adamson

7.7.15

Baltimore is a city of 600,000, 63 percent of which at African American. In 1970 the population was closer to 900,000. So, for one reason or another 1/3 of its population has moved on to other places.

Crime has long been a problem and it has been labeled “body bag city” by some. It ranks in the top 3 most violent cities in the country.

Unlike Ferguson, Mo., the government reflects the makeup of the population in terms of race; the Mayor is African American as is the police chief and local prosecutor. City council is mostly African American.

Democratic progressives have held the Mayor’s office since 1967 and have been evenly divided between whites and African Americans. The current Mayor and her predecessor are African American women.

So, let’s eliminate the white folks as being the problem.

24% of the population lives below poverty level vs. 14.5% for the Country as a whole. Per capita income is about $24,750 for Baltimore whereas it is $51,971 for Maryland and $42,693 for the US. There are a significant number of folks receiving public assistance.

Baltimore has long been recognized as a problem community and, as a result, much effort and money has been sent its way in order to help improve living conditions. For example, $1.8 Billion from the 2009 stimulus program was allocated to Baltimore.

Children under perform in schools despite elaborate funding. Baltimore spends $17,329 per student per year compare to $14,000 for Maryland and $11,000 for the Country. FedGov contributes 20% of the $17,329 each year compared to 12% for the Country as a whole.

What does all this extra spending produce? In 2013, according to the Department of Education, only 16 percent of the eighth graders in the Baltimore City Public Schools scored at or above grade-level proficient in the NAEP reading test. That same year, only 13 percent of the eighth graders in the Baltimore City Public Schools scored at or above grade-level proficient in math.

Unemployment is 8.2% in Baltimore, 5.3% in Maryland and 5.4% in the Country as a whole.

Thirty-eight people have been killed in the body bag city so far this month (May 2015), the deadliest in 15 years for a city still recovering from the protests surrounding the death of Freddie Gray. The increase comes as arrests in May are down 56% compared with last year. Shootings over Memorial Day Weekend amounted to 28.

The Obama administration announced that more gun laws will somehow reduce these numbers; while due to the very strict current gun laws in Maryland only criminals have guns - illegal guns (correction, illegally processed guns as most guns in and of themselves are not illegal).

By any measure Baltimore is a failure. So what’s the problem? There seems to be lots of money. Could it be that the Democratic/progressive/socialistic approach isn’t working? They have been in charge for 48 years and see what a mess they have made?

I would like to see a five year plan developed by the local politico’s showing what they plan to do to turn the city around. One which includes more than the standard single entry - more money - from you and me. I submit that they cannot come up with one because it would involve aggressive police action, vouchers for better schools and cultural intervention (training in how not to be poor, and the importance of personal responsibility and character). These types of activities cost votes when people believe the status quo is better than having to put forth effort to make positive changes.

I predict that when we look at Baltimore in 5 years it will look pretty much the same because the progressives have no real interest in improving the lives of the folks. They like the poverty and dependency upon the State – it makes the folks easier to control. However, FedGov will probably be providing the policing and even more for money for schools because as more people move out there will less and less local tax revenue to pay the bills. It is possible that it could turn into a de- facto Federal city – like Washington, D.C. What an improvement that would be! LOL

They need to wake up! There has got to be a better way. The progressive approach has not worked.

For more perspective check out these articles from TheWeek magazine

http://theweek.com/articles/553789/broken-promise and

https://docs.google.com/document/d/13nOsa-eKZR501uT-5yuJiiyXCWP74GKxKEN-AQ5ilcI/edit?usp=sharing

And That's that!