To stop gangs, call the Scouts

THE LOS ANGELES City Council recently paid $593,000 for a report on how to end the city's rising gang violence. The taxpayers didn't get their money's worth. The much-ballyhooed study, directed by civil rights attorney Connie Rice, makes a whopping 100 recommendations yet can't bring itself to mention the most important driver of gang involvement — family breakdown. "A Call to Action: A Case for a Comprehensive Solution to L.A.'s Gang Violence Epidemic" recycles all the failed nostrums from the war on poverty, such as government-created jobs, "life-skills training," "parenting education and support" and "crisis intervention." Since the 1960s, trillions of dollars have been spent on such programs without so much as making a dent in the underclass culture that gives rise to gangs. And these initiatives will never make a significant difference in that culture as long as the vast majority of young males in inner-city neighborhoods are raised without their fathers.

To be sure, plenty of heroic single mothers are bringing up law-abiding young men. But the evidence by now is overwhelming: Boys raised in fatherless homes, on average, are disproportionately likely to get involved in crime and fail in school. Without a strong paternal role model, these boys are vulnerable to the lure of macho gang culture as a surrogate for a father's authority.

-snip-

The city should encourage philanthropic institutions that make the cultivation of positive values their core mission. A brigade of Boy Scout troops throughout Boyle Heights and Watts would do more to teach boys the importance of persistence, hard work and respect for authority than 1,000 social service and gang-intervention workers ever could. By giving youth a positive moral code, the Scouts and similar civic groups can reclaim lives and replace gang culture with true achievement.

Good Post.

Scouting knows that it can make a contribution. http://www.scouting.org/media/reports/2003/scoutreach.html. Too bad the anti-religious socialists hate scouting so much.

Ironic that the Democrats demonized a homosexual in the Congress (Foley) for being a “sexual predator” even though he did not have sex with minors (contrary to the original reports that the media had in their mitts for a year) and then during all of the bruhaha they celebrated a deceased Democrat WHO DID engage in sex with a minor while in office. They championed him as a homosexual pioneer.

Their support of gay scout masters is one of politics, not principle.

Scouting makes a real difference in the lives of boys who have no strong paternal influence - I have seen it personally in the lives of my Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, many of whom did not have a father living at home.

I will never give a dime to the United Way ever again. My money goes directly to the Boy Scouts, and outside of the Salvation Army, it is one of the few organizations I actively support with my money and time.

Scouting works wonders!

I will never give a dime to the United Way

We converse again dandelion. NO QUESTION this org. (United Way) is liberal too the max.I wouldn’t give this group 10 cents if their lives depended on it !!!

People need to realize how completely useless United Way is. Nothing but a money-sucking middle man. Give your money directly to your choice of charities, and United Way goes away, as it should. It is nothing but a self-serving parasite.

I wonder how many people who give to the United Way realize how much corruption they have been involved in? Their group has been indicted a number of times for embezzlement and I DO believe they’re tied in with the United Nations in a number of scams !!!

Did they mention allowing the police department to arrest known gang members who are illegal aliens BEFORE they kill, rob or assault others? Remember that being here illegally IS A CRIME in itself????????

Did they also mention that you shouldnt fire or penalize members of the LAPD for doing their job if you want gangs and crime reduced???

Not likely.

and the advertisment by Google is so appropo;

Ads by Google

Facing a Criminal Charge?
Superior Legal Representation You Can Trust. Call: (602) 510-9999
www.TandVlaw.com

Think Your Baby Is Cute?
Judged by Professional Agents Submit Your Babies Photo & Win Cash
www.TheCuteKid.com

Gang Violence
Top Deals for Gang Violence Compare and choose top websites!
www.misterseeker.com

Boarding School for Boys
Agape Boarding School in Missouri A Home for Troubled Teenaged Boys
agapeboardingschool.org

Outraged Patriots
Had Enough of Illegal Immigration? Make Congress Stop Illegal Aliens
www.OutragedPatriots.com

I made the same decision to contribute directly to the Scouts and rip up the United Way stuff they sent around the office. I did that the year that United Way decided to pull support from the Scouts. When I first hired on with Pacific Telephone, the district manager was trying to make points with his boss by have a large participation in United Way. He literally called people into his office and demanded that they sign a 1% of gross donation to United Way. You couldn't leave his office without making the donation or resigning your employment. A real, genuine asshole.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.