>>If so you are talking about 8% of the population destroying the country.<<
No, not destroying the country. Just causing problems a lot more than they are now.
>>Second, the underclass is isolated in pockets inside large urban areas. Because they lack job skills there is no industry around them further isolating them from society. <<
Large urban areas? And where do you think most people live and work? Ever seen downtown Seattle after about 6:30 pm? Women try to get out of town before that.
>>Third, the fear of a growing underclass doesn’t make sense. As a % of the population Blacks are less than they were after the Civil War. IOW, their numbers aren’t growing. <<
Valid point, but it is not really that simple. It is not a raw numbers game.
>>Finally, as more and more middle class Blacks succeed it will further isolate those that insist on being in the underclass because alternatives exist.<<
As the article points out, this is assuming a significant economic downturn - like we seem to be seeing unfold around us. When this happens, we will have fewer and fewer middle class blacks. Heck, we’ll have fewer and fewer middle clasee anythings, which is also part of what exacerbates the problem.
But time will tell. Let’s see where we sit in February.
I disagree. Most of those that become gangsters, criminals, or drug addicts end up in prison. After about age 35 the job working at the car wash doesn't look so bad if they get out.
Large urban areas? And where do you think most people live and work? Ever seen downtown Seattle after about 6:30 pm? Women try to get out of town before that.
As those areas gentrify, the police presence increases and the underclass is moved to abandoned areas because the cost of living there is affordable for them. IOW, they are isolated.
As the article points out, this is assuming a significant economic downturn - like we seem to be seeing unfold around us.
Why didn't crime shoot through the ceiling during the great depression? During that period there was 25-30% unemployment and yet crime did not change dramatically. I think it was because we held to our Christian values in large part. The risk of crime exploding is probably more a product of our society becoming more and more secular.
BTW, we are not even in a recession. The last qtr had 3.3% growth! The shift in jobs and skills is a never ending process that creates a lot of stress, especially for those that are responsible.