A Republican who understands the importance of cities...

[Obama 2012 1,714]

I agree. Of course, it's safe for a child to walk to school in my town.

I was having lunch with coworkers a few days ago and one guy, middle aged paranoid type who watches too much cable news, says something to the effect of, "who goes to parks anymore? just pedophiles! my kids have never been to a park."

Of course, his tirade goes unanswered because, really, who has time for that? I'm sitting there thinking about how I was at the park with my wife the day before and it was full of people. Normal people with their clothes on minding their own business Joggers, kids throwing a ball around, couples hogging the few benches, old people just taking in the sunlight because who knows they may die tomorrow...

It is amusing. One of my friend's sister won't let her kids play outside if she's not right there to watch them the whole time. - Walking to school would never happen, and even letting them stay at a friends house over night is out of the question as well... She has the full paranoia that something bad is going to happen if they are let out of her sight.

[Heracles 417]

A lot of that fear is media induced.

I'd let my kids walk to school today, the same way I walked to school as well.

It's all paranoia bullshit.

Funny you should say that because the other week there was an attempted kidnapping in the area and another a week or so prior to that. I can without a doubt say that personal safety is a big issue in the US. A hell of a lot of people go missing and there is not a damn thing that can be done because everything proactive breaches some sort of privacy. Personally, I advocate that every public street have Camera surveillance on it, and store a few days of footage.

First thing my wife noticed in Aus was all of the people out and kids playing in the neighborhood without adult supervision. Whereas, you have to lock your kids inside here period.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Funny you should say that because the other week there was an attempted kidnapping in the area and another a week or so prior to that. I can without a doubt say that personal safety is a big issue in the US. A hell of a lot of people go missing and there is not a damn thing that can be done because everything proactive breaches some sort of privacy. Personally, I advocate that every public street have Camera surveillance on it, and store a few days of footage.

First thing my wife noticed in Aus was all of the people out and kids playing in the neighborhood without adult supervision. Whereas, you have to lock your kids inside here period.

Media induced.

Paranoid people do this, unless maybe you live in a crime ridden ghetto....

[Heracles 417]

I agree. Of course, it's safe for a child to walk to school in my town.

I was having lunch with coworkers a few days ago and one guy, middle aged paranoid type who watches too much cable news, says something to the effect of, "who goes to parks anymore? just pedophiles! my kids have never been to a park."

Of course, his tirade goes unanswered because, really, who has time for that? I'm sitting there thinking about how I was at the park with my wife the day before and it was full of people. Normal people with their clothes on minding their own business Joggers, kids throwing a ball around, couples hogging the few benches, old people just taking in the sunlight because who knows they may die tomorrow...

He's not wrong. I can count one one hand how many people were reported missing or attacked in a park in a city of 4 million over 10 years. Whereas 10 fold such cases have been reported in parks in the city here over a year.

Sorry guys but America in general is not safe. Once again, you have to travel abroad to see the difference so you can notice it. Australia foe example only has 22% of the countries homicide rate per capita.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Funny you should say that because the other week there was an attempted kidnapping in the area and another a week or so prior to that. I can without a doubt say that personal safety is a big issue in the US. A hell of a lot of people go missing and there is not a damn thing that can be done because everything proactive breaches some sort of privacy. Personally, I advocate that every public street have Camera surveillance on it, and store a few days of footage.

First thing my wife noticed in Aus was all of the people out and kids playing in the neighborhood without adult supervision. Whereas, you have to lock your kids inside here period.

I don't see it like that, even here in L.A.. I live in Palos Verdes and see kids out at the park all the time. I have family that lives in a bad neighborhood in Boyle Heights, and you see the same thing there. Although in Boyle Heights, when it gets dark, it's not a good idea to stay at the park.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

First thing my wife noticed in Aus was all of the people out and kids playing in the neighborhood without adult supervision. Whereas, you have to lock your kids inside here period.

That's bullѕhit. Plenty of kids play outdoors in my neighborhood without supervision.

[Heracles 417]

Media induced.

Paranoid people do this, unless maybe you live in a crime ridden ghetto....

So the media is reporting these kids missing is it? I am also not talking countrywide here just on a per city basis. Like it or not, the country did not earn the nickname abroad of United States of Crime for nothing.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

He's not wrong.

As a blanket statement, yes, he is wrong.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

He's not wrong. I can count one one hand how many people were reported missing or attacked in a park in a city of 4 million over 10 years. Whereas 10 fold such cases have been reported in parks in the city here over a year.

Sorry guys but America in general is not safe. Once again, you have to travel abroad to see the difference so you can notice it. Australia foe example only has 22% of the countries homicide rate per capita.

oh come on...

307,000,000 people, some things are bound to go stupid.

but generally not safe? Cmon now, get a grip.

I go running at night and feel safe as can be. Never worry about a thing.

[Heracles 417]

That's bullѕhit. Plenty of kids play outdoors in my neighborhood without supervision.

Next you are going to tell me NJ has a low homicide rate too.

[Heracles 417]

oh come on...

307,000,000 people, some things are bound to go stupid.

but generally not safe? Cmon now, get a grip.

I go running at night and feel safe as can be. Never worry about a thing.

Are you for real? How can you deny the US high crime rate when compared to every other first world country?

Dude per capita (per 100,000) Aus has 78% less Homicides than the US. How can you then claim the crime is overblown?

Does the US have no-go zones? Yes or No. Are there places you cannot go at night? Yes or No. Sorry but neither such places exist in any Australian major city.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Next you are going to tell me NJ has a low homicide rate too.

Where I live, yeah. Not a homicide in this town in years.

[Heracles 417]

There is something else I need to add to the list of fundamental issue: denial.

Why do people here insist on deny anything, particularly the experiences of those who have lived in other first world countries and under different system?

Where I live, yeah. Not a homicide in this town in years.

You did say there are a lot of Indians in your town. They're not exactly renowned for crime. Which is interesting considering some on here have claimed socioeconomics has a lot to do with crime, rather than culture. Don't exactly see too many Indian kids gang banging.

Edited May 6, 2010 by Booyah!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

You did say there are a lot of Indians in your town. They're not exactly renowned for crime.

The Indian population here is estimated at 15-25% (the census will confirm the exact count). The black population is estimated at slightly less with the rest being mostly white and hispanic. The conventional wisdom is that diverse areas can't be safe. The conventional wisdom is wrong.

[Heracles 417]

I understand though, 1/4 of the country has passports so by God when someone says the country is the best and Americans are living the dream, everyone just believes it; rather than actually live in any other first world country. Unfortunately reality and the condition of so many cities and states does not support this belief.

As I said earlier, nothing will change until leaders actually travel and see it for themselves. Until then, people will simply continue to beat on about the country being the envy of the world.

So you either do more of what this guy is proposing and once again lead in quality of life, as you did between the 50 and 60s, or you deny it and allow all cities to end up a Detroit.