Much of the routine trade and investment between China and America is entirely appropriate and in America’s interest. But inserting the Chinese Communist Party into America’s pay-to-play system and its economic development strategy isn’t just crossing a line. It’s a leap into an abyss of stupidity.
I understand this may not be the most sensitive way to look at the statistics, but 115000 adult gang members – 5 percent of the population – has to really negatively impact economic productivity- especially if the externalities these gang members generate are somehow measured. It makes me wonder just how many we’ll off productive people (125k and above?) exist to pay off Chicago’s debts. I can envision someone saying gang members pay taxes,but I don’t see it.
Gangs culture to many areas of the south side is akin to Cubs culture to many areas of the north side. Its omnipresent, no matter where you go, it’s always there, one way or another. The gangs are smaller and less structured now that the main guys are all in prison. Most of these murders on the street are adults under 30 shooting at rival ‘gang’ members, when the ‘gang’ is no more than a loose affiliation of people who all affiliate with a larger structure, and they all get their drugs from the cartels to distribute.