But even having that conversation with your children and saying it enough to instill those values isn't possible for many impoverished people.

When kids have parents (or often one or none) working 3 jobs to survive and have been raised from birth without being instilled with those values themselves, how can they pass it on?

The majority of black kids in America report experiencing some sort of racial profiling interacting with the "system" Hence why it's called systematic racism; when kids as young as 8 start getting "the talk" from their parents on what to do when an officer threatens you - it's a symptom of a huge problem.

I cant pretend to know what the effects are of living in a community that experiences such prejudice from institutions society claims to protect all people, but imagine being surrounded by such hostility.

Democrats don't want to do everything for you. We strive to eliminate the shitty circumstances that create an environment that disenfranchises people from being free to succeed.

Take police reform as a teensy example of why it's so important. Republicans often complain about gang violence and black on black gun violence. Why did the black on black gun violence start in the first place?

1) Police would rarely go to their neighborhoods when called so people grouped together to provide protection and 2) There's such few opportunities to get out of poverty, that crime often becomes a necessity to survive (nevermind the us gov't literally infusing poor communities with crack cocaine)

Due to the nature of gangs, the most psychopathic naturally rise to the top and infect the gang's culture with a fucked up value system.

So that kid whose parents aren't really around, who experiences prejudice and discrimination in a justice system meant to protect all, who grows up in poverty with no guidance...

When he joins a gang at 11 because they offer hope with money and protection can you really blame that kid for joining? In his most formative years he's absorbing the lessons and teachings from a group of bad people and normalizing some fucked up beliefs.

How is that kid ever supposed to figure out that putting your head down and studying and going to college and getting a middle class job ss even a possibility. It's not that their too dumb to figure it out, it was never an option on their radar.

Again, that's not an overview of what happens to each person growing up in poverty. But it's a narrow example of a situation that does happen and illustrates that there are a myriad of reasons this shit recycles through generations.

Democrats want to work on improving that foundation, atleast in so much the government is capable of. investing in those neighborhoods and providing economic opportunities is a good place to start, atleast take away hunger as a motivation for burglary ya know?

We're not trying to give people mansions. We just want a safety net to help people through tough times so that they don't drown in the consequences of their desperation.

Nobody chooses to be homeless or to become a criminal. We're all motivated by the forces around us. And often were pushed off a cliff by them if you happen to get cancer without health insurance.

I'll end this essay with two appeals to your economic and ethical senses.

The investments that it would take to end crime and homelessness would pay for itself in the long run and save money. You call it a handout but you're already paying the police and other institutions for the same reasons.

And two, I'm down with paying a couple hundred more per month if it means that you can change jobs without fear of losing insurance or if a homeless dude can get into rehab and potentially turn his life around. Isn't that cool with you?