It seems quite apparent to me that crime is rising, not only in numbers, but also in th types of crime which is occuring. I believe that there is a complete breakdown in our society. There are several reasons for it, but I would say very strongly that the biggest reason is the breakdown of education in this country.

When I think of the billions upon billions of dollars that are spent tin the war, I see red. No child left behind? Ha. All our children are being left behind. At one time, education was rated as the most important issue to make our country great. Now, schools have been stripped of all the subjects and teachers that would produce a superior, and well-rounded citizen. Gone are the arts. Some schools no longer have a librarian to assist students in making reading a life-long practice.

Other schools have no nurse! What is wrong with us? School is one place where germs have a perfect breeding ground. Students also have a tendency to get injured often. I would say that it doesn't take much thinking to see the lack of the school nurse is sheer idiocy.

Then there are the people who blindly assume that all public schools are providing equal opportunities and quality of education in all the schools. These people prefer to remain in deluded because it is more comfortable.

There is an extremely high correlation between lack of education and crime. And where do so many of these people end up? Jail and prisons. As people become more uneducated, our prisons are dangerously overloaded. Our brainy solution? Build more prisons. It would be much cheaper to educate our people, than it is to maintain them in prison, or to build more prisons.

While in jail or prison, there is no rehabilitation so that they don't keep returning to prison. We cannot warehouse people who have violated the laws, and ignore the cause behind their behavior. Because at some point, many will return to society. A high number of them will repeat their crime, often within a very short time after their release. So, everybody loses out over and over.

Then there are the gifted among us who will never learn that they were meant to be a musician, an artist, a writer, or any of the special categories of gifted people that are the yeast of our country.
We have become stale and flat. We have no heros to emulate. All the attention given to the likes of Paris Hilton is nauseating. It so well demonstrates how low we have sunk and the hollowness of our culture.

Meanwhile, crime is rising and with the our massive drug problem, crimes have become bizarre, and shocking. Married couples have forgotten that divorce is the way to end their relationship. Instead, murder of the spouse is all the rage; or hiring a hitman. Can it be that the reason is money, money, money? Never mind that the murdering parent has now left children without either parent. Selfish to the core.

When asked the reason for their crime, criminals offer astounding and souless answers. They stabbed someone for $5.00. They kidnapped a child, well, because they can't help themselves. The pervasive materialism in this country presents many of the so-called "reason" why they did what they did.

Of course, our white-collar criminals, while dressed so snazzy and smart; are even worse than the poor criminals. They know better, oh, so much better. So clever they are at bilking the public to the tune of huge amounts of other people's money and property.

Things will not change in this country until each and every one of us stands up for what is right. Check out your community. What can you do? Most importantly, what goes on in your home is the first plase to look and and make wise decisions that will your hourse a real home for your family. Here is where it all starts. And a big hurray for those who already involved, or becoming involved. Learning is a lifetime endeavor. It is learning not only of particular subjects, but especially about life. Learning is about making informed choices and navigating our lives. For the sake of having a future, we can do it.