Chicago violence off the spotlight for now

It will be a GOOD day for Chicago if no one shot to death. Even pre-teen kids got shot down if appear wrong place at wrong time. It is not all gangs you know.

Everyone says this must stop. But everyone is just helpless.

Trump says send in the Feds (where are they?). Yes, if you send tanks all over totalitarian style military in every corner I am sure that crime will stop for a bit... but who is going to pay for them?

Some say don't send in the Feds as that money should be used somewhere else. Other things in news have eclipsed the dire need to do something about this. Gun Control? useless. People writing a column or two about it? Useless? (sorry I am doing just that).

Some say the the root cause... is poverty, when you have high unemployment rate and in poverty you have nothing better to do than to shoot each other. Ok, so the answer is... jobs and education... and even some tutoring. Waita minute schools are all over but you guys don't study. "Stop a bullet with a job" is what they say. But without skills what kind of jobs can you get?

Ok talk is easy. Where is the money? That's when everyone go shrug and people continue to die.

When I look at news about people willing to pay huge price to hear President Obama's speech live... when I see people paying a fortune to see Cubs game and stuff... I think there ARE money out there!

Here is an idea: have a yuuuge rally for peace. Cubs! Blackhawks! Chicago stars like Jordan, Obama come talk. Get some influential singers to sing. Spread a huge message for peace. Arrange some dancing/singing/whatever performance from Chicago Public schools! Spread the positive message of education. Start a big fund, create some actual jobs from that money... like turn street wanderers into basketball trainers, into skillful people who can remodel falling-apart homes, into car mechanics, chefs, etc. Get way from the streets and do something useful... The positive messages will be mind changing. That education/job training fund can last at least for a while. Trump the billionaire can donate a few millions if he cares Chicago that much.

It won't be long before somebody else shot dead next. How can you be sure you won't get hit by the next stray bullet?

The hopeless future of this administration

There has never been so much controversy about presidents nominating the cabinets. Usually people nominated are somewhat qualified and they get confirmed by Congress no problem at all. In fact I usually have no idea who is holding what post.

But you just cannot hide from the news coverage of Betsy Devos and her grizzly bear comment. Now has there ever been actual grizzly bear attack on Wyoming students?

For more explanation of why she is not qualified, see https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/07/opinion/betsy-devos-teaches-the-value-of-ignorance.html for example.

Why does she even want this job? She must be qualified to do other things... such as funding Republicans.

Republicans has majority... unfortunately not enough Republicans voted otherwise (just 2) and that required the Vice President to do the historic tie breaking vote. It seems like it is now meaningless to vote. Republicans get what they want.

Do the 50 Republicans believe she is actually qualified for this job? Or they just go with whoever Trump picks. Or they will approve whoever that gives them money.

This administration is getting hopeless. I am not too surprised. And yet, some people still think Trump is going to make America great.