Solving Youth Crime Requires More than Scare Tactics

This week, Stephen Harper's Conservative Government tried to solve the problem of youth crime in completely the wrong manner. Rather than addressing the root causes of youth crime, like poverty and a lack of affordable, high-quality youth programs, he has decided instead that the best way to solve the issue is to lock young offenders in prison.

Criminologists have said that jail does not act as a deterrent for young offenders who mostly commit crimes in the 'heat of the moment' spontaneously. Teenagers think differently than adults, and as such, they need to be treated differently than adults. Instead of recognizing this, the Conservative Government has decided to engage in fear-politics and scare voters into supporting their policies without logical regard to the facts of the matter.

Rather than more jail time, we need more alternative sentencing. Rather than locking children away behind bars, we need to engage in more dialogue. Rather than frightening Canadians into believing that youth crimes are lurking behind every corner, we need to increase support to unemployed and working-class Canadians. Unless we look at the reasons why teenagers commit crimes, we will never be able to solve the problem whatsoever.

It's time for Stephen Harper to come clean...

It's time for Stephen Harper to come clean to the Canadian public about what exactly he knows about the Schreiber-Mulroney allegations that have been in the media lately. As Prime Minister of Canada, it is his responsibility and his duty to publicly announce everything he knows about the whole affair and for how long he has known it.

This scandal has cast a dark shadow onto the Canadian government and we demand answers!

Tackling Poverty Should be a Priority for Canada

Last week, I saw that Stephane Dion released his plan on how to fight one of the greatest social problems we have here in Canada: poverty. I really think he ought to be commended for tackling this important issue and standing up on behalf of some of the most vulnerable Canadians.

His plan really focuses on those Canadians who are, regrettably, often overlooked by society and the government, particularly working class Canadians, seniors and children. I like that the plan is not aimed at handouts to the people but instead it helps make sure they aren't overlooked and we help them out of their dire situations.

I think it's especially shameful that in a country as rich as Canada, we have 3.4 million Canadians living in poverty, including 788,000 children (according to the CBC.ca story I read). Something must be done about this, and I strongly believe that Stephane Dion's leadership on this issue will really make a difference.

how small-minded can people be???

It never ceases to amaze me how stupid, intolerant, and small-minded some people are! How can any decent human being ever be so hurtful!

Just a few minutes ago, I was walking back from class to my res room and a homeless man came up to me and asked for some money so he could get a hot meal for the first time in a week. I gave him a couple of dollars, and then after I walked away I saw him ask a guy for the same thing. He just had this total look of disgust on his face, sneered at the man, and you'll never guess what he said... He said, "yes, I have money, but you're not getting a cent of it. If you really want some drug money, go get a job - although maybe you should have a shower first".

I can't believe that I actually heard that - I was so offended as a human being, and yelled at him for what he has said. he just shrugged his shoulders and told me I was such a stupid socialist! What a jerk!

I will never understand how someone could be so cruel to another human being, but then again, I will also never understand how someone could be conservative at all. Should we not care about one another in society? Should we not help those who are obviously less fortunate than we are?

I certainly think it's our responsibility.

First Post

So, I've had some other blogs before, but usually they were of a more personal and friends-related nature. I now feel that the time has come to use this medium to reach out about the political issues which are nearest and dearest to my heart.

I want a place where I can write freely about my beliefs without being made fun of. Many of my friends here at university are really conservative, and they never let me express my views without being shouted down and dismissed entirely. As a matter of fact, it's really like the singleminded and hostile type of attitude that Stephen Harper constantly displays. I guess all those Conservatives really are the same...