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@richardmurray, while I understand the desire to focus on your own tribe, there is nothing inherently wrong with proselytizing if the overall intent is constructive. Another tribe may very well benefit from your ideas and insight. Your participation in this discussion forum could be exposing you to different ideas too. Ultimately, you will make your decision but it's something to consider before changing courses. 😎

We are in accord. I do not believe it is a Zero Sum Game...where there must be winners and losers - that is how it's presented not necessarily the true situation.. Since 2011, at least 22 states have closed or announced closures for 94 state prisons and juvenile facilities, resulting in the elimination of over 48,000 state prison beds1 and an estimated cost savings of over $345 million.2 The opportunity to downsize prison bed space has been brought about by declines in state prison populations as well as increasing challenges of managing older facilities. Reduced capacity has created the opportunity to repurpose closed prisons for a range of uses outside of the correctional system, including a movie studio, a distillery, and urban redevelopment. https://www.sentencingproject.org/reports/repurposing-new-beginnings-for-closed-prisons/ More than two decades later, those promises ring hollow in Tecumseh, where the 960-bed facility has become more burden than boon, adding to the city’s court costs while doing little to help the town’s economy grow. https://www.yahoo.com/now/small-towns-used-see-prisons-100013293.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAKMfohnAssqSx4cJTC7etHvjsZlpQfi5DJqwwfMErprA9XJzR-pltBgE2xYUGYJM6FmXuLoRxqiVSTS97Rci5v3_spGOs4WnQECvBpEcFKb6JcvSb-UzmGa9rJWwqowRwQ7kLI1lDsTWgCx2B6IS8E2chDkZkcm2rEkQlIvWdcED It is troubling because one of the purpose of civilization is to continually reduce or mitigate that which is considered bad in the human experience.

IMO, there is no need to reinvent the wheel for everything and/or start at a grassroots level. Starting a political party is an example. It only takes a few people with a vision/goal/agenda and a significant amount of money behind them to start a movement. To date, most 3rd political parties have rolled up into the main 2 political parties. That's because of money.😁 Former POTUS 45 had zero political experience at any level prior to joining the GOP and tossing his hat into the ring. His accomplishments up to that point had been shady businessman and reality TV personality. The qualifications to be POTUS are 1) natural-born citizen of the United States (US), 2) be at least 35 years old and 3) have been a US resident for 14 years. Dr. Cornel West is over-qualified for the job regardless of what he says or does. Sen. Bernie Sanders had lofty ideas that haven't been implemented in his home state of Vermont or anywhere else. The measurement of a politician is what they can do to secure the interests of their donors and constituents...in that order. The history of the United States is well documented. It would be a tall order for anyone to make America a more perfect union. That's *if* America even wanted it. Dr. West's concepts and ideas could be building blocks to a better society and shaped into policy *if* Americans wanted it. There's no shortage of *smart* people in America both inside and outside government capable of bringing a vision to fruition *if* America wants it. The reality is that America is a divided country with a sordid past. Regardless of politics, it will take more than one person to begin to right the wrongs and clean her up. But, I think it will take a non-politician to put America on the *right* track. Along with his intellect, knowledge and wisdom, Dr. West at least brings that voice to the table.😎