Jeff Dorris

Jeff Dorris is the Editor of the Delta Dunklin Democrat

Editorial

Blaming is not the answer

Saturday, February 27, 2021

Since the shootings at the Kennett American Legion occurred, I have been inundated with phone calls, emails and texts concerning the incident.

Almost all of them involve blame.

Who’s to blame?

Citizens are demanding answers.

There’s a lot of finger pointing going on folks, but I’m here to tell you that blaming is not the answer.

We don’t need a scapegoat.

Blaming other people means never having to say you’re sorry.

Blaming is about serving judgement on other people.

That’s not the answer.

The problem is much more dire than gun control or security issues.

All parties involved should, indeed, take their share of responsibility, and work towards a solution.

However, this is not a Legion problem, a police problem, or any number of hotbed political issues you throw at it.

It’s a cancer.

A cancer on modern American culture. There’s nothing unique about these shootings.

These streets are no different than St. Louis, Memphis, or any other metropolitan area.

We’re just a smaller demographic.

Crime happens. It happens here in our communities. It will continue to happen.

It’s a cancer.

A cancer that consists of too much anger, too many drugs, too many broken and dysfunctional families, too much poverty, and too little hope.

Until these conditions change you can bet the police will stay busy responding to shots fired calls.

The culture should be the conversation, not the blame.

See you out there.

More from this columnist · Jeff Dorris

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"A cancer that consists of too much anger, too many drugs, too many broken and dysfunctional families, too much poverty, and too little hope."

Very well said. However, on the main page, you have a poll asking opinions on raising the minimum wage. Although not many have responded, the vote is running about 2 to 1 against raising the minimum wage to $15/hour.

How do you reconcile the issue of poverty, yet desire to keep wages low? The fact of the matter is, even a $12 minimum wage will not suffice to lift many people in Kennett out of poverty.

As it stands, a minimum wage job is a 3rd rate job. Additional assistance via welfare or charity will be needed, at the very least from time to time, for a minimum wage worker to "make it." This effectively forces the government to indirectly subsidize these companies via welfare to their employees. There is a term for that -- socialism.

Kennett is somehow going to have to reduce the crime and poverty. Companies look at statistics like this when relocating, or placing a new location. They also look at the quality of workforce available, the culture, etc. Kennett will have problems competing on this turf, unless these items are improved. Kennett had this at one time, and over time, lost it.

How that can be done, I honestly don't know any ready answers. Possibly seeking outside assistance with the crime and drug problem and workforce development. Also, Kennett is going to have to somehow entice employers who pay living wages, not minimum wages. Employers of quality, not take-the-money-and-run companies.

-- Posted by JD-Kennett on Sun, Feb 28, 2021, at 9:28 AM

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