Third part of my reaction to the NUL address
And as a result, violent crime in America is down by 21 percent during my administration…Property crime is down 13 percent.
Again, specific claims I haven't verified.
But there's more than just fighting crime. We need to help the 600,000 men and women who are being released from prison each year. I went to the Congress in my State of the Union, I talked about a prison reentry program. I said, put some money up to help these souls come out. Let's make sure we're the country of the second chance. Let's make sure people have got a chance to get an education and a job. Let's make sure there's -- if need be, let's make sure there's church families available to welcome a person back in community. And so this prison reentry program is a vital part of making sure America is a safe country.
But we haven't done that, have we? What we have done is accrue 25% of the world's prison population by passing laws preventing them from getting out under any circumstances. This is the least cost effective way of dealing with crime.
The RAND Corporation found that every dollar spent on treatment to control cocaine saves $7.48 on reduced crime and regained productivity, a far greater return per dollar than any other interdiction strategy.
The Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) found that drug treatment in prison yields a benefit of between $1.91 and $2.69 for every dollar spent. Drug courts yielded a benefit of $2.83 for every dollar spent. The biggest success was drug treatment outside of prison — typically work release facilities. Such programs yielded $8.87 of benefit for every dollar spent.
The Drug Treatment Alternative to Prison (DTAP) program in Brooklyn, New York, reduced recidivism and drug use and increased the likelihood of finding legal employment. The cost of the two year community based treatment program was half the cost of a two year prison term – $32,974 for treatment and job training compared to $64,338 for prison. DTAP participants had arrest rates that were 26% lower two years after leaving the program than those of a matched comparison group two years after leaving prison. DTAP participants are 67% less likely to return to prison than the comparison group leaving prison.
Progress for this country, for African Americans, and all Americans, depends on the full protection of civil rights and equality before the law. My administration and its Justice Department has vigorously enforced the civil rights laws.
…by declaring your opposition to every plan intended to address the legacy of slavery.
The Civil Rights Division has opened a federal investigation into the murder of Emmett Till.
I'm already on record as considering this a symbolic gesture of little importance.
I'm the first President of the United States to ban racial profiling in federal law enforcement.
In light of several posts I've seen at Foreign Dispatches and Minority Report, this is pretty laughable.
And to serve the cause of justice on the bench, the federal bench, I have nominated outstanding men and women to the courts, including six superbly qualified African Americans for the courts of appeal and 11 for district courts.
Okay.
Now if you pay attention, you'll see all this:
Progress for African Americans and for all Americans depends on driving the drugs out of our neighborhoods. We put forth a comprehensive approach. We're doing everything we can to interdict drugs so they don't make it into the country in the first place. We have encouraged faith-based programs to help change hearts so people change habits. (Applause.) We've got money directed at the people who need the most help, which are the addicts of America -- an intensive, focused, real effort to save lives.
But we're also working to reduce demand in the country. It's a community effort. We're bringing together all aspects of the community organizations to say to our youngsters, don't use those drugs. And we're making progress. From 2001 to 2003, youth drug use has declined by 11 percent. We're headed in the right direction. We're saying to our kids, be responsible with your bodies, be responsible with your behavior, and you have a chance to understand the great promise of America. It's a vital effort. This isn't a Republican cause or a Democrat cause; this is a community cause, this is an American cause and it's important to work together. (Applause.)
Progress for all our citizens, including African Americans, depends on the spirit of compassion for others. Government can hand out money, but it cannot put hope in a person's heart or a sense of purpose in a person's lives. And we'll have the traditional programs of help, the safety nets. They're there. And that's an important part of federal funding. But I strongly believe the federal government must welcome programs of faith into the compassionate delivery of help and service to those who hurt. (Applause.)
My community and faith-based initiative recognizes the true strength of this country is in the hearts and souls of our citizens; that we recognize that oftentimes there's -- a change of heart will change behavior and governments can't change hearts. That changes when somebody who has heard a universal call to love a neighbor, puts their arm around somebody who hurts and says, I love you brother, I love you sister, what can I do to help you on your walk so your life is improved. (Applause.) This community and faith-based initiative is a vital part of this administration's program to help save lives.
…as set-up for this:
We've opened up federal grants to the faith community for the first time.
… was rendered meaningless by this:
I shouldn't say "for the first time."
…which means this:
Most vigorously, let me put it to you that way.
should put you on your guard. What's changed? The distribution of a shrinking pie to organizations that once were ineligible because they would have run afoul of federal regulations that forbade religious discrimination.
And so now we've had over a billion dollars go out the door to faith-based programs, programs all aimed at serving America by saving lives. And it makes sense. It just makes sense. It makes sense to tap into the great strength and spirit of the country.
The Associated Black Charities of Baltimore, ask them what it's like to be a partner with the federal government. Or the Black Ministerial Alliance in Boston. Or the Metro Denver Black Church Initiative. These are all initiatives, all aimed at saying to somebody: the future is better for you, somebody loves you, we care, and we're going to help you. We're going to help mentor you, we'll save you from drugs and alcohol. We'll do everything in our power to save America one soul at a time.
The Associated Black Charities started in 1985. The Black Ministerial Alliance began in the 1960s. The Metro Denver Black Church started in 1992. Obviously none of these organizations needed the freedom to discriminate Bush's "faith-based" friends want
