European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 05, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday february 1994 commentary the stars and stripes Page 13 time we tried som it h i n g n new with Cri m i no is Washington mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly asked a question following the exe cution style murder of a . Police offi cer what could we have done to have such a world like this that on a daily basis we see Beautiful Young people like police officer Jason White lost to the violence Kelly s question ought not to be considered rhetorical because those of her Liber Al political per suasion have done to Cal Thomas create the climate in which crime is rapidly becoming the no. 1 concern of everyone. Liberals have offered excuses for crime ignoring the need to redeem the soul of the criminal. They often think that improving a criminal s living conditions will make him less Likely to break the Law. Conserva Tives on the other hand Aren t much bet Ter at crime busting. They be locked up More criminals but have not reduced their number. Nor has the number of crimes declined in proportion to the number of people going to prison. There Are three times As Many peo ple in prison today As there were in the 1960s, but violent crime has also in creased 560 percent according to Justice department figures. Will building More prisons and sentencing violent offenders to longer terms reduce crime no More than sex education taught without values has reduced unwanted pregnancies abortions and sexually transmitted diseases. Despite evidence that programs and posturing of the past by Ooton left and right have not gotten to the Root of crime we re hearing More of the same voices we be heard before. After a meeting organized by Jesse Jackson that discussed Black on Black crime Many participants including those associated with the con Gressional Black caucus trotted out the old canard that poverty is the major cause of crime. If that were True everyone who is poor would be a criminal. But most poor people Black and White Are Law abiding. Some conservatives Are suggesting Tough \