Times have definitely changed. In my 57 years I've never seen crime this bad. The poor economy and lack of employment is forcing some people to do things in an effort to survive. People just take what isn't theirs and others be damned. People killing people for little or no reason.

When I was growing up, I lived in the projects of Hartford, CT (Bowles Park). We would sit out on the front steps till all hours of the night with our neighbors. Do that in this life, and you're sure to get a bullet in your head. We, as kids, could take our bikes and as long as we were home by dinner, my parents didn't worry. And you better be where you say you are, or you paid dearly for it when you did get home. There doesn't seem to be any structure in these times either. Didn't have to worry about drive-bys, kids getting abducted, home invasions. I shake my head in sheer disappointment. Not even the cops can handle things like they used to. It's pitiful.

Don't even get me started about parental guidance, cuz I don't think it exists in this day and age. I got spanked when I did something wrong and I turned out okay (still in therapy but alive and well, thank you very much). Do that nowdays and the kids call DCF.

I feel bad for my kid and her kids. I'll be long gone before anything (if at all) changes. It's highly unlikely.