Once again, New Orleans has reclaimed the unwanted title of the nation’s murder capital.  The FBI released its statistics this week and after losing this title for a year, it’s found itself at the top yet again.  With 64 killings per 100,000 people, it comes in well ahead of St. Louis, in second place, with 47 murders per 100,000.

No city wants this title, but New Orleans has had an especially tough time over the past several years.

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Hurricane Katrina’s devastating effects remain, both on a physical and psychological level, unemployment rates have never recovered and are still incredibly high and of course, poverty runs rampant in one of the most beautiful and historical cities this country has to offer.

2008 looked promising for the city.  Murder rates were down nearly 15% at the end of the year with a total of 179.  That was a decrease of 31 murders from 2007.  Hopes were high as the city struggled to move forward, despite its violent reputation.  The fact populations numbers were on the rise, even as the murders were declining only added to that hope.

2008 also brought an increase in the number of police officers on the city’s force and with that, city officials were hoping for a continued trend in the decrease.  Unfortunately, that simply didn’t pan out and now, once again, leaders struggle to not only understand why, but how they can begin to see those numbers decrease.

As time moves forward, so does progress as this southern city works to reestablish its court systems.  New buildings are still being constructed four years after Katrina and new infrastructures are being developed as well.  Hopefully, with federal funding and a continued commitment among the residents and police officials, New Orleans can finally shed its unwanted title and can work to become a favorite vacation or retirement area.  For those who’ve never visited New Orleans, you owe it to yourselves to see the historic cemeteries, churches and other landmarks.  And, too, you’ve not lived until you’ve survived a night on Bourbon Street and witnessed the personalities and charm that makes New Orleans…well, New Orleans.

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Poverty is best defined as those who experience a shortage of food, shelter, access to medical attention and even clothing.  Unfortunately, too many people in America live in poverty.  Even worse is the number of programs currently available that fall short, despite monumental efforts made by selfless people who volunteer their time on a daily basis to offset the increasing numbers of Americans who fall into the federal government’s guidelines of poverty.

Even in the current economic times, we are living in one of the wealthiest countries in the world.  Our resources are unlimited, our technological advances are mind-boggling and the numbers of us who contribute portions of our salaries in an attempt to do our part continue to rise; yet even with the countless numbers of shelters, food banks and clothing banks, still the numbers continue to rise.

It’s estimated nearly 37 million Americans are living in poverty this very minute.  The latest census statistics show a population of just over 306 million.  That’s over 10% of Americans who don’t have enough to ensure their children are eating nutritious meals, who can’t provide adequate homes for their families and who may be living with medical conditions that if go unchecked, could result in dire health consequences.

Job losses, foreclosures, lower wages and a multitude of other social problems are all contributing to this crisis.  The fact is, people are trying.  Once the vicious cycle sets up and a series of unthinkable events begin to happen, it’s almost as though a domino effect happens.  Now, there are more dominos that are falling.  Food and clothing banks as well as homeless shelters are all feeling the pain of the recession too.  This means precious few resources available to help those who are attempting to pick up the pieces of their lives.

Maybe the solutions lie within each of us, not so much as in a collective sense, but maybe what each of us can do in our own way and in our own day to day lives.  Some of the most successful stories we hear   are a result of those who make a phone call to their local electric company and ask to make a payment to a family that seems to find itself on the cut-off list each month.  There are stories of anonymous phone calls that have served as the gateway for a small business owner who needs a trustworthy carpenter and an out of work carpenter who has a family to support.  These two people might never have known of the other had a single phone call not been made.  We hear of food baskets being delivered to doorsteps with nothing more than a knock on the door to announce its arrival during the holidays; but when did it become acceptable for this to be a holiday-only tradition?  Hunger doesn’t make the distinction in holidays versus the remaining days of the year.  Stories of mortgage payments miraculously being made that keep a single mother and her children in their home aren’t uncommon either.  Is it really this simple?  Will small efforts such as these be what ultimately turn this country around? One thing’s for sure; we won’t know until we try.  Foreclosures don’t occur if payments are made, electricity isn’t disconnected if the arrears are brought current and poverty can’t exist if there’s enough food available where it’s needed.

With so much going on in the world of politics, finances and American legal structures, we’ve heard words such as “recession”, and even phrases like, “Well, back during the days of the Depression…” Hopefully, things won’t get this despondent. Contrary to what some may believe, I don’t think we’re anywhere near a depression. Maybe a series of “blue days” would be a more apt description, for now anyway.

Still, though, I was interested in comparing the days of the Depression and the years prior that some say is the true beginning of what culminated into a near-decade decline. For the sake of uniformity, I’m using a general “pre-1940″ as my comp point with specific years within each reference.

*All figures come from US Census Bureau and BLS/PPI Government site

Even though there are some similarities, when you take a step back, you begin to realize many of these comparisons are indicative of society throughout the decades. Divorce, even though the rates were down, is as evident now as it was in the 1970s. Dropout rates are actually a bit better than they were in the early 1980s. Murder rates weren’t really any higher in the late 20s through the early 30s. Of course, robbery and theft was up for obvious reasons. On the other hand, a depression is defined as:

Deep extended slump in total business activity. Buying and selling drop, forcing a decline in production prices, incomes and employment.

Again, that statement can be applicable to many times even within our lifetimes. So, as bleak as the political and financial fronts seem to be, it’s not as discouraging as some insist, especially the ones who declare the sky is falling.

My guess is burglary, petty theft and misdemeanor charges for things such as a lack of automobile insurance and expired tags will be on the increase. Hopefully, the winds of change will begin to shift sooner rather than later.