Crime, Youth and Living Consciously

Connecting a couple of dots:

A valuable lesson learned through a hug-a-thug program:

"I don't have to try and be somebody because of my environment, I could try to step outside my environment and be who I am."

"Basically learning how to put yourself in a situation where you have to self-motivate yourself and not depend on other people to do that for you."

That, of course, is what the Political Right is advocating for; the difference is, they don't believe you can teach self-motivation, you have to find it in yourself.  There's no evidence for this; in fact, there is evidence for the contrary:

"If you're living in a poor neighbourhood deprived of options, there's a certain rationality to keep taking a drug that will give you some temporary pleasure." 

"The key factor is the environment."

Free your mind, and the body will follow...