Kevin Drum channels Harvard Law professor Bill Stuntz on racial disparities in the criminal justice system.

Stuntz takes a crack at explaining this state of affairs and says "two points are key — and neither of them flows from white racism." Here's point #1: policing in urban neighborhoods is underfunded. And point #2: these same neighborhoods have lost the local control they used to have. "On every front, the power of poor city neighborhoods has declined, and the power of middle- and upper-class suburbs has risen."

Nothing new! It's not even about being black in itself. It's about being bottom of the pile where the ONCE might dollar reigned supreme. It's about being unchristian and selfish. It's about being capitalists. It's going to get worse and I'm not sure about ever getting better.

righthand I do enjoy your clips and just saw that your from my birthplace of dublin Ireland! I am visiting dublin next year! Happy easter my friend!...........Silvanaraihane

Great news, Silvanaraihane. I was born in Dublin and have lived my whole life in the historical village of Lusk in North County Dublin. We're on our 6th generation here now. Are you interested in historical data?

Carrerinyes is another Dub who has lived in the States but is back now in the Kingdom with her daughter. We're everywhere, but no invading. Ha ha. Is it long since you were last here?