I love sociologists for thier ability to infiltrate people's lives... what Venkatesh did not sound unique, but it was illuminating nonetheless. What most struck me ,other than listening to Ferai say administer a beatdown to c-note, was Jay's mother's perspective. When I hear the terms violence and gangs I tend not to think of women. How does a mother respond to her son living such a dangerous lifestyle. I respect her for pushing Venkatesh to acknowledge all the perspectives.

Sent by Sheena | 5:44 PM ET | 02-27-2008

I frankly don't think it matters much. Drug dealing will go on as long as we continue the absurd "war on drugs," and it looks like that will be as far as the eye can see since no politician dares state the obvious: If you legalize/regulate drugs it takes the profit out of if for criminals.

Ending prohibition didn't abolish alcohol abuse; legalizing drugs won't end drug abuse. But legalizing alcohol did take the gangsters out of it and so would legalizing drugs. Obviously worth a try since the "war" has been going, uh, rather badly...

Paul - originalfaith.com

Sent by Paul Maurice Martin | 12:14 PM ET | 02-28-2008

BAD DAY FOR "KENYA" & AFRICA! -KENYA STOLEN ELECTION - AFRICA'S MURDER
Well the U.K. & U.S. have won the battle to keep the doddering old puppet "Kibaki" Regime in power to keep U.K. & "west" control and suppression of Kenya's industrialization. The U.K. puts Indian's and other groups in African countries to keep business and technical advancement out of the hands of Black Africans!! (to a large degree) Money and business is steered to these non-African groups by business and international company cabals. The UK &"west" uses this tactic all over Africa.

Now the UK and Western countries will have time to bribe and work-on opposition leader "Raila Odinga" while he is in a compromised split power sharing government of the puppet, meaning Africa's plundering facilitator for the "West" Kibaki..
These forces are keeping Kenya and Africa from industrialization purposely for and by the UK & Western countries as a "piggy bank" of valuable resources for the U.K, U.S, and Europe.

Note: (Also China is being turned into a power by U.S. money to get a foot-hold in Africa too.)
U.K. & "West" keeping "Cecil Rhodes" alive in Kenya/Africa through force deals like Kenya's, meaning not demanding Kibaki go! The UK. knows he stole election: UK/EU. monitored It!

Bad Terrible Day For Kenya and Africa!

prev~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SHAME!! BBC or U.S. Media will not say the "Kibaki" Regime,that stole election in Kenya should Go! Why? Because U.K. & West keeps Kenya and Africa from developing and in poverty through corrupt leaders like Kibaki. Then U.K./"West" screams: "Africa's corrupt!"

Yes, the U.K. & "West" depends on this Corruption to plunder Africa. .The U.K./west has installed these leaders through force and financial means. (and forget about UK /EU Arming Africans to stop Murder in Darfur. HA!) Black Africans are in the way of unrestrained plunder of Africa! UK & EU stopping Darfur murder: NO Way!

Where is your moral backbone UK & "West"! Say the illegal Kibaki Must Go!. The E.U. monitored stolen elections, & Kenyans. Kenyans elected Raila Odinga.

Sent by John Wright | 3:32 PM ET | 02-29-2008

Venkatesh did what many rising academic stars do, penetrate the exotic in order to line up a book deal and seal one's academic fate. Writer Alan Kurzweil puts in best: "What am I to you, Alexander Short, besides an opportunity to annotate, fodder for your abecedarian lust? The parasite living in my gut lives in yours as well. Make no mistake: all scribbling is theft."

Sent by lisa | 10:21 AM ET | 05-19-2008