> Because one side wants to treat the underlying causes, which it sees as poverty, inequality, lack of good education, and lack of opportunities Well hold on,

> Because one side wants to treat the underlying causes, which it sees as poverty, inequality, lack of good education, and lack of opportunities Well hold on, you're leaving out one critical component. That same side will -- in the face of certain demographics committing the overwhelming about of street crime (like said shoplifting) -- do things like eliminate cash bail, increase the threshold for felony shoplifting, and the like in order to not "destroy minority lives" by throwing them in jail despite repeated violations. There is such a thing as TOO MUCH compassion, but I'm not sure if SF has figured that out yet.