Rather than following through on the proven crime and violence prevention techniques that work, we are back to tough-talking sound byte policies that have been proven to not only fail to reduce crime but actually increase crime, waste taxpayers' money and discriminate against minorities.

Studies have shown that inmate participation in education, vocational and job training, prison work skills development, drug abuse, mental health and other treatment programs, all reduce recidivism, significantly.

The promise of equal educational opportunity envisioned by the Brown decision remains unfulfilled.

Another example of the educational inequality is the current debate over publicly financed school vouchers which will provide educational opportunities to a privileged handful, but deprive public schools of desperately needed resources.

We can continue our progress as a Nation toward the promise that all people are created equal and that our Nation will treat every person in that spirit.

So, the struggle for equal educational opportunity continues.

Mandatory minimums have been shown to be discriminatory and waste the taxpayers' money.