By ALLEN FARLEY / Guest Columnist

Today, nobody wants to stand up and identify “Evil.” (Heck, we can’t even identify who’s accountable for a decline in a public school’s graduation rate). So, (just between you and me), do you think there could be a connection between our growing problems of violence, alcohol and drug addiction, homeless children, failing schools, overcrowded state prisons and “Evil” I believe Satan himself, a master politician, is working a very shrewd and clever plan. (The Politics of Evil).
Ephesians 6:12 states: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
In communities where we consistently track problems with school drop-outs and violence, there are often common denominators. (Too often). If a community has obvious sighs of poverty, then you can too often connect a lack of education, alcohol and drug addiction, single parent families and an atmosphere conducive to criminal activity. (If this community atmosphere doesn’t result in incarceration, it will often result in homelessness). It’s a darkness that’s slowly moving across Alabama communities and trapping more Alabama families every year. (It has nothing to do with our court’s sentencing structure).
Historically, our poorer communities have primarily filled our state prisons. However, increasingly, we are seeing members of other communities loosing their jobs and turning to criminal activity to support their families and their addictions. How long will “The Politics of Evil”, continue to draw our attention away from the connection between poverty, addiction, violence, overcrowded prisons and homelessness. (It’s not racial, it’s The Politics of Evil).
Ephesians 6:13 states Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
God Bless America!!!
Allen Farley represents Jefferson and Shelby Counties in the Alabama Legislature’s House District 15. His email address is allenfarley@bellsouth.net.