Comments on: U.S. Murders And Robberies Increase Again

2001-2004 Lull In Crime Appears To Be Over; Justice Department Is Studying Why

[lanaabrams]

George Bush will send more troups to Iraq as a "last push" because this is
easier than doing the hard work of diplomacy. Because of his stubbornness
and his twisted view of what democracy means, he will never win the war on
terror. This administration%u2019s violent policy of preemptive war has created a
new American culture of fear and terror abroad and also right here %u2014
hence the rise in violent crime. The administration%u2019s message is to solve your
problems with violence and worry about the results later.

[jimibear]

I think that to blame the crime stats on Bush is looking at things the wrong way. The election of an adminstration of criminals headed by a retarded lunatic is much more a symptom of a society's ills than a cause.

I agree, though, that the appalling and sickening example of bullying and reveling in greed this disgrace of a government engages in can hardly make things better. But in a healthy society, these abominable people would never have been in power in the first place.

A people gets the government it deserves.

[gaye5]

companies spend millions of dollars on a few seconds advertising which obviously has such an effect on the public or else companies wouldnt continue to spend millions on advertising, yet the powers to be does not seem to make the connection or do not want to make the connection that if these stupid few second adds have such an effect influencing people to buy their products then what does hrs and hrs of violence, ***, murder and torture have on the adult population let alone children... and trust me , my husband who has been a teacher and principal for 40 years will tell you that over the last 30 years that parents let their children watch all sorts of horrific thing, so goodness knows what children watch on their very own personal TV till all hrs of the morning... We seem to have an ever increasing number of brainless parents who wont stop their children from watching these horrors, so we then have to regulate what is on TV to save the lives of people.
We are forced to wear seat belts, helmets on bikes etc to save lives, so why not TV. Yes good parents will not allow it but that still doesnt stop them getting murdered by those who do...

[jimibear]

"Crime has nothing to do with the objects available in a society;guns,movies,games,politicians or peers.It has everything to do with a lack of morals and a lack of belief in a higher power that is greater than you."

If in saying "a higher power" you include a belief in right and wrong as a guiding force in addition simply to a belief in God, I'm with you 100%. I don't believe you have to be religious to be moral; in fact, many times I think putting in the intellectual effort to establish your own beliefs may serve you better than having those beliefs told to you by others, whoever those others may be.

In any case, though, you're right. Not to sound like a fuddy-duddy, but the moral fiber of this society is in tatters, along with the educational system. Abd it's just getting worse with every excuse that's made for criminal behavior, every retarded "reality TV" show that lowers the national IQ another point, and every "have it all, have it now, even if you have to steal it" piece of advertising.

[randalds]

Lack of real leadership. A president that continuously flouts the law and flat out declares that it does not have to follow it. A president who committed the crime of lying to the American people, the congress and the world, which has led to the murder of hundreds of thousands of human beings. An administration that hands out no-bid contracts to friends and families that rob the American taxpayers of hundreds of billions of dollars.

This president and his minions have fostered the idea that you should steal what you can and kill anyone who gets in your way and that sh*it rolls down hill.

That's why it's much worse now then several years ago.

[jimibear]

"Gang members coming across the borders? That's just silly. People come across the borders for work and a better life, not to join gangs and commit crimes. How would they even belong to a gang in the U.S. if they are sneaking in from Mexico?"

Well, you might want to check your facts on some of this; the Latin Kings, Gangster Disciples, Crips, Bloods ... all have roots in either Mexican or Puerto Rican street gangs. Sorry to burst your PC bubble, but gang violence is 90% a black/hispanic problem. And yes, some Mexicans do come to this country specifically to become incolved in gangs, or are involved as drug "mules" before they get here. So it's hardly a ridiculous suggestion.

Really, if we want to solve the drug and gang problem, the only realistic solution is to do what they did in Holland: legalize the drugs and sell them as we do liquor. This would immediately put the gangs out of business, as their revenue depends on the drug trade. It would mean FDA control of drug quality, drastically reducing the instances of poisoning through cutting of drugs with rat poison, etc. It would mean that 75% or more of the DEA could be freed up for other duty. Since marijuana alone is the biggest cash crop in the country after wheat, it would also generate massive tax revenue, which could in turn fund meaningful, functional rehabilitation and skills training for addicts.

[fredcs25]

Crime has nothing to do with the objects available in a society;guns,movies,games,politicians or peers.It has everything to do with a lack of morals and a lack of belief in a higher power that is greater than you.

[BlueInWI]

I think there are three key factors leading to this rise in crime and violent crime:

1) the increasing gap between rich and poor and the stagnation or decline in real income for most Americans over the past 6 years. Those who always speak of the benefits of the 'ownership' society are those that are the owners - whether they earned the ownership or - in increasing numbers of late - inherited their 'success' and privilege ala GW.

2) the example our own country sets where violence and threats are the solution. Imposing one's will on others even if it leads to 'peripheral' casualties simply because we have the power to do so - we don't have to negotiate after all; because we have the most weapons :-(

3) Our leaders in industry and government increasingly appear to be out for themselves; even to the detriment of society. e.g. We can't worry about global warming, lead, mercury because it would hurt our economy if we did. We can't increase the minimum wage but we need to index the exemption for Estate Taxes based on COLA. etc. etc. etc.

Abu Ghraib, secret Prisons, arrests without habeas corpus. If our government isn't going to exemplify self-control, moderation, patience, dialog, fairness why should our citizens. Violence and power is the answer...

[jimibear]

Krannawitter, I agree with a lot of what you say. Certainly, the culture of consumerism with its constant emphasis on the material over the moral has a lot to answer for, as well as the devaluation of life and property through violence in various media. In fact, I'd even say that TV itself is a major player; with its ever-more-stupid filler between commercials, it's done serious damage to the cognitive function of a generation. (It's also simply made people much more stupid and less interesting, but that's another matter.)

However, your description of drugs and gang membership as functions of poverty is off-base, in my opinion. Those are personal choices. In fact, the removal of responsibility for personal choices is, I think, the single biggest contributor to increased crime. When you can commit a crime, justify it by saying "it's not my fault, society did it to me" and receive any other answer than derisive laughter, something is terribly askew with the way we judge right and wrong.

In fact, since most victims of both drug dealers and (often the same low-lifes) the despicable, evil thugs we call "gang-bangers" are poor, it seems to me that gang violence and drug use are causes of continued poverty, not symptoms. It's hard to better yourself if you are a crack addict or just afraid to leave your house because some worthless scumbag might shoot you.

[diverinnl]

krannawitter,

Those are great and valid points. Another to consider is the criminal justice system. The haves get the best defense that money can buy so their crimes, often plead down or out altogether, do not even roll into these statistics. I say we make all criminal defense attorneys court appointed thus giving everyone the same fair shake. Civil matters can be handled by private attorneys.