This is the type of idealistic thinking that ends up destroying society. Crime and poverty are correlated, not causated. You can never totally eliminate crime without necessarily excluding certain demographics of people.
People have an overly simplistic view, which basically amounts to “I don’t understand why people commit crime, because I would never commit crime. Therefore, there must be some external factor driving people to commit crime! I’ll just eliminate this factor (in this case, poverty), and crime will disappear!”
Obviously this is not the case. There are many factors that are relevant to inducing crime, not least of which is personal choice and a lack of accountability. Culture (arguably the biggest), mental health, IQ, worldview, weak penalties/enforcement, and many others all contribute to crime.
The most immediate and effective way to deal with crime is to have clear policies, steep penalties, and strict enforcement. There are many ways to help treat the underlying issues, which can and should be pursued, without compromising on the laws and their enforcement.
Here's a fast set of things that will reduce crimes of desperation by a large degree: Create a system where people aren't one missed paycheck from being homeless and hungry. Allow people to have easy, guaranteed access to healthcare, so that the stress of being ill isn't compounded by having to fight to actually receive treatment, and face bankruptcy if a profit-taking entity decides they "don't need it".
Yes, because they live in poorer societies. A person's ability to improve their life through crime is only relevant in societies with large wealth inequalities.
There ARE still prescriptions for getting ahead: do well in school and become an MD is a sure fire way of pulling down $250K a year. The poorer one is, the less it costs to become an MD, ya just have to study one's ass off for a decade.
Crime is just an immediate method of getting ahead right now. And street crime has a very poor long term payback status. Paper crime has a much better payoff, but again has a longer investment time....which few wish to do.
It is better to look at as a democratic but winner take all "tournament" in richer countries.
The barriers to competing for an equal chance at wealth is very close to zero and very democratic.
Example:
anybody can post to YouTube*, be a sensation, and be a multi-millionaire somewhat overnight. The odds are low, but they are as EQUAL as life can possibly get.
anybody can upload their music to Spotify* and become a millionaire overnight.
anybody can go run in the park and try and beat Usain's record and also become a millionaire overnight.
Or play video game competitions (mostly free) and become fairly rich and fameuos.
There are teenagers that have become millionaires never leaving their bedroom. There are so many ways to get rich nowadays, Everybody can compete, but there are few winners...
This was never possible when I was a kid, I had to go work at McDonalds just to eat on a daily basis. The odds of getting rich in ones bedroom prior to the 2000's was plain zero.
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u/GuitarsAndFitness 3d ago
This is the type of idealistic thinking that ends up destroying society. Crime and poverty are correlated, not causated. You can never totally eliminate crime without necessarily excluding certain demographics of people.
People have an overly simplistic view, which basically amounts to “I don’t understand why people commit crime, because I would never commit crime. Therefore, there must be some external factor driving people to commit crime! I’ll just eliminate this factor (in this case, poverty), and crime will disappear!”
Obviously this is not the case. There are many factors that are relevant to inducing crime, not least of which is personal choice and a lack of accountability. Culture (arguably the biggest), mental health, IQ, worldview, weak penalties/enforcement, and many others all contribute to crime.
The most immediate and effective way to deal with crime is to have clear policies, steep penalties, and strict enforcement. There are many ways to help treat the underlying issues, which can and should be pursued, without compromising on the laws and their enforcement.