| I notice that many people feel that poverty has a bearing on crime and yet statistics from the 20th century where the majority of people were poor show a steady increase of crime from that period to this. In fact, in the UK alone, crime rates have risen over 412% in the last 70 years at a time when the average wealth of individuals has risen exponentially. This is taking into account the population increase so it cannot be explained by a growth in population.
The comments about community and the break down of families seems to be the most noticable difference in communities over that period. I do not think that poverty is an overwhelming factor. Take the pacific islands, the bulk of the population is extremely poor by our standards and yet their crime rates are low excepting those crimes that are considered cultural in those communities. There community spirit and level of involvment is high and their family structure is strong and supportive.
By creating a welfare state, do we not remove family from the equation and therefore place reliance on the state. This break down of community leads to alienation which leads to uncaring individuals who commit crime because they do not feel they are hurting anyone important.
A further question for you all...........Do you think crime is a lifestyle choice? Do people choose to commit crimes?
You have two choices in life:
You can stay single and be miserable,
Or get married and wish you were dead. |