Thread: Crime and its causes?

Alright then, since the 2nd Amendment thread, the knife thread, and the Imiator[sic] thread are all, in some fashion or other, addressing crime, I thought I'd start a nice fork where that could be discussed at greater length.

Specifically, what do you think the causes of crime are? There will be a poll attached shortly, but feel free to add and discuss.

I'm gonna go ahead and call it 85% financial and 15% cultural. Cultural, because in certain cultures the law seems less respected than in others, generally. Financially because poor people have less to lose. Their risk/ possible gain ratio is better. As either Aristotle or Socrates said, "society must fear the desperate man." seems to me people with nothing to lose can't be controlled anyhow. thoughts?

I think the root cause of crime lies beneath all of these as an issue of trust and integrity. All of the factors listed above are provocative in some way by presenting a false justification to commit crime though. Even though no factor by itself demands criminality, each factor is still influential because of other variables

I'd say a lot of crime is income related. A lot of people simply have no other options.

But imo upbringing counts for the most of crime. The saying goes 'It's always the parents' or 'Show me a bad kid and I'll show you the bad parents' This not always true, but from what I see (now that I have kids myself) 99% of the behavior of a kid stems from the lack of involvement of the parents (he's had a bad report?), from their apathy (whatever, kids will be kids) or from their willful blindness (my angel would never do that).

I know I have no moral base for this argument, but if I see how some parents raise and treat their kids, I think they shouldn't have been allowed to have them in the first place.

I would have to respectfully disagree with finances. True, it may have an influence but the root is cultural; read values.

I have met far too many honest, law-abiding broke people with integrity and too many dead-beat lothesome wealthy scum-bags.


Money (or the lack thereof) is a good excuse for behavior. The old saying "it takes a village to raise a child" is reflective of a criminal as well.

As for having options; an honest broke person with integrity and values dosen't tend to stay broke forever- they find options. And based on the values that were instilled in them, they don't see stealing or killing as a viable option.


v/r

Allen

"The root cause of crime is that for certain people, predation is a rational occupational choice."

Daniel D. Polsby


Eloquent and succinct!

Originally Posted by Brother Jeeter

"The root cause of crime is that for certain people, predation is a rational occupational choice."

Daniel D. Polsby


Eloquent and succinct!

And what causes that occupational choice? The love of money is the root of all evil.

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

The love of money is the root of all evil.

That's not an option on the list, try again!

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

And what causes that occupational choice? The love of money is the root of all evil.

uh... EVERY occupation is chosen because it brings the worker income... I mean, that's why it's a job and not a hobby, neh?

I said the LOVE of money, not the need, but since this is not one of the options on the poll I'll leave it alone.