Quote:
Originally Posted by Vexx
The problems in the US are NOT related to the type of weapons used - people find amazing creative ways to kill each other. We have deeper systemic societal problems that if addressed would go much farther in reducing crime/violence. Actually as it is, violent crime has dropped dramatically in the last 20 years (keeping hardcases behind bars til they're too old to be asses seems to have done some good). Spread across 300 million people puts it far below, say, automotive deaths.
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If
Freakonomics is to be believed, the reduction of crime in the United States during the 1990s was due, at least partly, to the legalisation of abortion in the 1970s. I think the authors, Steven Levitt and John Donohue, make an interesting point.
So, how is this related to anything that Obama is doing right now? Not directly, perhaps, but tangentially, yes. Improving and rebuilding neglected infrastructure may help improve urban environments and eventually reduce crime, promote education and attract jobs — on a macroeconomic scale. Much of the actual work will still need to be carried out on state and county levels. Local leadership will have the most direct impact on how effective this massive stimulus package will turn out to be.
Hopefully, it wouldn't all be spent on useless pork.