3 ms·

Thanks for the thoughtful discourse. I do see your point. I also think that there are practical questions about whether, broadly speaking, police are not taking

Thanks for the thoughtful discourse. I do see your point. I also think that there are practical questions about whether, broadly speaking, police are not taking enough actions that they should be taking or whether they are taking too many actions that they shouldn’t be taking. Although there are several highly publicized incidents in the latter category (and I wholeheartedly agree it should be illegal for police to racially discriminate or use unwarranted force), it’s also true that these days most people can’t walk a few blocks in San Francisco after dark without worrying about their safety. Both sides of the coin are problematic, both should be fixed. These issues are challenging and too easily politicized; I think the country would be well served with less instinctual, black-and-white reactions and more balanced discourse.

phone8675309 3y ago
I think, in general, we spend too much time allocating resources to punishing people (for it is punishment - the prison system does not reform) rather than resolving the actual issues that lead them to behave the way that they do. Obviously, we need a balance between enforcement and abatement - I'm not saying we should stop enforcing laws - but I think the balance is way off. One of the things that I don't see discussed very often is how most criminals, aside from those who have mental illnesses that compel them to action, act rationally in the moment when they commit a crime while that logic is foreign to someone not in their situation.
- highfrequency 3y ago
  I see. What do you think are low-hanging fruit projects to help resolve the underlying issues? I am generally aware of education initiatives, unemployment insurance, needle exchange programs etc. but the effectiveness does not seem great. But I think you have better understanding here - what should we be doing better that you think would actually work well? I don’t think our prison system is very cost effective, but it does a reasonable job of creating strong negative incentives for a wide range of crimes in the general population.

phone8675309 3y ago

I think, in general, we spend too much time allocating resources to punishing people (for it is punishment - the prison system does not reform) rather than resolving the actual issues that lead them to behave the way that they do. Obviously, we need a balance between enforcement and abatement - I'm not saying we should stop enforcing laws - but I think the balance is way off. One of the things that I don't see discussed very often is how most criminals, aside from those who have mental illnesses that compel them to action, act rationally in the moment when they commit a crime while that logic is foreign to someone not in their situation.

highfrequency 3y ago
I see. What do you think are low-hanging fruit projects to help resolve the underlying issues? I am generally aware of education initiatives, unemployment insurance, needle exchange programs etc. but the effectiveness does not seem great. But I think you have better understanding here - what should we be doing better that you think would actually work well? I don’t think our prison system is very cost effective, but it does a reasonable job of creating strong negative incentives for a wide range of crimes in the general population.