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The argument for defunding the police (that I agree with) is that crime goes down when you address the root cause: poverty. The money spent on policing could mo
by slowin 2mo ago
The argument for defunding the police (that I agree with) is that crime goes down when you address the root cause: poverty. The money spent on policing could more effectively lower crime by being used for building healthier communities.
- tmp10423288442 2mo agoI just don't agree that poverty explains a lot of crime, particularly in developed nations. There's probably some explained by legitimate need, but a rational person would probably find welfare and other benefits easier to use and less risky. Some is due to "poverty", but really envy for luxuries that others have. I think the largest part is either due to being caught up in a bad social set, or straight up because they think crime is fine. Poverty doesn't cause this, at least not primarily - it's rather that personal characteristics such as lack of impulse control and high time preference lead to both poverty and a propensity to crime.
- slowin 2mo agoPoverty absolutely causes crime. Much crime is committed by the homeless for instance. People growing up in poverty also have many situations that can cause them to develop mental health issues.