[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

This is where it starts to get really complicated though Kirk. You're right, it IS greed rather than need, but that's not the whole story. Also to claim that there's no link between the wealth levels in an area an crime is simply false; it's not an opinion, the statistics speak for themselves. Lower average income = higher crime in an area, and this has been the case throughout history.

But no its not need. Even if you take drugs out of the equation (need/greed with drugs I guess is a WHOLE other debate), you have to look at the question, why are people so greedy? And the answer for me is, our world is set up for greed. Our world is ALL about consumerism, and many people are just spiritually void... We're constantly hammered with advertising, both overt and subliminal, that says "you need X! You NEED Y! You REALLY REALLY need Z!" - most of it crap that no one actually needs. But that combined with this toxic consumerist idea that "the more flashy stuff you have, the better you are doing in life" creates real issues.

Take people who are down and out and miserable (for a whole HOST of reasons, but often sue to hopelessness) and tell them that they'll feel better if they have more "stuff", and you end up with dejected, morally depleted people who just want to "take stuff".

Again like the other thread... It's not really bleeding heart. I don't want to scoop these little cherubs up and give 'em a hug or anything like that. I just know that logically, the best way to tackle crime is to try to find out why people become criminals in the first place and nip it in the bud, rather than waiting until they're already on the streets carrying weapons and then try to tackle it there. Realistically, by that point its too late,you can stop them hurting someone today but when it comes down to it, that is still a violent PERSON willing to hurt other people for their own gain, and taking a knife away from them doesn't solve that problem.

^ A GREAT post, T.S - and I DO agree with a lot of your points.