Does poverty really cause crime?
Posted by admin on Apr.06, 2010, under Rich Mp3
What I mean is, crime in its true form is when you intentionally do something. If you are starving then it is out of desperation and usually has no relation with the psychological profile of the criminal. However look at the US and the rich nations. We have drug, rape, pedo crimes on the rise with the US being the richest and having a grossly larger crime rate than any other developed nation in the world. So then could it be that actually wealth causes a criminal mindset rather than poverty? In rich nations there is no reason to be a criminal so you are doing it willingly! Perhaps then there needs to be more control over wealth than we have thought. Removal of the need to work often causes people to lose meaning in life and strive to be better herein lies the drugs etc… As it says, the Devil finds work for idle hands. Don’t you agree? The rich US has a higher crime rate than China under Mao. Says something don’t it? Incidentally the crime is in fact higher now that China is richer
You are forgetting that although the US in itself may be rich, a lot of people are getting wages that equal to or just below the poverty line which equals crime.
Plus with crime there are usually other factors to consider, it’s never just about money.
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April 6th, 2010 on 4:51 pm
You are forgetting that although the US in itself may be rich, a lot of people are getting wages that equal to or just below the poverty line which equals crime.
Plus with crime there are usually other factors to consider, it’s never just about money.
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April 6th, 2010 on 5:41 pm
Where you from geezer? What’s with all these rants!?
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April 6th, 2010 on 5:50 pm
not always…sometimes it can be because of greed. i once met a woman who unfortunatly would teach her OWN DAUGHTER! how to steal money, and they weren’t poor, just extremley greedy and wanted to get what they wanted without working for it…i got $500 stolen from them (i had proof) …and they denied the WHOLE THING..but what goes around comes around..
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personal experience
April 6th, 2010 on 5:58 pm
inequality causes crime rather than wealth
when people live next to riches and have none
so if everyone has near the same then greed and need isn’t present in the same amounts, so it would explain china
the bigger the divide the bigger the crimes I feel and in Brazil where the favelas ( ghettos ) of the poor is right next to the rich houses and really on black people live there and if your black people treat you differently so you can’t get good work
if the love of money and striving after it ( which doesn’t necessarily mean you have it) rather than concentrating on the family, so that parents work long hours, and children are left to grow up themselves and there is no real family so the friend of the children become their family support when people need help or guidance they don’t find it as the relationships people had with neighbors aren’t there..
so stealing from a stranger is easier
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April 6th, 2010 on 6:17 pm
Hi, having worked with people in UK who are on low incomes, out of work, in social housing etc for the last 25 years my observations are as follows:
Values – these are gained as a child, from those adults around you. With good role models kids can be sure of a level start in life. I say level and not better start – as with any values you have been exposed to – you also need to figure in the ones you choose as a young person / adult – here you get to move up or down. Peer pressure can lead to negative values becoming the norm – hence seemingly ‘good kids from good families’ go off track. By comparison, ‘bad kids from bad families’ can adopt positive values as a young adult and lift themselves above what they have known and step into a brave new world [these are the kids who need support from alternative positive role models - sports leaders, church, youth workers etc]
Poverty in the UK – just stop and ask yourself of the ‘poor people’ you know – do they have TV, mobile phone, eat takeaways, do they have pets, wear jewellery, drink alcohol?
To define poverty you should ask yourself what is a human basic need – these are often described as shelter, food, warmth, clothing, companionship – well in all my experiences over 25 years I have met very few poor people who lacked these things.
The majority of people who use the ‘poverty’ badge are choosing the lifestyle they have. They often have the luxuries of modern day living above feeding their kids properly, the number of times a well dressed single mum has stood in front of me and said she can’t pay her rent to avoid eviction of her family, or the ‘disability claimant’ who can’t ever work again – yet spends hours fixing cars in his back yard [for mates of course] I know of severely disabled people [car accidents etc] who have refused to be restricted in life by their disability – they choose not to wear the ‘poor me’ badge.
When you work for so long with these issues you can become hardened to individuals stories – not me. I see human beings who have made choices and some of their choices are poor ones, others make amazingly good choices and really make a difference in their own and other peoples lives.
I have met over the years – people with little money – who give time to local kids. Listening to them, arranging activities, raising moeny by going cap in hand to local businesses, people who once they have started keep going as they can’t let the people they are making a difference to down. I have seen communities lifted through the power of one! I have seen ‘bad kids’ turn into role models and lead youth teams themselves.
Crime is a separate issue to poverty – to be criminal is a choice that anyone from any background can make. It is often that the choice to be drug dependant, to be financially insecure, to want something so bad you would do anything to get it – when linked to values, accountability and personal pride – seems to make sense to them. In their world on that day the crime they choose to commit – is ok for them.
Victims of crime – I have had elderly people give up their homes to live with family or in a nursing home because a thief stole from them, in worst cases some have died a few weeks afterwards – for a theft of £20. I know of a young family who stood up to criminals, they had their home firebombed on whilst their kids slept upstairs. They ended up leaving their home to start again, disturbing their family support and schooling – why because other neighbours kept their curtains shut tight whilst all the intimidation went on in their own street.
I suppose I will close with – everyone has choices in life – make sure you make good ones and where possible allow those you live with, work with, play with – make good decisions too.
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April 6th, 2010 on 6:42 pm
Poverty itself could never be a cause of crime.Poor criminals living in a rich society are the cause.People without morals or concious who develope a liking for expensive things like fashion and drugs have no qualms about stealing from others.People who make a lot of money from fraud and drugs are prepared to shoot and stab people who get in their way. Of course the figures are highest in the rich countries.Thats where all the money circulates.
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