Saturday, April 27, 2013

Abortion causes less crime?

This is something interesting that came up at break time yesterday. I and some of my colleagues were chatting, and my boss said he read something about that somewhere. He said that apparently, about 20-25 years ago, experts thought crime rates would be much higher now than they really are. However, despite the common perception that we live in such a fucked up world (which is completely justified, mind you), that's not the case. The reason for that is, apparently, that the 90s coincide with the social acceptance of abortion. This then leads to less unwanted pregnancies being carried out, which leads to less unwanted, unloved children, which leads to less situations that would drive one to a life of crime.

Of course, there's no way to prove that kind of thing for real, but it's still a very interesting theory regardless, if only because it makes logical sense. Heck, in America states that have a higher crime rate tend to be those where abortion is frowned upon...

6 comments:

  1. That's one of the most interesting correlations I've ever heard. Mostly because general knowledge of it (and it of course being true) could lead to the world being less stupid AND safer. I'd say that that's a win-win.

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  2. What? Anyway, I am afraid that those bloody conservative bastards will be all, "Ah, but it will be worth it if abortion ceases to be!" Like many issues, I am neutral on abortion. I find it wrong enough that I would recommend someone who can care for the child to do so...but I also believe in the free will of mankind. I mean, it really does not get us far in a good way, but brainwashing everyone to follow one leader that is not brainwashed (someone at random is reprogrammed into a new leader when the old one dies) is just begging for said leader to make one mistake. Do you know how many ways there are for someone like that to commit mass genocide and make humanity extinct? A LOT!...

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  3. Also, there is genuine logic in what your boss said...

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  4. It is sad but true. We talked about this correlation in economics class.(Why this came up, I don't even know. Then again this the same class where we talk about strip clubs...) I really don't think abortion should be an option except for cases of rape or danger to the mother. Then again,getting rid of would-be criminals before they are born is a definite plus even if it mean getting rid of the small percent that wouldn't grow up to live those kinds of lives. But that just my 2 cents. I think every one should get chance to live, but if those who we let live are going to go into the world and take lives away, I guess it evens out.

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    1. I certainly don't think we should think of it as 'getting rid of future criminals'. A baby is not predetermined to be a criminal before it is born. The data merely says that children growing up in an environment where they were not initially wanted are in one of the worst psychological positions they could be in, and that leads towards crime, statistically.

      All evidence does point towards this being true, of course. It's not just the problem of not being wanted, but also the fact that most abortions occur in low-income families, and being poor is another thing that statistically makes you more likely to be a criminal.

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    2. To be fair, both aren't entirely mutually exclusive. With the abhorrent costs of raising a child, it goes without saying that poor people would be more likely to avoid going down that road.

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