Is the intensity of America's fear of crime and criminals unreasonable?

[jpgray]

Poll question: Is the intensity of America's fear of crime and criminals unreasonable?

[acmavm]

1. Yes and hell yes. This constant harrangue by those in power are driving

this country to pass laws as draconian as the laws the original European settlers came here to escape. The old Soviet Union is the closest example of what we are becoming.

Do you believe in putting family members in prison if they don't narc on each other about smoking a joint? That's just one example of what this country is coming to. If that law passes you will not have the luxury of trying to deal with what amounts to a personal problem (in some people's opinions), you will have to turn your son, daughter, mother, father, whoever in to the law. Or possibly face punishment yourself.

[jpgray]

2. Since only 1 in 500 people is a victim of violent crime in any given year

I think the fear is pretty unreasonable. For suburbanites especially, unreasoning fear of crime has to be about the most worthless emotion, and fear is such a potent political tool that this issue worries me a lot.

[Hubert Flottz]

3. No the fear is reasonable!

Crook Liars and Thieves are running our country!

[jpgray]

4. I suppose I mean fear of violent crime

People aren't nearly concerned enough about corporate/state crime.

[Hubert Flottz]

8. What could be a more violent crime than the Iraqi invasion and

occupation?

[Karenina]

11. Indeed.

:loveya:

[Zookeeper]

5. Yes! What's with all the big healthy men who are adamant...

that they need a handgun to protect themselves (and I'm not talking about city dwellers)? Minnesota passed a conceal and carry law a couple of years ago and I just couldn't get over the fear and paranoia of these suburban or rural, giant-SUV/pickup driving men. What a terrifying world they live in! What a bunch of wimps!

On the other hand, I am a woman who has lived, worked, walked, ridden public transportation in large cities with street crime and yet somehow managed to survive potentially dangerous situations without carrying a handgun. If I could defend myself as a 120 lb woman, what's the problem for an adult man?

[MichiDem]

9. This would be good info to share...

What kind of physical attacks did you survive? What kind of techniques
did you use to survive them?

I'm not into guns but at the same time I'm not into being a victim of a violent attack either.

[Toby109]

6. When the local news starts

every newscast with the latest criminal act instead of real news people are programmed to fear.

"If it bleeds, it leads".

[Lefty48197]

7. See Michael Moore's "Bowling for Columbine"

He talks a lot about fear in America.

[cynatnite]

14. After watching that movie....

A resounding yes. It's all about fear.

I did some thinking after watching the movie and I agree that fear is woven into our society to such a degree that it's provoked reactions that elevates the fear even more.

Watching Michael Moore open up the doors to people's homes and their attitude about it was so foreign to me. My hubby is a truck driver and when he's gone during the week I still sometimes get on edge by an innocent noise. I lock the doors, leave a dim light on in the living room and check on the kids at least three times before going to bed.

I would love to get rid of the damn fear because I don't think it does me any favors.

[yurbud]

10. more likely to die in a car accident than be murdered

and how much do people worry about the accident?

[amazona]

12. I doubt it

I've been shot at, threatened by knife, had someone break and enter to rob my home, sexual and physical abuse, and who knows what all minor assaults over the years. Maybe I'm cynical but I think if you're a woman, certainly you've been a victim of a violent crime and probably more than one. How much you want to make your whole life about being a victim is another question. Most of us pick up and go on. But crime is not a trivial issue for girls and women. I'd say it is pretty much a given.

Do you know an American who has not been touched by crime?

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[Karenina]

13. Well, major metropolitan areas

DO have well-earned reps. What cracks me up are the folks in Podunk worried to death about a "turrist attack."

[UdoKier]

15. You should have used the word "disproportionate"

It's reasonable to fear criminals and crime, but the hype on TV news and people's fear of crime is totally out of proportion to the real risk.


There is a wingnut thread on another site ridiculing this thread because they think it means DUers condone crime and expect people not to fear criminals at all.

It's amazingly how consistent they are in NOT GETTING IT.