|
|
| How Health Care Reform Could Combat Crime |
| By newsweek.com |
| Published: 09/14/2009 |
|
Twenty years ago, crime was a major political issue. Crime in the United States was four times higher in 1990 than it had been in 1960. Americans murdered each other at four times the rate of Canadians. Willie Horton, a Massachusetts prisoner who committed a horrible crime while on furlough, helped sink Michael Dukakis's 1988 presidential campaign. Today, the once potent issue for Republicans has been neutralized in national politics. We have half as much crime now as we did 15 years ago, and President Clinton's crime bill can claim partial credit for that drop. Crime is what one Democratic strategist calls a "jump ball issue" between the parties, with neither having decisive advantage. But crime still exacts a terrible toll and the fear of crime continues to shape cities and suburbs. Businesses, and families who can afford it, flee the high-crime zones, leaving behind a lot of hapless prey, a few predators, and almost no jobs. The U.S. still has two-and-a-half times as much crime per person as it did in 1960, and our homicide rate still stands out from the rest of the developed world. We spend $200 billion on the criminal-justice system, have 2.3 million prisoners. Budgets are at the breaking point, with fiscally strapped cities laying off police. Read More. |
MARKETPLACE search vendors | advanced search
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
|
Comments:
No comments have been posted for this article.
Login to let us know what you think