Muse
Lifer
People think it's easy to give up but it isn't true. It's very difficult to give up.Not much anymore to make you feel optimistic in our direction. 2024 will be a nightmare.
It's like millions are just giving up on civilization.
People think it's easy to give up but it isn't true. It's very difficult to give up.Not much anymore to make you feel optimistic in our direction. 2024 will be a nightmare.
It's like millions are just giving up on civilization.
So what's changed? Why do we suddenly have roving bands of thieves raiding stores? Why are car break-ins up 700% in SF?10 years ago I would have been totally onboard with this attitude. Right now I'm seriously wondering if things won't simply continue to get worse. I hate to be a pessimist, I was always an optimist but heard the other day opinion from a remarkable man that he believes we are "in a death spiral."
I'm afraid he is spot on there. Civilization is collapsing.
Over the weekend there were events here that are AFAIK thoroughly unprecedented here in the Bay Area. About 1/2 dozen towns suffered mass business breakins/thefts. Evidently hundreds of people participated in these planned attacks that resulted in well over $1,000,000 merchandise being carried away by masked people into their getaway cars. Massive "side show," they happen every weekend here. Lawless thrill seekers. Shoplifting seems at an all time high around here and authorities barely help. Word is they aren't really prosecuting.
Global warming is out of control. Emissions are getting worse, not better. We are heading 60+ mph into a granite mountain cliff.
Because poverty leads to crime.So what's changed? Why do we suddenly have roving bands of thieves raiding stores? Why are car break-ins up 700% in SF?
My 7th grade grandson knows that.Because poverty leads to crime.
= 6Death toll +1
🙁
Kids are a lot of times smarter than adults.My 7th grade grandson knows that.
This is the national poverty rate, not California's, but i imagine the trend is similar. There was a slight covid related uptic in the poverty rate, but overall poverty is down tremendously. I'd say the data does not indicate a correlation between the increase in crime vs. the poverty level. What else is different.Because poverty leads to crime.

Let's look at California specifically and maybe a little more recent?This is the national poverty rate, not California's, but i imagine the trend is similar. There was a slight covid related uptic in the poverty rate, but overall poverty is down tremendously. I'd say the data does not indicate a correlation between the increase in crime vs. the poverty level. What else is different.
View attachment 53300
Let's look at California specifically and maybe a little more recent?
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California has the highest poverty level of all states in the US, according to US Census Bureau data
Although government programs helped to keep many afloat in 2020, Californians still struggled to stay out of poverty.www.businessinsider.com
I mean, study after study has show a direct link between poverty and crime, but even absent that, common sense should tell us that if we have a good job and a nice roof over our head and food and health, most people are not going to risk it all.Ah man, he was just about to unveil the race realism argument too
I mean, study after study has show a direct link between poverty and crime, but even absent that, common sense should tell us that if we have a good job and a nice roof over our head and food and health, most people are not going to risk it all.
Seems so, but common sense isn't "common" much of the time. People need something to hate, someone to look down on, to make themselves feel better. Poor people, not even poverty stricken persons, provide a great target for our capitalism driven mindset.
Cost of living is extremely high where the mass retail thefts have been occurring in California's Bay Area, as is homelessness. These are, figure, people who feel left out of the culture they are purloining. I'm not excusing this behavior, TBH it pisses me off and want to see them found, prosecuted and penalized to the extent that won't do it again. I lived below, sometimes way below the poverty line and didn't do anything like that. I didn't even have a car. These people have getaway cars. I figure law enforcement, if they are smart (oxymoron there so much of the time, unfortunately) could infiltrate the rings, masterminds, organizers of these _events_ and sting them. I don't hear talk of that, but they wouldn't spill those beans. If they get wind of a planned attack (there is some planning, organizing going on) they could ambush these people in the act, block off escape routes and mass arrest them.Ah man, he was just about to unveil the race realism argument too
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2021 Poverty Guidelines
U.S. Federal Poverty Guidelines Used to Determine Financial Eligibility for Certain Federal Programs [Federal Register Notice, February 1, 2021 - Full text] [Computations for the 2021 Poverty Guidelines] There are two slightly different versions of the federal poverty measure:aspe.hhs.gov
The bar for living in poverty is extremely high (or low if you will).
A family of 4 can make more than the poverty guidelines say, but still be living a pretty horrible existence that encourages criminal behavior.
Having the pic of Kim in the background is precious.![]()
This image encapsulates the current GOP. Why are Kyle and his mom being celebrated? Jesus, our society is Fucked.
Yes, all of them.
An interesting thing to notice in this picture, is how close KR's mom is to Donald Trump. Notice how there is space between KR and Trump. Then notice how there is no space at all between KR's mom and Trump, and it seems she is almost leaning on Trump. KR's mom's entire left arm and hip is behind Donald Trump.![]()
This image encapsulates the current GOP. Why are Kyle and his mom being celebrated? Jesus, our society is Fucked.
An interesting thing to notice in this picture, is how close KR's mom is to Donald Trump. Notice how there is space between KR and Trump. Then notice how there is no space at all between KR's mom and Trump, and it seems she is almost leaning on Trump. KR's mom's entire left arm and hip is behind Donald Trump.
She is proud of her little killer.![]()
This image encapsulates the current GOP. Why are Kyle and his mom being celebrated? Jesus, our society is Fucked.
You may notice I kept that in my edit. We are living in strange times.Having the pic of Kim in the background is precious.
This thread is about a homicidal maniac. The guys in that photo are guilty of homicide.No.
And, honestly, WTF is this picture doing in this thread? They are not even tangentially related.