Don’t believe everything you hear. Democrats aren’t to blame for U.S. crime spike
Democrats aren’t to blame for high crime
Renowned sociologist and criminologist Emile Durkheim identified crime as relatively stable over time. Long-term data bear that out. Exceptions occur when norms break down following major disruptions to social order, such as pandemics. Relationships are broken. Many social services can no longer be provided. People lose their jobs, and there is a profound sense of desperation, which can lead to criminal behavior.
The current effort of Republicans to blame Democratic legislators (and candidates) for recent increases in crime is completely without merit. Research by the Brennan Center reveals pandemic violent crime increases are about equal in Republican and Democratic cities.
Republican disinformation would have us believe certain regulations prevent the police from stopping crime. Brennan Center research found public policies related to policing had no effect on pandemic crime rates. This makes sense because our policing isn’t designed to stop crime — it’s designed to respond to it. Only about 40% of crimes are reported to the police, and about half of those result in arrests.
We expect too much from the police, which is unhealthy for everyone. Teaching good citizenship in schools, full employment, complete healthcare for all and good parental support programs are generally what maintain social order.
Democrats know this. Republicans apparently don’t.
John Alessio, Steilacoom
Mary Bridge groundbreaking
On Oct. 19 a momentous ceremony took place in the Rose Garden at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. Puyallup Tribal members opened with a blessing and prayers. Hospital and civic leaders spoke at length. Patients told their stories. In the audience were generous community donors, doctors, nursing staff and members of the media.
The occasion? To break ground on a new $40 million, state-of-the-art regional Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital to replace the original, which opened in 1955 in realization of a commitment to children’s health care made by 15 women in 1921.
This is news — good news — that I am sorry was missing from The News Tribune.
Jenny Pasco Smith, Tacoma
It’s the economy, stupid
In 1992, Democrat strategist James Carville coined the phrase, “It’s the economy, stupid.” It appears that it will be the same in 2022.
With gas and food prices still a huge drain on middle-income budgets and inflation at a 40-year high, how can President Biden say “Our economy is strong as hell,” like he did a few days ago? He said that while eating a waffle cone with chocolate chip ice cream. Shades of Marie Antoinette?
Biden is obviously out of touch with most Americans and he’s not even empathetic to their financial problems. Retirement savings are down $2 trillion over the past 18 months and around 20 percent of workers have stopped funding their 401K, IRA or retirement savings accounts according to ABC News. According to data collected by Real Clear Politics, polls show that a majority of the country believes we are going in the wrong direction.
Most Americans want back the country they know and love, not the Democratic Socialist model of Sen. Bernie Sanders or the progressive model of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Squad. A red wave or tsunami can make it happen.
Craig Chilton, Bonney Lake
