Say What? (Page 3): He's a politician.

Alafoto Loc: Montgomery, AL

thom w wrote:

No dumber than Greg Abbot saying he would wipe out rape in Texas. If he knows how and hasn't done it he is derelict. If he doesn't know how, he's a blow hard.

He's a politician.

thom w Loc: San Jose, CA

Alafoto wrote:

He's a politician.

That may explain, but it sure doesn't justify.

TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

Fotoartist wrote:

Could it be in Frisco? Theft of less than $950 is not a punishable crime there.

No, not SF. Understandable first guess.

TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

Actually, if the guy is elected, his promise is already a reality. He can spend his time doing nothing. Webster's first definition of crime is "an illegal act for which someone can be punished by the government".

Eureka! A politician who only promises what he can deliver.

Alafoto Loc: Montgomery, AL

thom w wrote:

That may explain, but it sure doesn't justify.

Have to agree.

FrumCA

TheShoe wrote:

In a political ad for the primaries, a local candidate promised, "to make crime illegal"

I would like to see that ad.

letmedance Loc: Walnut, Ca.

thom w wrote:

It's not a straw man. The two are very much related. Are you aware that the crime rate among children of single parent families have a crime rate considerably higher than undocumented aliens? If you are worried about damage to "our way of life" you shouldn't want to force more unwanted children on the country.

The birth rate and abortion have nothing to with the topic of crime. I suppose if you made abortions mandatory I suppose that would eventually lead to no humans and no crime. Yes my friend your argument is a Strawman argument.

Alafoto Loc: Montgomery, AL

letmedance wrote:

The birth rate and abortion have nothing to with the topic of crime. I suppose if you made abortions mandatory I suppose that would eventually lead to no humans and no crime. Yes my friend your argument is a Strawman argument.

I think that very thing was brought up for vote in the House just last week.

Wyantry Loc: SW Colorado

TheShoe wrote:

In a political ad for the primaries, a local candidate promised, "to make crime illegal"

WOW! With statements like that, he should run for president on the Democrat ticket. He might even get elected.

TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

FrumCA wrote:

I would like to see that ad.

It was a TV ad which has expired.

Wyantry Loc: SW Colorado

letmedance wrote:

The birth rate and abortion have nothing to with the topic of crime. I suppose if you made abortions mandatory I suppose that would eventually lead to no humans and no crime. Yes my friend your argument is a Strawman argument.

I am not sure your assertion: “The birth rate and abortion have nothing to with the topic of crime.” is correct.

There is evidence that the overall crime rate decreased after the advent of abortions in the ‘70’s. Genetically carried and inherited predispositions for criminal actions were eliminated (aborted) and the potential for any offspring to commit similar criminal activities was eliminated.

There is evidence this is the case:
https://www.google.com/search?q=crime%20rate%20reduction%20post%20abortion%20availability&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

And:
https://law.stanford.edu/publications/the-impact-of-legalized-abortion-on-crime-over-the-last-two-decades/

From which: “Donohue and Levitt (2001) presented evidence that the legalization of abortion in the early 1970s played an important role in the crime drop of the 1990s.“

edwdickinson Loc: Ardmore PA

Wyantry wrote:

I am not sure your assertion: “The birth rate and ... (show quote)

Nonsense. Sounds like the argument of eugenicists in the early 20th century for aborting minorities and was expanded on and used by the NAZI's. Based upon this argument the midwest and south where abortion is almost banned would be a criminals paradise and the big cities controlled by progressives and abortion is encouraged would be nearly crime free. Lastly, if abortion is the answer to crime problems then why are progressives opposed to retroactive abortion "execution" for criminals?

Wyantry Loc: SW Colorado

edwdickinson wrote:

Nonsense. Sounds like the argument of eugenicists ... (show quote)

As with many subjects, this one instigates polarization, as evidenced by your response.

The drive of eugenics and its perversion by the Nazis is not related to the fact of present crime-reduction and its causes.

As to the assertion of abortion controlling specific areas like the South or urban areas or cities: Maybe if the population-density and gang-related activity were the same in the essentially rural South (it is not), an argument might be made that abortion of the offspring of criminals would lead to some sort of “criminal paradise”.
But this is observably NOT the case; in fact, the crime-rate in Northern, Eastern and Western CITIES and densely-urban areas is measurably higher than other areas—predominately due to gangs, drugs, BLM and ANTIFA rioters, looters and arsonists; as well as other criminal activity.

It is understandable that persons may not appreciate the correlation between crime-reduction and genetically-related elimination of criminal predilections (abortion).

It would be upsetting for many to consider there may be a genetically-carried and passed-on tendency to a “criminal bent”, (a “criminality-gene” or something), but that is what the data suggests.

I have no problem with the concept there might be a genetically-linked connection to violence or criminal activity. Nor that elimination of the offspring of criminally-acting persons might cause a measurable decrease in crime.

There is evidence genetics plays an important role in criminality:

https://www.aic.gov.au/publications/tandi/tandi263

”Genetic analysis of the crime and the criminal revealed two genes associated with violent crime, and these genes have been found to have a repeated history of violent behavior. Identifying the crucial role of genetics in criminal behavior implies there must be something known as a “Crime Gene”. Although genes alone cannot be framed, the only factor responsible for becoming a criminal, also a presence of genetic predisposition towards a certain behavior does not define that an individual is destined to become a criminal.

GENETIC CAUSES BEHIND CRIME
Genetic analysis of the crime and the criminal revealed two genes associated with violent crime, and these genes have been found to have a repeated history of violent behavior. Identifying the crucial role of genetics in criminal behavior implies there must be something known as a “Crime Gene”. Although genes alone cannot be framed, the only factor responsible for becoming a criminal, also a presence of genetic predisposition towards a certain behavior does not define that an individual is destined to become a criminal.

Genes related to violent crimes are:
1. MAOA gene: The MAOA gene located in the X chromosome mainly codes for the enzyme monoamine oxidase A, an important enzyme that controls the amount of dopamine and serotonin in the brain. The MAOA gene is also known as the warrior gene since mutations or abnormal versions in the gene often results in aggressive behavior. Deficiencies in MAO-A activity have been identified to correlate positively with aggressive behaviour and other behavioural changes, but it is also found to be influenced by environmental factors.

2. Cadherin 13 (CDH13): CDH13 was previously associated with the risk for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) along with comorbid conditions including drug, alcohol abuse, and various neurodevelopmental disorders.

OTHER FACTORS RELATED TO CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR
There are various interrelated factors including, poverty, poor nurturing, poor diet, high social inequality levels, low educational attainment, low self-esteem, and impulsivity. Breakthrough in research investigated that there is also the role of some other candidate genes engaged in imparting an increased risk of involvement in antisocial behavior and mainly focusses on genes that influence how nerve impulses are transmitted and received in the brain.

Pathways that follow the relation to antisocial behaviors are:
1. The dopaminergic pathway:
Dopamine is a monoamine neurotransmitter which influences mood, motivation and reward, arousal, and other behaviors. The dopamine DRD2 receptor gene encodes the post-synaptic D2 receptor in the brain with a specific effect in the regions of the mesolimbocortical dopaminergic pathway. Reduced dopamine binding sites results in a lowered dopaminergic activity that is reliably connected to impulsive violence. The reduced dopaminergic activity frequently exhibits a predisposition towards lower functioning of the dopaminergic pathways and aggression, ultimately motivating individuals to seek rewards from external sources like drug abuse.

2. The serotonergic pathway:
Research indicates that serotonin, a neurotransmitter, normally has an inhibitory action in the brain, and it is involved in the regulation of behavior and emotion, impulse control, sleep, and appetite including the inhibition of aggression. The serotonergic pathway is involved in brain development and malfunction in this system increases aggressiveness and impulsivity. Several genes involved in this pathway are found to be associated with antisocial behaviors such as impulsivity, aggression, and ADHD.

3. The noradrenergic pathway:
The epinephrine/norepinephrine system, facilitates autonomic nervous system activity and fight-or-flight reactions. The noradrenergic system generally functions as a central arousal system.

Several studies indicate that serotonin and dopamine systems interact closely at the basic neurophysical levels, and the destruction of the serotonin pathway function can lead to dysregulation of the dopamine system which signifies that their functions are interrelated. Additionally, hypofunction of serotonin represents a biochemical trait that predisposes individuals to aggressive behavior, and the hyperfunction of dopamine contributes in an additive fashion to the serotonergic deficit.
Several analysis of the data suggests that there is a strongest link between genetic variation and aggression which comes from monoamine oxidase A (MAOA). Changes in expression of specific genes such as MAOA, DAT1 and DRS2- in the brain can affect neurotransmitter levels which in turn, may influence complex functions such as intelligence, mood, and memory. Genes come out as the strongest predictor of whether a person has a predisposition towards crime or any criminal behavior.”

And

https://www.sciencerepository.org/the-criminal-behavior-of-genes

“Although genetic explanations for criminal behaviour have been circulated since the emergence of modern criminology in the 1700s, until recently, there has not been the scientific evidence to substantiate or refute any claims. The past decade or so has seen an increase in research on the genetics of behaviour, including antisocial behaviour . . . The findings of some of this research have inspired media speculation about its policy implications. Many criminologists are understandably concerned about the potential misuse of this research given the earlier historical experiences with the eugenic use made of biological explanations of crime, and of genetic explanations in particular. . . . Recent twin studies show persuasive evidence that both genetic and environmental factors contribute to antisocial behaviour. However the genetic evidence indicates that there is no single gene, or even a small number of genes, that predict an increased risk of antisocial behaviour.

The sequencing of the human genome has created a renewed interest in the contribution of genetics to socially disapproved behaviour such as addiction, mental disorders and criminal behaviour.

There is an understandable fear among criminologists that information on increased genetic risks of engaging in criminal acts may adversely affect strategies used to prevent and deal with people who commit crimes.

Some commentators fear that genetic information on criminal predisposition may be used by policy makers to justify reduced funding for programs directed at environmental causes of crime (Wasserman & Wachbroit 2001).

More speculatively, there is a concern that the identification of genetic susceptibility to criminality may lead to proposals for genetic screening of the population for susceptibility to criminal behaviour (Rowe 2002). These programmes would aim to identify persons at increased risk of engaging in criminal activities and then intervene in some ways to reduce their risk. Such proposals understandably raise fears of a return to the type of state-sponsored intervention in reproduction, pre-emptive incarceration or medication, and scientifically sanctioned racism that earlier enthusiasms for biological explanations of crime have prompted (Comings 1996; Andrews 1999; Rowe 2002).”

The bottom line is: there may be a “genetic susceptibility” to criminal behavior, but no specific gene or group of genes is directly identifiable at this time.

Also that there is evidence there is some connection DOES exist between criminal behavior and genetically heritable behavior of criminal’s offspring.

If abortion of criminal’s progeny occurs, the overall crime rate may decrease. There is currently more research being conducted on this subject.