Vermont is the second safest state in the US.

[Vermont]

Tyris,

The ideas I threw out were not meant as answers. Some were obviously jokes and some were serious suggestions, but mostly they were meant to provoke interest in the graph.

If I were to guess, without looking at the statistics, I would guess that income adjusted for local cost of living vs crime would have a closer correlation than race vs crime.

These kinds of statistics are interesting, but as you obviously know, you have to be careful with them. I didn't just want to let the graph stand alone, which is why I threw out some possible explanations of the correlation. Some of them were even contradictory. Anyway, the point was that I didn't want to let the graph sit there singing it's siren song of racism without tying myself to the mast.

Do you have graphs of certain gun laws vs. crime? Those would be interesting as well.

 

[Vermont]

Oh sure, the day after this thread gets started, this happens.

http://burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071228/NEWS01/71228009/1009

I was across the street at the DMV because my brother was buying my truck from me at 3:20, about 10 minutes before this happened. Scary. I hope she's OK, but it doesn't look good.

I notice there are already some people commenting next to the article saying we need to outlaw guns, actually it seems like one person mostly, who doesn't even live in Vermont.

 

[LaEscopeta]

If I were to guess, without looking at the statistics, I would guess that income adjusted for local cost of living vs crime would have a closer correlation than race vs crime.

+1. There is an old exercise taught is statistic class; have the students plot number of churches in each city vs. beer and alcohol sales. When a strong direct collation is apparent, ask the students to explain the relationship. They come up with all sorts of theories; churchgoers are drunks, religious guilt make people drink, etc. Hope at least one student sees the real reason; higher population cities have more churches AND more beer & alcohol sales.

The correct and proven relationship, around the world and through out history, is poverty correlates directly with crime. Currently Blacks and Hispanics are generally the lowest income groups in the US; surprise these 2 groups are disproportionably involved in crime. It is worth noticing this involvement is on BOTH sides of crime; the perpetrator AND victim side.

100 years ago in the US, trailing the wave of poor Italian immigration, Italians were disproportionably involved in crime. And 150 years ago the same thing was happening following the poor Irish immigration wave.

 

[TallPine]

The correct and proven relationship, around the world and through out history, is poverty correlates directly with crime. Currently Blacks and Hispanics are generally the lowest income groups in the US; surprise these 2 groups are disproportionably involved in crime. It is worth noticing this involvement is on BOTH sides of crime; the perpetrator AND victim side.

So now you have a relationship, but what about cause and effect?

For all we know, maybe high crime rates cause poverty...?


All I know is that when I was really poor, I did not resort to crime. I had my own business and was working my butt off, but I wasn't making very much money.