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>> It is likely that poverty and crime are in some
>>instances caused by the same factors. Low levels of empathy
>>and minimal self respect. Hmm, I agree that violent or destructive crimes (ie which
produce little tangible benefit to the criminal) are closely
linked to lack of empathy, but I'm not so sure about straight
theft. In a straight-out theft, utility is almost break-even
(Vic loses a mobile phone, but Crim gains one). The loss is
in undermining private property protection (locks on doors,
anti-theft devices etc), and sadness at being stolen from. But this does not make the relationship causal. Likewise with minimal self-respect I think it's related,
but only in that people with low self respect also have little respect for others (or their property). Of course this
describes most lefties too, so again the causal thing is not that
obvious to me.
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