Why is the US such a violent place?

Question

Here are a few reasons I can think of:

The law allows people to beat their children.
People are allowed to have guns.
There is no proper social safety net.
The ethnic make-up of the population.
The educational system.
The number of religious fundamentalists.
Free-market capitalism.
Break-down of the family and family values.
Divorce and single parents.
Pornography.
Anything I'm missing?

Answer 1

because we sell guns at Wal-Mart

Answer 2

Actually within the US you cannot legally beat your child. In fact children can call the police on their own parents and get them arrested for it.

Yes in the US you can own firearms. Law abiding citizens of course do not violate the law with firearms. Criminals however do violate the law some times with firearms. So because of criminal activity should we take the rights away from those who obey the law? Lots of people drive while intoxicated, should we outlaw alcohol because of this? Maybe we should outlaw cars since some people get into car accidents as well.

I do not see how the ethnic make up of the population makes it more violent.

The US education system can be improved, but this is true of any sort of educational system. The US public school system is quite good in comparison to most other countries; it is in fact what you make of it.

There is no significant number of religious violence within the US. Religious groups can voice their opinion until they infringe on the rights of others or break the law. We have constitutional mandate separating church and state.

Free-Market capitalism does not increase violence.

I agree that family values are changing, however I do not know if they are "breaking down."

I agree that too many people get married when they are not ready thereby causing more divorce and single parents. I do not see how that increases the level of violence in society and there is no empirical evidence showing that.

Pornography? How does pornography make people more violent?

You seemed to list some things that may or may not be domestic issues within the US; you then made a claim that these issues increase the level of violence within the US.

You did not however state how each one of these issues create violence, you just listed them and then made an assumption which was incorrect.

Answer 3

The US is violent because some people are violent. Not because of the laws. Of course, I have yet to witness any of this so called "violence". But then again, I'm not dumb enough to live in high-violence cities or associate with violent people.

You sound like a sheltered foreigner or far-left liberal. So:

The law allows people to beat their children: Actually, you can get in trouble for spanking your kids in Cali.

People are allowed to have guns: If guns are illegal, only criminals will have them. We are guaranteed guns under the constitution, in case we need to fight off someone (including unjust governments).

There is no proper social safety net: Did you know that the people who make the most work longer hours? Isn't it a surprise that hard workers often don't need the net? Why should we cater to laziness? Obviously, there are people who do need it. But many more don't.

- Families will raise kids, not work, and collect child support checks from the government.

- Families will get on food stamps, spend all of their meager income on booze or drugs, and beat their kids more than they work.

- Why work if the government will pay your bills?

The ethnic make-up of the population: All immigrants? Seriously, if you are picking a fight because honkys are on top, your a bigot. Ethnicity has very little to do with things except in the deep south. Upbringing, yes, but it is still possible to rise through the ranks.

The educational system: Yeah, ok. I'll give you this one. You have to be driven to not get sucked behind.

The number of religious fundamentalists: Psh. They're just loud. They aren't very violent.

Free-market capitalism: Is the best thing since sliced bread. Its why we are on top.

Break-down of the family and family values: I'll concede this point.

Divorce and single parents: That falls under the above point.

Pornography: Are you some crackhead fundamentalist? Anywhere there is internet, there is porn. And the internet is everywhere.



Anyways, it sounds like you think Communism is a better system. Which do you prefer: Crimes by the government or crimes by the people?

Answer 4

It's a difficault question to answer and probably none of the above. Remember Basra has a lower violent crime rate than several US cities.

"The law allows people to beat their children." - I think the laws are too much against allowing parents to disapline their children that has cause much of the problem.

"People are allowed to have guns." - same with sweden, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, etc all have some of the lowest violent crime rate whilst the USA has one of the highest.

"There is no proper social safety net." - I agree that the america social system is terrible but I don't see how this effects violent crime rates.

"The ethnic make-up of the population." - there is some truth to this, illegal immagrants do seem to cause mini crime rates, most black cities are also the most dangerous and crime rates also agree to this.

"The educational system." - I would also agree that the higher the number of uneducated people the higher the violent crime levels. The US has no reason for a high level of uneducated adults, ethnic minorities have a lot of advantages and grants to get them into college.

"The number of religious fundamentalists." - The UK has a much higher number of religious fundamentalist than the US and also has a much lower violent crime rate.

"Free-market capitalism." - No sure what this really has to do with violence.

"Break-down of the family and family values." - I agree that this is the biggest cause of problems. Children who don't know how to behave properly and not been brought up with disapline will tend to be main cause of violent crime

"Divorce and single parents." - This is generalising. I would place the main problem with parents having to work more and spending less time with the kids.

"Pornography." - not sure why this was included, sweden has a low violent crime rate.

A big area currently under blame is video games and movies.

Answer 5

The law allows people to beat their children. - NOT TRUE

People are allowed to have guns. TRUE - even hand guns.

There is no proper social safety net. - There is but it doesn't always work. Abused women have shelters. Child care services can take abused children. But these services often don't work too well.

The ethnic make-up of the population. - TRUE. We let in too many dangerous people, with dangerous ideas and beliefs for the sake of political correctness.

The educational system. - TRUE. America is quick to label people. Boys cannot be boys anymore. A kid can be labelled as ADHD, or Special Ed simply by doddling or not paying attention anymore. And public education is awful. How many high schoolers do you know who can figure out what the final cost of an item marked 20% off + 6% sales tax is? How many Americans can actually say something in a foreign language besides numbers? And education is far too liberal and politically correct.

The number of religious fundamentalists. TRUE - violent religions (such as Fundamentalist ISLAM) should be banned just as KKK or Nazism is banned.

Free-market capitalism. - TRUE - corporations have too much power to influence government with their lobbyists. Corporations are only concerned with profit. That's why we have a huge trade imbalance with China, services from India, and too much "Made In China" crap.

Break-down of the family and family values. TRUE - especially on the Liberal side. Marriage and family values are being destroyed. It's OK to have two mommies or daddies today.

Divorce and single parents. TRUE - Too high.

Pornography - Some is needed in society. As long as it's available to consenting adults only. It serves as an outlet for some. But children are taught too soon by the mainstream media that they need to "look and dress sexy" and to be adults before their time. This "celebrity" and "athlete" worship contributes enormously to the social problems we see in American society.

Anything I'm missing?

Political correctness is dangerous and is also contributing to the destruction of society. This is because "common sense" is given up for the sake of political correctness.

Celebrity Worship - this is an enormous problem in our society. Again businesses are only interested in selling this image and making money, while they ruin a generation of kids. Do you want your girs to act like Britney Spears or your boys to act like thugs such as Mike Vicks or Ray Lewis?

Answer 6

"The law allows people to beat their children." What state has such a law?
"People are allowed to have guns." It's the second amendment.
"There is no proper social safety net." You mean a welfare state?
"The ethnic make-up of the population." Diversity is not the problem. People who refuse to accept diversity and segregate based on ethnicity are the problem.
"The educational system." It's hard to learn when kids bring guns to school.
"The number of religious fundamentalists." What does that have to do with violence?
"Free-market capitalism." Don't like it? I hear Cuba is lovely this time of year.
"Break-down of the family and family values." I'll buy this in part, but kids from single-parent homes don't all become violent criminals.
"Divorce and single parents." See above.
"Pornography." Read the first amendment.
"Am I missing anything?" Yep.

*Existing gun laws aren't enforced
*Capital punishment is seldom enforced
*Gangs
*Illegal immigrants in gangs
*Border guards sent to prison for doing their jobs
*Mafioso get minimal sentences for multiple murder if they rat each other out

Answer 7

Laws prohibit people from "Beating" children and harshly punish child abusers

Gun ownership is a constitutional right

Us welfare system as well as local charity and church; and this has nothing to do with violence

Ethnicity as an excuse for violence is racism

Educational sysem has produced many world leaders in all fields

Far less fundamentalist issues than Islamic countries

Free market capitalism is what makes this country a world leader

Break down of family and values severly overstated by TV and media as is divorce and single parenting.

Most of the world has a higher acceptance level of Porn than we do

The point I think

Answer 8

You're absolutely right:

Point #1: ...and not enough people follow through. No, you don't need to whoop on your child and certainly never want to injure them, but as the generations are growing, it is more than apparent that a lack in the nature of discipline has created a generation of spoiled, back-talking, over-medicated and under-educated punks.

Point #2: ...and it's not them killing 400+ people a year in one city alone. Please, find some statistics and analyze the data. When dope-slinging crackheads begin tricking the system into allowing them to own guns legally, then I will object with you. Until then, the issue of guns and violence needs to take into account that your average inner-city murderer didn't follow the proper procedures for buying a gun...nor will they in the future. Taking guns out of the hands of ordinary citizens is not the answer. It's like disarming the US of it's nuclear arsenal and "HOPING" that the rest of the world--terrorist nations included--will follow suit. Have another shot of Nyquil, and keep dreaming.

Point #3: You're wrong...there is entirely too much of a safety net. There are no longer consequences for your inaction in the American society. You could easily skip school, have a child at 13 and not once face the consequences. The way things are looking these days, and after some proposals by candidates, it's shaping up so that all you need to do to make $5,000 every 9 months is to pop out a baby. Then, your options are limitless, because you can straight kill it, or try to keep it while collecting welfare, housing, tax monies stripped from the contributing members of this society and--under another proposal--healthcare up to the age of 25, where some women have already become grandmothers by then. Then, if all else fails, there's a lawyer around every corner who will find a judge around every corner who will no doubt give you the decision in something as assinine as say, a $54 million lawsuit based on the outcome of dry-cleaned pants.

200 years ago, this country was built by people who had no concept of what a social safety net was, and yet, their progress seems to be much more important than any kinds of advancements we've made--especially within government--for the past 25 years. Today, if you're unable to find a social safety net to fall into, you must be the stupidest person alive. No worry though...there's someone who will pay you other peoples' tax money for that too.

Point #4: That's your own time-bomb.

Point #5: What education system? The one that has scared teachers and administrators silent because every move they make is a potential lawsuit? Or the one that has become so whitewashed that there's no sense of belonging anymore and zero semblance of pride in what this Country has accomplished in 200 years?

Point #6: Those evil Christians and the JOOOOOOOOOs, right? What, with all of their indoctrination and forcing schools and communities to conform with their beliefs and practices, all while sterilizing previously established beliefs, practices and traditions under the threat of an ALCU lawsuit? Man...it only gets worse overseas when all of those Christians strap bombs to their bellies and hit daycares too.

Oh....wait.

Point #7: Are you another one of those redistribution of wealth idealists? It never worked ANYWHERE in the world, and countries who have lived under that ideal have reversed their course, but IT MUST be right for America? I'll bet you work minimum wage or not at all, but have no problem taking the money of someone who's made millions off an invention that their intellect--and theirs alone--created to share with the world as a product, not as a financial gain.

Point #8: This one falls into every category as well, starting right with #1. Parents don't discipline their children anymore. Everyone wants to be the "cool" mom and dad, not the one that keeps their 12 year old daughter from looking like a whore or their 16 year old son from drinking, even though he's in the house. If parents would stop acting like their children are accessories to carry around like a chihuahua you dress up, and started to treat them like they're training them to be on their own one day, then maybe there'd be progress. Perhaps if parents took some m-effing responsibility instead of blaming teachers, schools, other kids, the government, the police, and everyone else for things they do wrong.

Answer 9

Violent compared to what other place of similar size and population?

-Children are protected by CPS (child protective service) and if anyone sees a child being beaten they are required, by law, to report it.
-FBI statistics show more guns are used to prevent crime than commit it.
-Food Stamps, Welfare, AWDC etc.
-I used to live in a middle class neighborhood w/Chinese, African-American, Latino, Jewish and English [from England] we all got along great.
-Education is free through High School.
-It appears there is far more "religious" violence in other parts of the world.
-Capitalism grew this country, socialist nations have shrunk.
-"Family-values" and/or lack of, substanceless politician babble.
-Divorce rate looks high because of averaging in those who marry/divorce 2-10 times.
-Dirty pictures/music/art/entertainment and science [like stem cell research] make great targets for someone needing an evil to rally/protect their flock against. Remember the Baptist boycott of Disney?

It's easy to be pessimistic, there is no gain in telling people things are okay. The media, religion, politicians and others seeking power must convince others that there are problems that only they can solve. Look deeper.

Answer 10

Hey Dude,(or Dudette?), we've also got an old expression.
"Love it or Leave It", also, a country one that says, "Don't let the door hit ya, where the good Lord split ya".

Ever been to another country? Canada doesn't count as foreign ?
If you are actually an American, you need to get out more, see what the world's like, outside of "Cops", "America's most wanted", and the other shows that would have you believe we're so violent.
The Europeans only see us that way, because we've whouped their butts so many times.

Answer 11

The great thing about the US is that we have a free press. This kind of stuff doesn't get fully reported or at all in some countries. Coming from Iraq I can tell you even way before the Invasion of Kuwait that ****'s a mess in most of the world and the US is no exception to problems specifically within society. Human society is imperfect therefore there will always be drama.