Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Scientific American: Socialism answer to gun crime
examiner.com ^ | 1/27/2011 | Joe Newby

Posted on 01/28/2011 6:12:00 AM PST by FredJake

An article at The Scientific American suggests that socialism may be the answer to the high homicide rate in America.

John Horgan writes:

Naturally, some researchers have reported data that fail to support the income-inequality theory of homicide. But I find it persuasive, especially because it points toward an attractive solution to high homicide rates: a more equitable economic system, perhaps with higher taxes for the wealthy and more generous welfare programs for the poor. In short, socialism. I hope that opponents of gun control will consider this modest, alternative proposal for reducing lethal shootings.

It's not that some people are just nuts and want to kill, it's because some people have more money than others, if one buys into Horgan's analysis.

How does the homicide rate in the United States compare to socialist countries?

Attempting to compare the crime rate in America with the former Soviet Union - arguably one of the most socialist in recent memory - is difficult, primarily because comprehensive statistics were not maintained during the Soviet Era, however, crime did increase significantly due largely to increased consumption of alcohol after the breakup of the Soviet Union.

According to a 1973 document at Open Society Archives, Soviet journalist L. Vladimirov said:

"It is forbidden to mention ... the number of crimes in any category for the country as a whole or for regions, district, provinces or cities".

The same document quotes B. A. Viktorov, Deputy Minister for Internal Affairs. According to a 1972 account of the proceedings at the fourth UN Congress on the Prevention of Crime in Kyoto, he said:

"...the elimination of private property in the means of production, the eradication of the exploitation of one person by another, and the resolution of social antagonisms led to the disappearance of basic...

(Excerpt) Read more at examiner.com ...


TOPICS: Politics
KEYWORDS: banglist; freedom; guncontrol; guncrime; socialism
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-54 next last
To: FredJake

Science is dead. It has been hijacked by the radical commie left and now science must live a lie just like all progressives do.

Truth has no agenda...


21 posted on 01/28/2011 7:12:30 AM PST by surfer (To err is human, to really foul things up takes a Democrat, don't expect the GOP to have the answer!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sten
What a silly article. Obviously they've never seen what kind of future formerly Socialist India was looking forward to back when they began work on this film: >http://hotair.com/archives/2011/01/27/video-the-greatest-robot-movie-of-all-time/

Unless this is some sort of repressed cry for machine gun control or something................

And yeah, the translation is into Russian ~ so much for the "new soviet man" eh.

22 posted on 01/28/2011 7:16:43 AM PST by muawiyah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: FredJake

Here is a ammended post I did a few weeks ago, that got alot of positive responses via thread and e-mail, that deals with the heart of the matter, and shows the wisdom of John Adams:

“I don’t care how much you make. It’s none of my business, or anyone else’s”.

As we moved farther and farther away from biblical values, this attitude has also gotten farther and farther away.

The Bible tells us we shouldn’t covet. And YET “Christians” look at what others have all the time. Unfortunately, most “Christians” seem to think coveting ONLY MEANS wanting what someone else has. Whats the difference between, wanting to take something of someone elses for yourself, and wanting to take something of someone elses so that they don’t have it, just like you?

When we WERE a Christian nation, or at least God fearing, people would look at what they had as GODS PROVIDENCE. Because of that outlook about themselves, it also becomes natural to view that in others. That what THEY HAVE is also Gods providence.

We viewed God as SOVEREIGN, and that he could bless those he chose to bless.

We also lived our lives and viewed life through a Biblical perspective. The Bible talks about wealth and money/materials more than any other single subject, besides Gods love toward us.

The Bible gives us principles for aquiring wealth and using wealth. First and foremost it talks about wisdom. Aquiring it and THEN using it. Likewise, it talks about a fool and his folly.

Today, “churches” focus on a “social gospel”, on the works of a “social justice”, and yet, conveniently leave out ALL the verses pertaining to wise living.

What would happen to our nation, if the churches alone, would get back to preaching and living the ENTIRE Word Of God, instead of todays feel good pablum?

Instead of preaching entire sermons of the rich man, they should be preaching entire sermons on wisdom and folly, and the fruits there of. They should also be preaching on the sovereignty of God.

Instead, we have people in churches that no longer preach of Gods sovereignty, but on ones rights and entitlements. That the rich man (ALL rich men) choose to hoard their wealth, and that they have an “obligation” to the poor. And thus, since the rich man has an “obligation” to the poor, the “poor” see that as an entitlement.

We look at what others have, and “appear” not to be doing, but fail to look at ourselves. Or if we do, we have a overvalued sense of self importance. We view our righteousness based on OUR value, and our view or value of others righteousness. Instead we should be looking strictly at ourselves against the righteousness of God, and HIS standard for OUR OWN lives.

When we look at our own lives compared against Gods standard, we have no energy (or desire) to look at OTHERS lives, and whether they are living up to Gods standard.

Instead, we would much rather look at others, and look at their failures, or even more so, OUR perception of their “perceived” failures. We no longer use Gods standards, except of course when it comes to comparing OTHERS.

Oh well...enough of my sermon :)

.

The whole problem with the “social gospel/ social justice” movement is that it takes TRUE focus off of God, and puts it on ourselves. Onto the WORKS that MAN does, and not onto THE GOOD NEWS of CHRIST.

The TRUE Gospel (Good News) is offensive. It tells us that ALL MEN are fallen, sinful, horrible beings. That no matter how much good work we do, its filthy and worthless.

It also tells us that there is ONLY one way to God, and that is HIS way. NONE of our ways are good enough.

That is the GOSPEL part.

Now the SOCIAL part is tricky. As christians, are we to help the poor? Most definetly. BUT...BUT...That IS NOT to be our main focus while on earth. We are to tell the world and show the world of Gods love for us, and tell them the Good News of how we all CAN come to God, through the attoning sacrifice of Christ.

But the problem that “christians” who fall into the “social gospel” camp fail to realize is that the Church was called to take care of its own. When Paul instructed the NT church to take care of widows and the poor, it was to be the widows and poor in the church. The Church was so help others in other churches as well.

Next, what the “social gospel/ social justice” crowd fail at, is seeing Gods SOVEREIGNTY. And that is what I was pointing out in my FReepmail. When WE look for “social JUSTICE”, the first thing one must realize is that if MAN is to create “social JUSTICE” that must mean there is INJUSTICE. Which, of course, there is. BUT...what exactly is “injustice”. Where do we allow Gods soveREIGNTY to REIGN?

Our society blindly sees a rich man and a poor man, and screams injustice. Never ONCE looking towards a sovereign God, or allowing God to be sovereign. Why is the rich man rich? Why is the poor man poor? We don’t care if the rich man diligently followed Gods precepts for life and material. We don’t care if the poor man foolishly disregrded them. We take both men and put them under the blanket of what WE call JUSTICE.

By doing this we remove Gods sovereignty, of him blessing whom HE CHOOSES to bless, or blessing those he finds faithful.

With that, all I can think of is the story of Job. When I think of those who scream and wring their hands about “social justice”, I hear Satan confronting God on Job and his faithfulness being tied to his blessings. The “social justice” crowd are no different. They also point to the blessings of the faithful as a reason for being faithful. THEY ALSO infer that the poor would be faithful if so blessed.

In the beginning of Job, Job is ALREADY a blessed man, who found favor with God.

How would have todays “social justice” crowd viewed pre trial Job? He was already blessed. Obviously more than most around him.

How would the “social justice” crowd have viewed mid trial Job? I’d suggest the same way Jobs “friends” did.

And lastly, how would the “social justice” crowd have viewed Job post trial?

Post trial, God DOUBLED everything that Job had before his trials, and he was already blessed by God then. We also know that God took exception to Jobs faithfulness, so I think its safe to say that Job was probably a very generous man already.

So where does the story of Job fit into “the social gospel”? How does the “social gospel” fit with Gods sovereignty and blessings?

When I hear the terms “social justice” or “social gospel” I hear Satan accusing. Accusing the BLESSED FOLLOWERS of Christ, of not DOING enough. That their blessings aren’t blessings at all and should be disgarded.

There is a fine line between having and hoarding and giving and disgarding, and the only way to traverse this is through prayer and faithfulness. Which is what God wants from us in the first place, in everything we do. Its what brings blessings in the first place, and is whats needed to fully appreciate AND use those blessings.

And it CANNOT be dictated by others (society).


23 posted on 01/28/2011 7:19:41 AM PST by mountn man (The pleasure you get from life, is equal to the attitude you put into it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Fee
Saudies use knives. They cut and kill right along with the best in the world.

The only difference is they get kinda' close and you'll not be finding any RPG armed young buck Yemenies doing something stupid like that!

24 posted on 01/28/2011 7:20:09 AM PST by muawiyah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: FredJake

Hey, that’s why Marxism-Leninism is called “Scientific Socialism”.

It’s all just science, citizen - you surely support science...

LOL! These socialist c***s*****s have absolutely no shame!


25 posted on 01/28/2011 7:20:16 AM PST by headsonpikes (Genocide is the highest sacrament of socialism - "Who-whom?")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FredJake

Ah, yes!

Peace and civility come from Socialism.

Sure, we could do that.

Just think.....no guns, no crime, no fear of criminals.....no freedom, no independent thought, no risk taking or innovations.

We’d be docile and controlled.

Mark that last word: Controlled.


26 posted on 01/28/2011 7:39:07 AM PST by Thumper1960 (A modern so-called "Conservative" is a shadow of a wisp of a vertebrate human being.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BuffaloJack
I just cancelled my SA subscription.

About a year ago, I was visiting my sister and brother-in-law. He had, sitting on a table, a copy of a recent "Scientific American" magazine, with a big front cover story about global warming. I mentioned something about them supporting the myth of global warming. An argument ensued - found out that my brother in law is, in fact, a liberal/socialist. A limosine liberal to be exact.

You see, he made a good living before retiring at an early age, and did well with investments. He isn't quite to the level of Warren Buffett, but apparently shares some of the same socialist traits. It's the same old story from the wealthier libs - "I've got mine, screw you!"

27 posted on 01/28/2011 7:46:30 AM PST by meyer (We will not sit down and shut up.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: harpseal; TexasCowboy; nunya bidness; AAABEST; Travis McGee; Squantos; wku man; SLB; ...
I canceled my Scientific America sub back in the late 90s, when they were already forfeiting their trustworthiness on matters such as global warming, perverting their "science" into politics.

I see they haven't gotten any better.

Click the Gadsden flag for pro-gun resources!

28 posted on 01/28/2011 7:59:37 AM PST by Joe Brower (Sheep have three speeds: "graze", "stampede" and "cower".)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FredJake
Naturally, some researchers have reported data that fail to support the income-inequality theory of homicide. But I find it persuasive, especially because it points toward an attractive solution to high homicide rates: a more equitable economic system, perhaps with higher taxes for the wealthy and more generous welfare programs for the poor.

Don't they even feel the need to lie a LITTLE bit? "Those other researchers that rely on all that inconvenient truth, you know.....data....say it's not this way, but I like it anyway, because it means socialism is the answer"!!!

If you're going to pick which theory is right because you like the result -- and admitting it -- isn't bad enough in the first place, why would you pick socialism?? If I were stupid enough to decide what's true by what I like, socialism would be at the BOTTOM of the list.

29 posted on 01/28/2011 8:09:48 AM PST by Still Thinking (Freedom is NOT a loophole!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FredJake

What is a contact email for this ‘Scientific American’?


30 posted on 01/28/2011 8:11:47 AM PST by ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton (Standing by the walls of Minas Tirith as Sauron's forces pound the gates...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FredJake

What is a contact email for this ‘Scientific American’?


31 posted on 01/28/2011 8:11:59 AM PST by ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton (Standing by the walls of Minas Tirith as Sauron's forces pound the gates...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BuffaloJack
I just cancelled my SA subscription.

I cancelled mine decades ago. They went from a scientific (sort of) journal in the '60s to bird cage liner long ago. I'm surprised they're still around. Must sell a lot of subscriptions in NYC, DC, Boston, and other places where liberals labor under the delusion that they're intelligent.

32 posted on 01/28/2011 8:19:26 AM PST by from occupied ga (Your most dangerous enemy is your own government,)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Joe Brower

These are all political parties currently legal in the US.
How many of these parties have socialist leanings? There’s more communists in America than we think there is.

ACE Party

America First Party

American Heritage Party

American Nazi Party

American Party

American Reform

America’s Party

Autonomy Party

Communist Party USA

Constitution Party

Constitution Action Party

Constitutionalist Party

Democratic Party (DNC)

Democratic Socialists of America

Falconist Party

Family Values Party

Freedom Party

Freedom Socialist Party

Green Party

Green Party USA

Independent American Party

Labor Party

Liberal Capitalist Party

LNSGP

Libertarian National Socialist Green Party

Libertarian Party

Light Party

Multicapitalist Party

Natural Law Party

New Party

New Union Party

Pansexual Peace Party

Peace & Freedom Party

Labour Progressive Party

Progressive Labor Party

Prohibition Party

Reform Party

RNC

Republican Party (RNC)

Revolutionary Communist Party

Socialist Party USA

Socialist Action

Socialist Equality Party

Socialist Labor Party

Southern Independence Party

The Forever Party

The Third Way

The Third Party

U.S. Pacifist Party

We The People Party

Workers Party USA

World Socialist Party

World Socialist Party of the USA

http://www.mondopolitico.com/parties/us/federal/us.fed.pp.htm


33 posted on 01/28/2011 8:21:02 AM PST by B4Ranch (Do NOT remain seated until this ride comes to a full and complete stop! We're going the wrong way!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: GailA
If one adjusts the homicide rates to remove a certain segment, oh about 12% or so, from the figures the US is safer than Sweden.

L

34 posted on 01/28/2011 8:26:44 AM PST by Lurker (The avalanche has begun. The pebbles no longer have a vote.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: BuffaloJack
I had an SA subscription back in the '70s, and looked forward to every issue. I then let it lapse since in the '80s I needed to concentrate on reading for my job. In the 90s I re-subscribed but cancelled after reading a half dozen issues. They had clearly become a magazine run by greenies and commies.

I clearly remember the article that ended it for me: it was about genius-level intelligence, and how it had NOTHING WHATSOEVER to do with genes. What twaddle...

35 posted on 01/28/2011 8:27:24 AM PST by Pharmboy (What always made the state a hell has been that man tried to make it heaven-Hoelderlin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: BuffaloJack

I’m surprised you’ve kept it this long. They’ve had an agenda-driven Statist mindset that more than bled through into their articles for more than a decade, probably close to two.


36 posted on 01/28/2011 8:28:36 AM PST by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: FredJake
I cancelled my unScientific American subscription as soon as I read their first "Global Warming is a fact" editor's piece. I think it was about 5 years ago.

I don't suffer fools well.


Today is a good day to die.
I didn't say for whom.

37 posted on 01/28/2011 8:31:36 AM PST by The Comedian (Stop voting for The Government Party)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FreedomPoster

> I’m surprised you’ve kept it this long.
It was one of the things where you have expiring air miles that need to be used up and magazine subscriptions are convenient.


38 posted on 01/28/2011 8:41:10 AM PST by BuffaloJack (Re-Elect President Sarah Palin 2016)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: mountn man

Estimates are 50-80 million gun owners in America.

Hmm-—wonder how many guns each gun owner owns?

I would say that basically, we are a well-armed society, and in the main, we don’t hear a lot about legal gun owners getting in gun fights.

How many “illegal” guns are owned is anyone’s guess-—but it’s because of them, the gangs, and so forth, that it behooves the rest of us to be armed....to say nothing of an over-bearing government.


39 posted on 01/28/2011 8:54:42 AM PST by basil (It's time to rid the country of "Gun Free Zones" aka "Killing Fields")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: FredJake
Peace with justice is freedom. Peace without justice is slavery. Which more accurately describes the Socialist Utopias of the world?

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

40 posted on 01/28/2011 9:20:33 AM PST by wku man (Still holding my breath, but exhaling a bit after Nov. 2...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-54 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson