https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/won ... heres-why/

1. More police officers on the beat

2. Police using computers

3. Less booze

I actually am a subscriber to the less lead theory.

Now, if only they would have mentioned that in this time, the number of guns in circulation has more than doubled. Well, I'm glad the WaPo at least came out to admit that yes Virginia, gun crime is on a decline.

They left out one of the most prevalent hypotheses; longer incarceration rates are keeping the most violent off the street. Or those who would be prone to future violence off the streets.

Personally I subscribe to the less lead, better economics, and better policing. Which isn't the same as more cops, just more competence.

KnightsFan wrote:They left out one of the most prevalent hypotheses; longer incarceration rates are keeping the most violent off the street. Or those who would be prone to future violence off the streets.

Personally I subscribe to the less lead, better economics, and better policing. Which isn't the same as more cops, just more competence.

It's pretty shocking how close the lead correlates to decreased crime rates. Almost a perfect 20 year offset.

correlation does not equate to causation...as evidence, I submit the following: http://www.tylervigen.com/spurious-correlations

rascally wrote:correlation does not equate to causation...as evidence, I submit the following: http://www.tylervigen.com/spurious-correlations

No, correlation does not equal causation, but a strong correlation between two events leads scientists and researchers to look further into them. And this can lead to stronger correlation which can equal causation.

I A happens before C, A may cause C. If A happens before C even when B is added or removed it's reasonable to say that A causes C.

While the WaPo recommendations may have some merit, the more effective moves would be to increase the quality of k-12 education nation wide, pass single payer universal health care, increase funding for mass transit, increase the availability of quality foods in minority-populated areas known as "food deserts," increase funding for drug treatment programs, increase funding that creates and employs qualified mental health counselors, and decrease the number of students k-12 teachers have to teach by creating and hiring more teachers.

Root-cause mitigation.

CDFingers

The lead tangent is an interesting hypothesis. But I thought that the EPA was one of those "bad" Government Agencies that meddle in the affairs of the citizenry!

Here is another nugget for thought. Current exposure to lead in the environment is primarily from lead based paint left over in what has become substandard housing. And it primarily affects the poor. The Chicage Tribune recently had an article that links the highest levels of lead exposure in children to the poorest sections of the city. Racism, the gift that keeps on giving!

(Also high were levels in all the yuppies that are gentrifying and rehabilitating housing in formerly rundown neighborhoods. Fast approaching yuppie crime wave!)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/watc ... story.html

One other thing that's interesting to think about. Living in DC and working in the Federal Government, I've had occasion to apply for a position or two at the EPA. One of those positions was at the Office of Water. I had a personal preference of not applying for positions that require high security clearances because they typically are involved with the less savory sections of the Government. I know, I know -- call me a starry eyed Fed...

Imagine my shock upon discovering that working with water supply issues at the EPA required a high security clearance. Hummmmm. Purity of Essence indeed.