I figured I'd make a quick essay talking about a handful of events all at once under one major one- the collapse of civilization.I think it's quite possible that it could happen, not necessarily that it will. In the United States and many of it's allies, I think it's a case of decadence.
On Beggars and Liars [Part III]: A Shift in Crime: Why are recent crime rates dramatically rising?
This my take aims to take a look at rising crime in a handful of countries and why it might be happening.
Decadence refers to a decline in moral or cultural values, and there are certainly signs that this is happening in the West.
One major factor contributing to this decline is a loss of a sense of purpose or meaning in life.The high cost of living in the United States has contributed to this sense of hopelessness and despair among people. Many people in Western countries feel a sense of emptiness or lack of direction, and this can lead to a decline in moral and cultural values. This loss of purpose can be seen in many areas of life, such as a decline in religious faith, a lack of interest in traditional cultural practices, and a decline in civic engagement.
Another factor contributing to decadence is a decline in the traditional family structure. The traditional family, with a married mother and father raising children together, has been the foundation of Western society for centuries. However, in recent years there has been a decline in the number of traditional families, and this has contributed to a decline in social stability and an increase in crime, drug use, and other social problems. It is not the only reason though.
According to times, although there's has been a slight decrease last year compared to 2021, "violence in major American cities still remains dramatically higher than it was before the pandemic." Data collected from over 2 different cities in the United States show that homicide rates in 2022 were 39% higher than in 2019 during the first half of both years.
The United States is also currently facing a major drug crisis, with high rates of drug addiction and overdose deaths. Opioids, such as fentanyl and heroin, have been particularly problematic, leading to a high number of overdose deaths.
The opioid epidemic has had a significant impact on life expectancy in the United States, which has decreased in recent years. States with the highest rates of drug overdose deaths include West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky. These states have also been hit hard by the opioid epidemic, with high rates of opioid addiction and overdose deaths. " Drug overdose deaths increased 30% in the United States from 2019 to 2020", as stated by the CDC.
In recent years, some European countries have seen an increase in crime rates themselves. In the UK (particularly England and Wales), the crime rate has been increasing, particularly in categories such as violence, theft and public order offences since 2014 (according to the Office of National Statistics ).
"Police recorded crime showed that the number of homicides in the year ending March 2022 increased by 25% to 709 offences compared with the year ending March 2021" stated the ONS. The UK isn't the only one. In Germany, crime rates have been rising in recent years, particularly in larger cities. The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) reported that in 2019, crime rates in Germany increased by about 5% compared to the previous year, mostly thief and drug related offenses. in France, as stated by France’s interior ministry, "On a national scale, compared with 2020 figures, sexual violence crimes increased by 33%, intrafamilial violence was up 14% and scams were 15% more common."
Why is that important?
In a nutshell, United States has lost it's will to live and fight for its own "greatness". The United States isn't the only country that is facing this national "identity" or " morale" crisis however, and crime rates are interesting to look at in this regard. Crime has increased in a number of nations all together.
In a broader sense, when a country loses its will to live, it can also lead to a lack of belief in the future, a lack of trust in institutions, and a general sense of apathy among citizens.
A crisis of national identity can also make it harder for a country to defend its own interests on the international stage and to project its values and culture to the world. This makes it vulnerable to outside influences from other countries or groups that wish to harm the country. Next time I hope to address the outcomes of this, this time I just wanted to talk about crime rates of the last few years.
A penny for your thoughts? 💬
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