I wasn't sure where to put this so I just placed it here. Maybe it should go somwhere else.

I don't know how many people have read "Freakonomics", it is a economists look at various societal issues. Steve Levitt has an interesting theory on the link between abortion and the crime rate. I hope it comes up at the following link:

www.slate.com/id/33564/entry/33571/

If not, then it can be found googling Steve Levitt + abortion + slate

It essentially says that the crime rate has went down because many people who would be committing crimes were aborted. Since they would now be in the "criminal prime" of their life we are now seeing crime rates go down in some places because of the practice of abortion.

I don't necessarily subscribe to his theory, but it is very interesting. One thing he left out of his analysis between the years 1985 and 1997 was the crack epidemic in the 1980's which contributed heavily to crime. I think he left out other societal factors which might well have led to the crime rate falling. At any rate, it is an interesting theory.

He has since apologized for having some errors in his analysis, but he stand by his theory. There are several places on teh web that you can find people who criticize him for his findings and challenge them. I think it is interesting although I am pro-life and it makes a pro-choice argument. Just wondering what some of the forum members thought of his theory.

It is a intresting theory. I guess if you look at those who are part of the criminal justice system and compare that to those in that group getting abortions that is one conclusion you could arive at.

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Gun control WORKS! That's why it is so safe to walk the streets of L.A., Chicago, and D.C. at night.

I'm a firm believer in that theory. To me, it makes logical sense. If none of those individuals had been aborted, what are the chances many of them live in single parent homes, or people just don't care about them? They would tend to be the more neglected segment of the population because their parents never wanted to have them to begin with. Therfore, a higher crime rate among those children that were never born as a result of neglect and little opportunity.

But its not always poor, single-parents that have abortions. Sometimes its just an inconveience or an embarrassment to a rich or well-known family. Some of my closest friends come from broken homes or have been abused. They don't turn to crime, instead they've sworn off that life and promised to do better by their kids. Because of my own childhood, I've promised myself that I will never touch any kind of alcohol. Now that doesn't mean that everyone is like that and there are some kids I know who probably will end up in 20/20 before their 18. However, that doesn't mean they shouldn't have been born. The theory is interesting, but I don't buy that the crime rate is lower due to the number of abortions. Its about taking responsibility.

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Should they whisper false of you,
Never trouble to deny;
Should the words they say be true,
Weep and storm and swear they lie.
-Dorothy Parker

The object of war is not to die for your country, but to make the other bastard die for his.
-Patton

His theory could very likely be a Post Hoc fallacy.

Also Known as: Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc, False Cause, Questionable Cause, Confusing Coincidental Relationships With Causes

Description of Post Hoc
A Post Hoc is a fallacy with the following form:

A occurs before B.
Therefore A is the cause of B.

Because abortion was legalized in 1973 and crime rates began falling in the 80's and 90's, does not mean that abortion caused the fall in crime.

More enforcement, stricter laws, and more incareration were also present during that period.

List me as sceptical.

I am skeptical as well. I just thought it was an interesting theory. I think there are a lot more factors that would lead to diminished crime rates than aborting babies that are statistically more likely to be in the criminal class. There is a backlash from the black community over his theory and he knew therre would be. That is why he said he wanted to back them up with plenty of evidence. I think it could be an example that evidence can sometimes just prove what the presenter wants it to.

well im against abortion. i am cause thats what sluts do

I don't believe it.
Criminals are born.
There are theories about serial killers -being white middle aged men- are from broken homes, single parent rearing, born into neglect and resentment.
I think we could find a lot of common ground for criminals and serial murderers.
Substance abusers etc..but to assume a number of criminals by numbers of abortions is really desparate measures in making calls on crime in a society.
I don't buy it.

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"The world is a fine place and worth fighting for" Ernest Hemingway

"The world will know that free men stood against a tyrant, that few stood against many" Spartan King Leonidas

I believe in castrating serial child molesters.

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"The world is a fine place and worth fighting for" Ernest Hemingway

"The world will know that free men stood against a tyrant, that few stood against many" Spartan King Leonidas

I would advocate far worse.