Crime: An Analysis

IntroductionIt seems that thinkers, philosophers,the category of debilitated, what can be said of
social critics, and typically anyone concerned withthose who are on an equal level with others as
the plight of those who must endure throughfar as legal employment ability? It is in only one or
misery and suffering, usually make references totwo instances where the state minimum wage
the poverty, oppression, and crime of those whowith a full time job is enough to reach the
must go through a harder life. Throughout thepoverty level. The fact that these individuals are
ages, the political leaders of a nation, whom havenot just randomly committing crimes, and that
been elected by their campaign funds or theirthey are in fact acting based on their conditions, is
birth rights, have always given great concern toquite obvious. Of the 272,111 persons released
ending crime. Murder, robbery, and rape havefrom prisons in 15 States in 1994, an estimated
typically been regarded as the greatest crimes in67.5% were rearrested for a felony or serious
society, each one created in its own nature.misdemeanor within 3 years, 46.9% were
Murder is the highest form of vengeance, and inreconvicted, and 25.4% resentenced to prison for
societies where feuds and arguments have beena new crime. [*1]The ultimate cause of the
the general discourse, there will be this crime.Crimes of Greed is poverty. There is no
While men and women live together, they havepremeditated motive based on disobedience to
often neglected the articulate nature of science,the law or disrespect for the law -- it is based on
art, and learning. Instead of decided to advancethe ability to make wealth. The economy is the
civilization, change the world, and love each other,cause of crime. This new realization actually
they have created war among themselves, forthrows responsibility from the criminal to the
their own reasons. Robbery itself is a crime that isheads of the economy, or to those who sustain
as old as the existence of property. Instead ofthe economy. Tens of millions of Africans, for
deciding to increase their own wealth, by the laborinstance, were born in poverty, because their
of their hands, man decided to benefit from theancestors were bondaged to slavery without the
reward of another man's hand. Rape itself hasright to freedom. When an man of African
been detested throughout all of Western Europe,descent commits a crime of theft, it may be less
but it is only a recent phenomena that the motivelinked to his disobedience than his desire for food.
changed. For a great deal of time, rape wasAnd the same can be said of any man who
simply regarded as expensive property damage.commits a crime of greed. Though it is hardly
Finally when the people realized that women aredeniable that poverty is the cause of these
themselves capable of independent thought, and acrimes of theft, is it justified to state that the
desire to express and experience inner emotions,economy is the cause of poverty? Any person
rape has been changed, from property damagewho understand basic economics cannot deny this.
to personal assault. While the monarchs andCapitalism has allowed the most extreme wealth
elected officials of nations, and their countlessto a few and the most extreme poverty to all.
followers, have endeavored to offer their plansWorkers are paid only one tenth of the wealth
and ideas on ending crime, few have attemptedthey create. [*3] The rest of the 90% of that
to discover the cause of crime. It has almostwealth goes into the pockets of the Capitalist
always been assumed that the source of crime isclass. If workers, in fact, were paid all of the
a simple disobedience to the law. It was only inwealth that they labored to create, then their
the 20th century that the Western world finallyrevenue would increase by tenfold -- this would
discovered that criminal activity was not in factmean they could still live in poverty only working
caused be a diseased brain. It still remains a4 hours a week, or double what they are
doctrine of many of today's politicians and theircurrently making by working only 8 hours a week.
supporters that crime in caused by savagery, anMore wealth to those who create it, and less
"evil" nature, or simply a disobedience to the law,work time to the laborers who created all
and this view is expressed in their speeches, theirwealth.There are, of course, various interested
public reports, and their communication with theplayers in the system of Capitalism. If the few
public.It is crime that I shall be investigating withinare the oppressors, and the many are the
this paper. By crime, I mean a violation of eitheroppressed, why is it that a revolution has not
the laws or social customs (new and old) in acome? The answer is simple: the oppressed are
society.A Profile of Crime in AmericaBeforeconditioned to believe that slavery is freedom.
continuing in this piece, it is probably mostFrom the day a citizen can attend school, they
important to first note the most common typesare forced to by law, where they are taught
of crime that occur within this nation. In statenothing more than lies in an oppressive system
penitentiaries, 49% were sentenced for a violentthat involves torture and abuse. Then the work
crime, 20% were sentenced for a propertyexperience comes where wage-slavery threatens
crime, and 21% were sentenced for a drug crimepeople with starvation if they do not succumb.
(for the year 2000). In city jails, a fourth wereThe media has been purchased by
held for violent crimes, a fourth were held formegacorporations and receives grants from the
property crimes, and a fifth were held for druggovernment -- never is the truth wholly told. The
crimes (for the year 1996). [*1] However, theregovernment lied to the public during the Vietnam
are overlapping crimes. Robbery, for instance, forWar and in fact, few people know today that the
something as small as a few dollars, may gowar was an attempt to keep Vietnam as a
unpersecuted, but the crime of assault or batterycolony of France -- the same reason why the
may end up with the suspect serving severalcolonies of America revolted. The next secret
years. Offenders of violent crimes had used awar of the US Army is always around the corner,
weapon in 46% of all robberies, as an examplewhen the US imperialist government overthrows
(for the year 2002). [*2] With that, I continue ina democratically elected president and supports
my analysis.Crimes of GreedNature of thetheir own dictator in South American nations.
CrimeWhen I speak of Crimes of Greed, I want itPoverty has never existed in such prevalence,
to be understood that I am speaking of robbery,except those nations touched by contemporary
of mugging, of theft of property in any manner.Capitalism, a fact that no economist would be bold
The desire to steal property can be understoodenough to refuse. The wars go on and the
by all. It is but a human desire, one that existssoldiers die thinking that liberty is what they are
inside all of us, to have the essentials of life, suchfighting for, but when they find themselves in a
as food, shelter, and the like. In fact, it is hardlyforeign land burning villages, only those who are
human, and rather completely natural to all formsfree in mind will say, "Is this really for liberty?"
of life. This instinct to gather the necessities, at allThe next anti-Capitalism or anti-police brutality is
costs, is wholly normal. I am not attempting tomet with rubber bullets and pepper spray, as
justify it, but rather, only understand it. Humans,police officers brutalize and murder citizens -- and
however, vary somewhat than other creaturesthey think that order is "people not being
of this planet. For some of us, it is not enough tooutraged that 40% of the children here don't
have what is necessary to life. We must havehave enough to eat." [*4] So when people
wealth, we must have financial security. A loaf ofexpress an anti-government opinion, they can rest
bread every day while living in the smallest ofin prison cells while the president delivers another
apartments might very well meet the necessities.address to the people, arguing that invading and
Yet, it is as much a dream as it is a desire todestroying another country so we can exploit
think that one day, you can have luxury, andthem for their cheap labor and resources is the
those things you've always hoped for as a child. Asame thing as independence. Because when
loaf of bread and a cockroach infestedpeople fight back against their government, they
apartment, sure, they may very well meet yourare called "terrorists" -- and when a person
necessities. But what about a television set? A CDexpresses a revolutionary opinion, they are called
player? A DVD player? A stylish wardrobe? Aan "insurgent." The media publicizes it and the
condominium? Maybe your own house? As I said,people buy. From the first day, people are given
it is only human to want wealth and possiblythe mindset that fighting back is futile.Maybe a
extravagance, or the idea that you are "well off"police officer will think it's a lie that "liberty means
and need not worry about financial insecurities.shooting protestors." Maybe a soldier will think it's
The instinct to obtain that what you need toa lie that "doing your duty means killing civilians."
survive can be found in all life forms and theMaybe a news reporter will think it's a deception
desire to become wealthy and even recognized isthat they refuse to cover the stories of soldiers
closer to the human species, though I wouldn't beexecuting civilians. Tom Hurndall was shot in the
surprised if similar desires were found in the otherhead by an Israeli police officer during a peaceful
creatures of this world.The instinct for survivalprotest. All of the major news networks refused
and desire of wealth are apparent parts of humanto carry the story. [*5] He was protesting the
society and have found themselves expressed indestruction of a home with bulldozers by a
culture. The question now is, what are thegovernment that oppressed Palestinians. The
methods by which people go about procuringother 2,500 deaths of refugees, protestors, and
these desires? Primarily, there are two methods:political dissidents went uncovered. Carlo Giuliani
legal employment and criminal activity (or, Crimeswas shot in the head by Italian police while
of Greed, "Property Crimes"). On behalf of legalprotesting Capitalism. [*6] Because today,
employment, one must first understand that thisstruggling to be free has been labeled as "anarchy
hardly signifies something worthy, just, orand terrorism," because a movement for and by
virtuous. The officials of the Nazi army werethe people is the equivalent of a "terror cell." Why
well-paid and well-respected -- and despite thetalk about the deaths of innocent civilians at the
fact that it may have been their task tohands of police and soldiers, when we can raise
persecute those of the Jewish ethnicity, theyenough support for another war?Out of sight. Out
were legally employed. So, too, were the Romanof mind. The police and soldiers take on the
soldiers, whose task it was to invade foreign lands"insurgent" masses while the media convinces the
with the intent to rob and plunder. Only a nominalrest that slavery is freedom. Life,
difference took place when American soldiers arePunkerslutResources*1. U.S. Department of
sent world wide, to raid countries like Vietnam,Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of
Haiti, Guatemala, Cambodia, Colombia, or others.Justice Statistics. Criminal Offender Statistics, U.S.
Millions of lives taken and thousands of homesDepartment of Justice, Office of Justice
burned to the ground, all under the banner of legalPrograms, Bureau of Justice Statistics. Crime
employment, but not only legal employment, but aCharacteristics, The mining industry made 174.5
job that was respected by society and honoredbillion in 1997 and paid its workers only 20.9 billion
by the government.These are the two options-- each worker was paid 12% of the wealth they
for a human being's natural inclinations of wealth:produced. The construction industry made 834.8
legal employment, and the alternative, thebillion and paid its workers 171.0 billion -- each
alternative going by the title of "crime." Of thoseworker was paid 20% of the wealth they
who commit crime, statistics show that theirproduced. The manufacturing industry made
ability to generate revenue through legal3,958.1 billion and paids its workers 595.7 billion --
employment is deficient. In federal and stateeach worker was paid 15% of the wealth they
prisons, 63% percent of jail inmates belonged toproduced. The transportation and public utilities
racial or ethnic minorities in 1996. [*1] Theindustry made 1,143.9 billion and paid its workers
importance of this statistic is the history of racila199.7 billion -- each worker was paid 17% of the
and ethnic minorities. Less than two hundredwealth they produced. The wholesale trade
years ago, the African race was released fromindustry made 4,235.4 billion and paid its workers
the bondage of slavery, only to be given unequal234.5 billion -- each worker was paid 5% of the
conditions and poverty. Only some decades agowealth they produced. The retail trade industry
did they really achieve social, political, or economicmade 2,545.9 billion and paids its workers 290.5
equality in opportunity -- and still, even though thebillion -- each worker was paid 11% of the wealth
opportunity is present, they are in the thick sandthey produced. The finance, insurance, and real
of poverty. A black family, with two parentsestate industry made 2,474.9 billion and paid its
working minimum wage, will have a harder timeworkers 308.2 billion -- each worker was paid
sending their children to a university, than a white12% of the wealth they produced. The services
family, with two parents working middle class(taxable firms only) industry made 1,843.8 billion
jobs. And then consider the plight of the Nativeand paid its workers 688.9 billion -- each worker
Americans. They owned the land and thewas paid 37% of the wealth they produced.
resources that make up virtually all property in[Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic
this nation -- and it was stolen. In prisons,Census, Comparative Statistics, Core Business
altogether, an estimated 57% of inmates had aStastitics Series, EC97X-C52, issued June 2000.]*4.
high school diploma or its equivalent. [*1] And,UNICEF, State of the World's Children Report,
indeed, there is no denying that lack of a high2003.*5. "Not again": Eyewitness Joe Smith writes
school diploma will prevent acceleration, either withabout the shooting of Tom Hurndall. Joe Smith,
money-making ability or jobThe Electronic Intifada, 12 April 2003*6. The G8
opportunities.Nationally, in local jails, over a third ofsummit in Genoa, Italy, 7/21/01.Punkerslut (or
all inmates reported some physical or mentalAndy Carloff) has been writing essays and poetry
disability. Altogether, only 54% of inmates had aon social issues which have caught his attention
high school diploma or its equivalent. Thirty-six offor several years. His website provides a
all inmates were not employed during the monthcomplete list of all of these writings. His life
before they were arrested for their currentexperience includes homelessness, squating in New
offense. A quarter of the jail inmates said theyOrleans and LA, dropping out of high school,
had been treated at some time for a mental orgetting expelled from college for "subversive
emotional problem. [*1] There is no denying that allactivities," and a myriad of other revolutionary
of these statistics debilitates the inmates fromactions.
acquiring a legal job. Besides those who fall into