I’m in the decriminalize drugs camp. A lot of crime is done in pursuit of drugs, and if people had a way of satisfying their jones less expensively, and with support to quit, we should be able to reduce drug-related violent crime significantly. This includes organized crime killings as well as user violence.
Another source of violence and murder is domestic murder. I think something between a quarter and a half of murders are between people who know each other and share the same living quarters. I don’t remember the exact figure, but it’s a lot.
We need to train people on alternative problem-solving mechanisms. People need relationship classes, and training for jobs. Economic problems are a source of many domestic problems, as are infidelity, or imagined infidelity. Abuse is a serious problem, and we need to publicize it and people’s options if they are being abused.
Violence in assaults and robberies—I don’t have any ideas. Maybe jobs would help. I’m not sure about that.
One thing that I know won’t work is throwing more people in jail, and executing more people. That has little effect on crime, and the effect it has is already there.
So there you go. Elect me president, and I’ll do this for you, as well as giving you all health coverage while saving billions of dollars. We’ll give everyone who need it, housing, and improve employment at the same time. Sound unbelieveable? It isn’t.