Why is the US such a violent place?

[2kool4u]

Here are a few reasons I can think of:

The law allows people to beat their children.
People are allowed to have guns.
There is no proper social safety net.
The ethnic make-up of the population.
The educational system.
The number of religious fundamentalists.
Free-market capitalism.
Break-down of the family and family values.
Divorce and single parents.
Pornography.
Anything I'm missing?

[marian g]

no thats just about got it

[me2]

Just as violent as any where else

[Bozema]

You clearly know nothing about the U.S. And what makes you think those things are limited to the U.S?

What does free market capitalism have to do with violence?

[angeleyez608]

MEDIA

[Texican]

"Taunting" is the main reason and the one consistent element you see in almost all "postal" situations (i.e.,where someone flies off and shoots a bunch of folks).

I think in our society, many folks feel that the law is some kind of invisible shield making them impervious to attack, and therefore many folks cast aside courtesy and "taunt" others.

Like the example of the Wisconsin police officer who "lost it" and killed 6 people this week. Apparently, some of those people were taunting him and calling him a "worthless pig", while no doubt thinking the law was that "invisible shield" that would protect their smart mouths.

They were wrong. Not sure they deserved to be shot for it but I would not argue if the police officer had punched a few faces.

Bottom line: If we bully folks, especially if we bully armed folks, then who have we to blame if there is a backlash?

[wiemercats]

Spoken by a true lib. It all stems from selfishness and the thought that change is always better than tradition.

[Derek]

But arent those reasons some of the fundamentals that make America great? Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to bear arms, youre talking about the Bill of Rights. As for beating your kids, the laws are a little iffy, but my dad beat me when i screwed up, and i turned out okay. Many highly educated people have tried to figure out why America has such high homicide and violent crime rates, and it usually just turns into a debate about gun control or something like that.

[Gem]

In response to your assumptions

1. We are not allowed to "beat" our children. Beating is against the law. Spanking within reason is up to the individual.

2. Criminals do not have legal guns. And funny, gun crimes and murder are rising in England. So, just like we have always said, if guns are outlawed then only the criminal and the cops will have guns. Now that is scary. And please explain Canada to me.

3. Ethnic make up of the population, wtf? Don't see how this is relevant one way or the other.

4. Educational system. OK, you got me there, but I have read posts from people from all over the world and America is not the only country producing "educated" idiots.

5. Religious fundamentalists. OK, second part I agree with, they have already turned us socialist and are doing their part to make it worse. Soon we will be Europe without the great time off and health care.

6. Free market capitalism is not the problem. Lobbyists in government who make laws to help their rich corporation buddies are what the problem is. Capitalism is a great thing. Biased capitalism is a nightmare.

7. Break down of the family & family values, no, more like break down of teaching responsibility for your own actions and the "my kid wouldn't do that" attitude. Funny, those are both mainly found in 2 parent homes.

8. Divorce and single parents. See answer to #7.

9. Pornography. You have got to be kidding me, you ever seen German or Japanese porn? We can't even show boobies on TV yet cross the border into Canada and they show up all over. It ain't porn's fault my friend.

And watching BBC shows me that we don't have violence cornered. Every country on earth has violence, hell even the Vatican has propagated child molestation.

Finally, the greater part of the US is not violent. We are a huge nation and what you see on TV is not a good and accurate representation of life for the majority of us.

[Kc]

When you live in a "free society" the liberties given to those that live in such a society also give way to lawlessness and violence simply because we are "Free" to live this way. Our constitution was created to give "All men" equal opportunity to pursue Life, Happiness and Liberty. However, in the pursuit of those things which makes people rich and powerful, violence and lawlessness are usually the tools of the trade for which our nation was built upon and continues to expand upon ie: The slave trade and today The Drug/Gun Trade. Today is no different than 100 years ago. Now we have economic slavery. The US has and always will be a violent place, where great minds are free to exploit, murder and rape the average class citizen of everything he.she has.