The banning of LEADED FUEL led to today's low crime rates
 

http://environment.independent.co.uk...cle3104678.ece

"Published in the peer-reviewed journal, Environmental Research, the study reports a "very strong association" over more than 50 years between the exposure of young children to the toxic metal and crime rates 20 years later when they are young adults.

And it says the association holds true for a wide variety of countries with differing social conditions, law and order policies."


My comment: This is a very interesting finding since the correlation is observed among many differing countries (with differing abortion policies). A prior study indicates that the LEGALIZATION OF ABORTION in the USA lead to lower crime rates in the 90s onward. The latter view has many many critics, of course. Maybe this new correlation re lead and crime might hold more water than the "abortion reduces crime" school of though.

its something to think about.

... but not discuss publicly... 'cause anytime you start talking about abortions and crime rates... one group of the public thinks you are trying to suggest something...

Personally I agreed to an extent with the legalized abortion lowering crime argument that was outlined in Freakanomics, although I know lead poisoning can lead to some pretty violent, erratic behavior.

On a related note I was watching Bill Cosby on a talk show recently and he stated the the high crime rates among African Americans is due to the fact that 70% of black children are born to single mothers. 70 fucking percent. I knew it was a high number but that to me is staggering...

There is a chapter in Freakonomics that argues that growing up in SINGLE PARENT household isn't as big of a factor re a child's life chances as previously thought. See Chapter 5 of Freakonomics "What Makes a Perfect Parent?"

suRe is something to think bout....

thx foR the info...

According to FREAKONOMICS' exhaustive study of Chicago Public school data, WHO the parents are have more of an impact re WHAT the parents do.

Example: What has more of an impact on kids' academic achievement--taking them to the museum or having more books in the house?

Answer: It's the latter. Not because the there is some sort of OSMOTIC effect of the books to the kids but the fact that parents who value education and learning would tend to have more books in their house (even if they didn't consciously seek to read those books to their kids). In essence, the books were just an outward manifestations of the parents' values.

I remember that chapter and I do agree with it. I don't personally support the Cosby argument but I still found that number, 70%, to be insane. Bill Cosby just came out with a book recently that sounds like it would make a compelling read...

Reading does make people smarter, no doubt in my mind at all. I dont even think it matters what they read. Its the thought processes that are formed by doing it. Tell ya, when/if I have kids, reading is not gonna be optional. They can read what they like, be it sci-fi, statistics or politics, but they will fucking read each and every day.

By the same token, it can be shown the widespread availability of porn and MTV has already contributed to lower the crime rates.

Hopefully you'll grow up a bit before deciding to become a parent.