TheAgitator.com
We’re All Felons, Now
Monday, October 19th, 2009My crime column this week looks at Gallup polling data showing that 3 in 4 Americans actually believe violent crime is increasing (it’s been in decline for 20 years), and how our fear of crime has, oddly enough, created a society where we’re all potential criminals.
Can we see a partial list of these common felonies we each commit? I agree we are all guilty of something that shouldn’t be a crime. But three felonies a week is a bit much, isn’t it? It’s not every day I dump a few gallons of lead-based-paint down the storm drain, and I don’t think going 10mph over the speed limit isn’t a felony. Even smoking pot is usually a misdemeanor. I can’t think of a single felony (that I know of) that I committed today or even in the past week.
From Atlas Shrugged:
“Did you really think that we want those laws to be observed? We want them broken. You’d better get it straight that it’s not a bunch of boy scouts you’re up against . . . We’re after power and we mean it. You fellows were pikers, but we know the real trick, and you’d better get wise to it. There’s no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What’s there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced nor objectively interpreted [Frederick Mann: Obfuscation of meaning is a key element of the con games bureaucrats and politicians play.] – and you create a nation of law-breakers – and then you cash in on guilt. Now that’s the system, Mr. Rearden, and once you understand it, you’ll be much easier to deal with.” — Floyd Ferris, Director of the State Science Institute
http://felonyguide.com/List-of-felony-crimes.php
Find your favorite felonies and share them with your friends!
I’m guessing the most most commonly committed felonies are drug or alcohol-related — surprise, surprise.
Right on Cynical.
#1/#4 – I can’t vouch for the accuracy of the stat but it’s possible that he’s trying to say that the total number of felonies committed each day divided by the number of adult Americans = 3. Which is different and more believeable than the idea that each american commits ~3 felonies/day. In the former a drug dealer doing 60 deals in a day can take care of nineteen fellow Americans who were felony free that day. And so on…
Great article in any case and like always I wish it could get out to the so-called mainstream press somehow.
Here’s my three:
1. I threw a mercury battery out of an old camera in the regular garbage.
2. I gave my wife one of my hydrocodones for her headache.
3. I’ve been driving for a month with my check engine light on.
Someday, the government will come after some of us, using these very crimes to lock us up or otherwise burden us with great legal misery. That’s why government champions free speech. Without it, they wouldn’t even know which of us pains in the ass need to be reined in.
Fortunately, I’m safe because no one listens to me. Radley, on the other hand…
Driving with your check engine light on is a felony? I’ve been a felon for 18,000 miles. I also had to move recently and accidently ripped that tag off of my mattress. I’m sure I have something in my house that isn’t up to structural code that is of a felony calibre, as do the rest of you career criminals.
The perseption of rising crime is due, in large part, to the ratings-grabbing news channel personalities (such as Glen Beck and Nancy Grace) who insist on hyping every little detail and then fearmongering us into believing that “this might happen to your children” if the government doesn’t do something about it (in Glen Beck’s case, if they don’t get out of your life).
Everything I’ve seen points to lower crime, even when more and more actions are being criminalized. I’ve seen the streets in DC cleaned up (for the most part) and the attitude changing towards a more peacable one.
So, if asked that question from the polls, I would’ve said it had dropped. But, I don’t expect the averaga “fixed news” viewer to agree.
Damnit, I misspelled perception and there is no edit key, LOL
I read Silverglate’s book. I think that he’s correct. Here is a good review as to why. http://www.lewrockwell.com/anderson/anderson255.html
After reading his book, I realize that my health provider clients could all be targeted by federal prosecutors for any little screw-up regarding a regulatory standard.
I exchange prescriptions with my friends too. Bad me.
I would like to point out that I did not read RB’s article before posting FFs soliloquy, which, of course, brilliant minds thinking alike, RB had already posted as the foreward to his article. Sometimes I do things backassward.
Part of the increase in percieved crime is due to populartion shifts – at least that’s the case here in Crackertown/Atlanta.
Yuppies and whatnot move into inner-city neighborhoods and the locals kick in their doors for the flat-panels and laptops. Suddenly there is a crime wave!! OMG!
And then they all buy guns so there’s some good in that I guess…
My two cents…
The 3 felonies per day statistic really blew my mind but I don’t find it surprising. I’ve come across a few law review articles that make similar claims and arguments.
The effect has been to give enormous leeway to the police and prosecutors in the enforcement of laws. It’s created a situation where who is and isn’t a criminal is determined by who is chosen for prosecution more than who actually breaks laws (since everyone is pretty much breaking them).
Not too big on the Ayn Rand stuff though and while I anticipate quite a few bad karma hits for this I will unabashedly say that I think Atlas Shrugged is childish trash. :)
I committed at least one on purpose today.
Oooh, look at the trees. Autumn is great.
#3 Those of you in Virginia with spouses or SOs probably commit a felony at least once a week. All it takes is to have sex in a manner not approved by the Commonwealth Attorney. That opinion which makes any sexual activity other than male-dominant missionary prosecutable as felony sodomy is still in force last I heard.
I think crime has gotten worse. I don’t buy the stats coming from PD’s. The kid that runs this site never beleives anything else that comes from the cops, why does he buy the shit about crime going down?
Speaking of unknowingly committing crimes…
James Duane, a law school professor and former criminal defense attorney, explains why innocent people should never talk to the police:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wXkI4t7nuc
#14 | InMD — “I will unabashedly say that I think Atlas Shrugged is childish trash.”
A majority opinion, certainly.