Einstein famously called the world "a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it."
One wonders what the great scientist would make of the United States, a country he moved to in 1933, where those in charge could possibly do more - much more - to keep Americans safe. According to Numbeo's latest crime index, of the world's 50 most dangerous cities, seven are located in the US -- and every one of them is run by a Democrat. The un-magnificent seven include Detroit, Albuquerque, Oakland, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Houston, Texas.
The seven cities listed are more dangerous than San Salvador, the notoriously violent capital of El Salvador.
The US cities listed are plagued by high numbers of burglaries, gun crimes, property crimes, and homicides. In Albuquerque, for instance, there was a significant increase in weapons violations from January to August of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022.
With a total of 2,372 reported cases, this represented a 24 percent rise on the previous year. Similarly, Oakland has experienced a rise in violent crime, as recently reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.
Compared to 2022, reports of violent crime increased by 21 percent last year, while robberies and burglaries increased by 38 percent and 23 percent. The city also recorded 120 homicides for the second consecutive year, averaging about one every three days.
In Philadelphia, as highlighted by the left-leaning think tank Brookings, people are fearful and hesitant to walk the streets due to the prevailing levels of lawlessness. Vandalism, assault, arson, and sex crimes are unfortunately common occurrences in Philly. Seattle, according to the Brookings report, is grappling with issues related to security, substance use, and mental health.
Many residents, it seems, are sleepless in Seattle - and for all the wrong reasons. Despite Texas being a predominantly Republican state, its largest city, Houston, is governed by John Whitmire, a long-standing member of the Democratic Party.
Houston, renowned for its diversity of cuisine and ethnicities, also harbors a diverse range of crimes such as larceny, vandalism, and motor vehicle thefts. Robberies and aggravated assaults are also frighteningly common.
When one looks at the Numbeo report a little more closely, they'll see that, of the world's 100 most dangerous cities, 16 are in the United States. The other nine include San Francisco, Washington, DC, Portland, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Seattle, Tucson, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, widely considered the homeless capital of America. Interestingly, none of the 9 cities are run by Republicans. This observation is not intended as a criticism of Democrats but rather a reflection of the report's findings.
Albuquerque finds itself short on police officers - this has been the case for a few years. Meanwhile, in Oakland, defunding has been blamed for a rise in murders, shootings, violent armed robberies, home invasions, car break-ins, and highway shootouts.
Crime is a serious issue - and with a major presidential election just around the corner, it may become a defining issue.
According to Vera Action, a division of the left-leaning Vera Institute, winning elections in which crime is a significant concern requires candidates to demonstrate a genuine commitment to public safety.
Interestingly, once this threshold is met, a clear trend emerges: when given the choice between a "tough-on-crime" or "prevention-first" approach, a majority of voters, particularly Democrats, prefer prevention.
Regardless of political affiliation, most voters would likely support a "prevention-first" strategy, as avoidance is generally more effective than any reactive remedy.
However, as the Numbeo report reveals, none of the 16 cities listed appear to have any sort of effective approach to combating crime in place. This lack of action could have severe consequences for Democrats, and Joe Biden in particular.
A significant portion of the population believes that the current president has performed poorly in addressing criminal activities, with the crisis at the border exacerbating the situation.
In fact, it seems that the border crisis is directly contributing to the rise in crime rates in American cities.
As the analysts at Vera caution, voters who are most concerned about safety have the power to determine the outcome of a political race.
They can make or break a candidate, just like approaches to policing crime can make or break a city.
One wonders what the great scientist would make of the United States, a country he moved to in 1933, where those in charge could possibly do more - much more - to keep Americans safe. According to Numbeo's latest crime index, of the world's 50 most dangerous cities, seven are located in the US -- and every one of them is run by a Democrat. The un-magnificent seven include Detroit, Albuquerque, Oakland, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Houston, Texas.
The seven cities listed are more dangerous than San Salvador, the notoriously violent capital of El Salvador.
The US cities listed are plagued by high numbers of burglaries, gun crimes, property crimes, and homicides. In Albuquerque, for instance, there was a significant increase in weapons violations from January to August of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022.
With a total of 2,372 reported cases, this represented a 24 percent rise on the previous year. Similarly, Oakland has experienced a rise in violent crime, as recently reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.
Compared to 2022, reports of violent crime increased by 21 percent last year, while robberies and burglaries increased by 38 percent and 23 percent. The city also recorded 120 homicides for the second consecutive year, averaging about one every three days.
In Philadelphia, as highlighted by the left-leaning think tank Brookings, people are fearful and hesitant to walk the streets due to the prevailing levels of lawlessness. Vandalism, assault, arson, and sex crimes are unfortunately common occurrences in Philly. Seattle, according to the Brookings report, is grappling with issues related to security, substance use, and mental health.
Many residents, it seems, are sleepless in Seattle - and for all the wrong reasons. Despite Texas being a predominantly Republican state, its largest city, Houston, is governed by John Whitmire, a long-standing member of the Democratic Party.
Houston, renowned for its diversity of cuisine and ethnicities, also harbors a diverse range of crimes such as larceny, vandalism, and motor vehicle thefts. Robberies and aggravated assaults are also frighteningly common.
When one looks at the Numbeo report a little more closely, they'll see that, of the world's 100 most dangerous cities, 16 are in the United States. The other nine include San Francisco, Washington, DC, Portland, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Seattle, Tucson, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, widely considered the homeless capital of America. Interestingly, none of the 9 cities are run by Republicans. This observation is not intended as a criticism of Democrats but rather a reflection of the report's findings.
Albuquerque finds itself short on police officers - this has been the case for a few years. Meanwhile, in Oakland, defunding has been blamed for a rise in murders, shootings, violent armed robberies, home invasions, car break-ins, and highway shootouts.
Crime is a serious issue - and with a major presidential election just around the corner, it may become a defining issue.
According to Vera Action, a division of the left-leaning Vera Institute, winning elections in which crime is a significant concern requires candidates to demonstrate a genuine commitment to public safety.
Interestingly, once this threshold is met, a clear trend emerges: when given the choice between a "tough-on-crime" or "prevention-first" approach, a majority of voters, particularly Democrats, prefer prevention.
Regardless of political affiliation, most voters would likely support a "prevention-first" strategy, as avoidance is generally more effective than any reactive remedy.
However, as the Numbeo report reveals, none of the 16 cities listed appear to have any sort of effective approach to combating crime in place. This lack of action could have severe consequences for Democrats, and Joe Biden in particular.
A significant portion of the population believes that the current president has performed poorly in addressing criminal activities, with the crisis at the border exacerbating the situation.
In fact, it seems that the border crisis is directly contributing to the rise in crime rates in American cities.
As the analysts at Vera caution, voters who are most concerned about safety have the power to determine the outcome of a political race.
They can make or break a candidate, just like approaches to policing crime can make or break a city.
