INDEPENDENT NEWS

Rise In Violent Crime No Surprise

Published: Tue 26 Mar 2002 10:02 AM
"The release of crime figures showing a 6.2% increase in violent crime should surprise no one," says Libertarianz associate spokesman for deregulation of welfare, Lindsay Mitchell. "Least of all the government."
Mitchell claims that as the welfare-dependent underclass grows, so does violent crime. "The government has claimed that one purpose of welfare benefits is to reduce the amount of crime - it doesn't seem to be working," she says, declaring that this is not surprising: "Once the government has made it clear that some people have the right to the wealth of working people you have justified criminal theft. If it's permissible to confiscate the wealth of working people for welfare benefits then why shouldn't it be done more efficiently (albeit violently) by removing the middle man?" she asks.
"And this is exactly what is happening," Mitchell continues." Young people are taking their lead from bad but fashionable societal messages. They are told by government through welfare, the education and justice systems: 'Your actions are outside of the realm of your control because you are a victim of addiction, TV violence, poor diet, poor parenting, poverty, sexual abuse, colonisation, capitalist oppression and so on. Therefore, you are entitled to expect to be supported by those who have not fallen prey to all the nastiness that has dogged your life - it is probably their fault anyway.' "
"Imbued with this worldview is it any wonder that younger and younger people have no compunction in battering and beating to get what they see as 'rightfully' their's? In raping and murdering without remorse?"
"Libertarianz believe in freedom," says Lindsay Mitchell. "Freedom from the nature and level of crime New Zealand is now in the grip of. But Libertarianz understand that the price of freedom is taking the responsibility for and consequences of your own actions. Until this simple idea is understood by all people and the government alike, violence will continue to grow."
ENDS

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