http://www.gallup.com/poll/186308/americans-say-crime-rising.aspx
From 1993 to 2015, except for 2000 and 2001, a majority of people surveyed believed that crime in the US is rising. However, from 1993 to 2014, except for 2006, 2011, and 2012, the violent crime victimization rate fell.
Because they are barraged by the media telling stories over and over again on TV , computers and phones.
In certain big cities violent crime is rising e.g. Chicago and Baltimore
The media and politicians who prey on unfounded fear.
Chicago’s murder rate soars 72% in 2016; shootings up more than 88%
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/04/01/murders-shootings-soar-chicago-through-first-three-months-2016/82507210/
I don’t live in Chicago.
Many Americans are uninformed and they form opinions based on fear and anger.
And yet Detroit’s and Flint’s crime rate is dropping… but that doesn’t make headlines because it doesn’t play into the media’s narrative.
Internet and social media. We hear about everything.
I was just talking to my sister about this the other day. I do not understand why I see on the news on the internet stories that would normally just have been local news years ago.
A murder, a hit and run, a fire. All use to be just local news.
Nonviolent property crime is up significantly in some areas. I wonder if survey respondents extrapolated to assume an increase in violent crime. Facebook neighborhood groups and sites such as Nextdoor are also gaining membership. I just joined two such sites and it’s been sobering to hear just what our local police contend with on a daily basis. I’m sure it’s business as usual for them, but I was blissfully ignorant until joining the groups.
Because a populace that is afraid is easier to control.
We just all know too much now.
Take rifling through cars at night. In our large city, it’s common…always has been…but when our “Next Door” site started a couple of years ago, everyone started sending out blasts whenever it happened…there’s a sense now of a crime epidemic and I just don’t have the energy right now to tell folks there its the same that it ever was…we just don’t keep it to ourselves anymore.
This is an interesting article
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/14/us/murder-rates-cities-fbi.html?_r=0
Because of media, both news and social
Because fear sells, and between politicians and corporations there is a lot to sell and few scruples over how to do it.
If it bleeds, it leads" …
Domestic crime is the least of our worries. We should be more concerned with what’s happening in North Korea and the south China seas right now.
Not to mention our god awful presidential candidate choices. @-)
I think a particular news station has a profound effect on some of the elderly population in particular. They keep it on all day long and become anxious and fearful.
Just do what I do and don’t watch the local news. 98% of it is a downer. When it comes to that kind of stuff, I’m okay sticking my head in the sand.
I agree that it’s the world events and national politics that give me more angst.
Because Orwell was right.
Orwell was right about what??
“Four legs good, two legs bad.”
:@)