User talk:Maximilian Sass

I thought the video about Steven Levitt's recent research and analysis on crime in America was really interesting. The fact that he questioned and then spoke against the government-proposed information was bold. Focusing on New York City, Levitt brought to attention Giuliani's "answers" to the steep crime drop. Giuliani had said that it could be accredited mainly to the police force. Levitt had done research in great depth and brought up a very interesting point. Levitt's main reasoning for the decrease in crime was one never thought of before; legalization and easier access to abortion. A very controversial topic for some, the man's argument made sense. Criminals come from troubled homes, which breed troubled youth, who are often a product single parents or parents that don't care. I thought it was really interesting how Levitt tied his answer together from such off topic factors. Although I think Levitt has a strong point to make, I wouldn't completely agree with him because it seems unlikely for him to be able to figure out the percentage of influence that abortion holds on the decrease in crime. After understanding what Steven Levitt is saying I guess you could say that the crime drop could even be attributed to the supreme court case of Roe vs. Wade, which legalized abortion in the United States. It's fascinating how the two topics can relate. It doesn't seem so much of a correlation, as it does a causality. I feel like correlating topics have to be pretty closely related, while the abortion opportunities opening simply caused the crime drop; through other limiting factors. I give Steven Levitt major props and respect for being skeptical and challenging the government.

Maximilian Sass (talk)Max Sass

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCH_OewK_KI&feature=player_embedded
 * based off the short movie, It's Not Always A Wonderful Life