if that's what it sounds like to you, you are playing a very silly game. I am denying criminality being inherent in a human beings (are you religious by anychance sounds like you are trying to co-opt original sin under a new label), unless you mean in the context of mental healt I.E sociopaths. though, crime does exist.
I would have to disagree with you. People are generally pretty selfish and look out for their own needs and that of their dependents before anyone else's. Rape, murder, and stealing has been around since the beginning of humankind. It has nothing to do with original sin or any religious reasons. On the contrary, I would say you seem like the more religious or spiritual one with your optimistic stand point. You don't have to be a sociopath to rape, murder, or steal. It could be any heat of the moment situation or a situation of need (you're starving and you see someone's nice steak sitting unattended on a table).
Because a heat of the moment situation or moment of need is going to cause an otherwise "normal," level headed, good person to rape someone?
Uh, yeah. It's happened. People are pretty susceptible to emotions that cloud judgment and unpredictability.
In America's society, there's usually not much "need" for these things. People can get a job, buy a hooker, or file a lawsuit (and get money instead of jailtime!). I'm not sure what you're getting at.
Umm... not everyone can just easily "get a job". You seem like a privileged person, I mean "not much need for stealing"? Maybe not for you, but I don't think you can speak for everyone in America. And who said that every behavioral flaw of humankind was necessary? On the flip side of your argument there's not much "need" for the average citizen to own a gun in our society either.
@burt: since there has yet to be a perfect Utopian society where there was never any rape, murder, or theft then I'd have to say that it's inherent human behavior.
I don't know if I would consider myself privileged, although I come from a town where most people view everyone that lives in it as "privileged." I had to work for everything I have, nothing was given to me, including jobs. I had to apply, send out resumes, and qualify to get the job I have. It doesn't pay much, but it does pay the bills. You're right, I can't speak for everyone in America, unemployment is up quite high. Maybe I misspoke back there. But there really isn't need for murdering or raping. And I can't see the average joe going and raping someone in the "heat of the moment." Most people know what "no" means. Unless you're considering the average joe a drunk or a drug addict.
This however, was not the point. We are obviously not going to agree. There also is no gun control debate in America.
None of the politicians even want to talk about it.