Comment by nullbio
1 day ago
The US in the 70's and 80's is not comparable to current US given different socioeconomic factors. China is far safer than the US is, if you want an accurate example.
> Is that why prisons so safe and free of crime?
Surveilled prisons are safer than non-surveilled ones. Compare a technology forward prison with a prison in a third world country if you want an example.
>The US in the 70's and 80's is not comparable to current US given different socioeconomic factors
The socioeconomic factors have become more favorable. Excluding surveillance there's been a secular crime drop due to aging demographics, family planning / abortions, potentially even decline in lead etc. The US is not as safe as China, but it's safer than the US 40 years ago all other things held equal. Of course an authoritarian state is safer but that's meaningless to compare yourself to if you value freedom.
What's actually changed is an absolute spread of paranoia and fear of imagined threats even in neighborhoods that look like as idyllic as a Scandinavian village.