Just like the now popular fallacy, that cities across America have "defunded the police" which is why there's this "crime wave." Pointing out that police funding has actually increased is like forcing cats to look in a mirror. They don't want to hear it and change the subject as soon as you start pulling out statistics. Also, when you point out that "defunding" actually means transferring the money back to social services which are better positioned to solve issues like public mental health, homelessness, or inequality (I tell clients not to call 911 in case of emergency because all you will get is cops), they completely tune out. It appears elites hate two things: good news and solutions to problems.
You're not wrong but the murder rate in mid 80s to early 90s New York was a lot higher than it is now. It was a kind of 'wave' statistically. It's doubtful anyone in the media grappled with actual causes. There can always be a sharp increase or decrease in crime which will clearly follow events like deindustrialization, etc. We will only get bullshit to explain or deal with it but should we doubt the metaphor of a wave even if we doubt it's propagandistic uses?
Just like the now popular fallacy, that cities across America have "defunded the police" which is why there's this "crime wave." Pointing out that police funding has actually increased is like forcing cats to look in a mirror. They don't want to hear it and change the subject as soon as you start pulling out statistics. Also, when you point out that "defunding" actually means transferring the money back to social services which are better positioned to solve issues like public mental health, homelessness, or inequality (I tell clients not to call 911 in case of emergency because all you will get is cops), they completely tune out. It appears elites hate two things: good news and solutions to problems.
Thank you for your work, and for continuing to document the widening dichotomy between reality and perception.
Thanks for another great article, Alec. I am now reading Propaganda the formation of men’s attitudes by Jacques Ellul :)
You're not wrong but the murder rate in mid 80s to early 90s New York was a lot higher than it is now. It was a kind of 'wave' statistically. It's doubtful anyone in the media grappled with actual causes. There can always be a sharp increase or decrease in crime which will clearly follow events like deindustrialization, etc. We will only get bullshit to explain or deal with it but should we doubt the metaphor of a wave even if we doubt it's propagandistic uses?