What Is the Source of the ‘Soft-on-Crime’ Mentality?
There is growing anger over the high rates of youth crime, particularly in the Kimberley area of Western Australia where violent crime rates are 17 times higher than in Perth. The Queensland government has faced criticism for detaining young offenders in police watchhouses without evidence supporting harsher penalties.
The divide in attitudes towards youth crime reflects different beliefs about its causes. Some believe that poor parenting is to blame and advocate for punishment as a deterrent, while others emphasize the victimhood of offenders and their parents. Both perspectives have some truth, but there is often a lack of balance in evaluating them. Anger is directed either towards the individual offender or towards society as a whole.
The split between these perspectives arises from different worldviews. The left tends to view people as innately good but corruptible by social factors such as racism, toxic masculinity, greed, and political ambition. In this view, offenders and their families are seen as victims of societal forces that push them towards criminal behavior. The emphasis is on rights rather than responsibility.
On the other hand, there is a belief, influenced in part by religious teachings, that humans are fundamentally good but inclined towards selfishness and greed. Christianity, which still underpins the morality of many Australians, teaches that individuals are responsible for their own actions and cannot solely blame external factors or society. Other major religions share similar beliefs, although they may have different perspectives on the value of the physical world.
Some argue that personal responsibility is not given enough weight in discussions about youth crime. Religious individuals, and even those who have inherited a moral system based on religion, generally believe that individuals must take partial responsibility for their actions, while acknowledging the influence of external factors. They argue that legal deterrence, tough disincentives, and punishment are appropriate responses.
In contrast, the left often denies personal responsibility and attributes all deviant behavior to societal structures. Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, they maintain that all people are inherently good. This worldview can have dire consequences, particularly when it comes to issues like bad parenting or gender identity.
Fuzzy thinking, according to these critics, is leading to misguided ideas and entitlement. The belief that a person can be “born in the wrong body” or identify as a different gender is questioned as implausible for those who do not hold beliefs in the transmigration of souls or a soul at all. Similarly, the claim of identifying as Aboriginal without substantial genetic evidence is seen as a product of self-indulgent victimhood.
Overall, the divide in attitudes towards youth crime reflects different beliefs about the causes and responsibility for such behavior. Balancing personal responsibility and external influences is crucial in addressing the issue effectively.
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