Crime Is it fair to say Liberals/Democrats are more tolerant/softer on crime?

[cooks1]

As a liberal perhaps I can offer some context, though I'm sure many liberals feel different than me also.

I don't mind governments being tough on crime. I'm fine with the death penalty in certain situations, though I think it should be used less and not take 15-30 years when it is used. I also think that if it COSTS MORE TAXPAYER MONEY to put someone to death than to keep them in jail for life without parole (which it currently does due to the appeals process) it kind of defeats the whole point. I'm fine with tough sentencing in the right conditions. Definitely not a fan of the whole 'nevermind the shoplifting' that was going on out in CA for a while. On the surface it might be hard to tell my thoughts on crime from a conservatives.

I think where I and some conservatives differ is I would like to see the government fighting the causes of crime as hard as they fight the crimes. In Florida for example, 1/3 of ALL CRIME is drug related. Nationwide it's over 25%. If over 1/4 of all the crime is drug related, it would seem to me that making heavy investments to minimize drug abuse and free rehab clinics would be well worth the cost. But there are those within conservative circles that would consider that a 'bleeding heart' perspective.

 

[Captain Tenneal]

I've always agreed with leftists on white collar crime going underpunished. So I don't think they were always "soft" on crime, more so that the crime topic got hijacked in the 2010s and injected with race. Then you got the woke policy changes in west coast cities.

Winners: Elite
Losers: Commoners

 

[Possum Jenkins]

Yes.

This has been the case since the Enlightenment, 300 years ago.

The libs want to deter, rehabilitate. They're the ones that were against capital punishment, torture, etc.

Conservatives want to punish and exact revenge. These were the one pouring molten steel down throats of criminals.

 

[White Whale]

The guy that set fire to govonor Josh Shapiro's house was denied bail.

 

[Darkavius]

I think where I and some conservatives differ is I would like to see the government fighting the causes of crime as hard as they fight the crimes. In Florida for example, 1/3 of ALL CRIME is drug related. Nationwide it's over 25%. If over 1/4 of all the crime is drug related, it would seem to me that making heavy investments to minimize drug abuse and free rehab clinics would be well worth the cost. But there are those within conservative circles that would consider that a 'bleeding heart' perspective.

If that were a thing in Conservative politics then Repubs would never have had Reagan two terms. Additionally, in order to do that governments would actually have to go up against Pharmaceutical companies and changes in the healthcare system would have to be made.

 

[KBE6EKCTAH_CCP]

I moved to a nice area over a decade ago but it has been getting worse since covid because of all the people from other parts of California that have moved in. It has gotten especially bad since 2025. Now there is a very visible gang presence and there's also discussions held on the internet in two very different bubbles. There's a VERY stark difference between how people talk about it on the liberal sites like reddit and other sites that do not lean left.

it is incredible if not entertaining.

On the liberal end, people are saying just leave the gangs alone. That they usually do not target civilians and don't bother painting over their gang grafitti because they'll just come back and tag the wall again. Leave them alone, if you see them on the street, cross to the other side. Basically overall a very "hands off" approach

On Facebook where I see a lot of MAGA memes, it's the complete opposite. People want very harsh punishment, they're talking about how to crack down on it, and they're getting law enforcement involved.

But this isnt the only place I see evidence. I read it on here on the European migrant issue. On the migrant crime problem, conservative posters seem to want to cut immigration and support deportation. Liberal solution seems to be more financial support like welfare and more money for educating migrants.

Also when migrants got bussed to NYC and they were camping on the streets and subway if they're not housed in hotels. I saw a very hands off approach from Liberals. Basically just keep supporting the migrants financially whereas conservatives wanted them all rounded up and deported and the ones at the border stopped and turned back.

In germany and france progressive parties are systematically of a softer stance on crime yes. It s not controversial at all.

 

[cooks1]

If that were a thing in Conservative politics then Repubs would never have had Reagan two terms. Additionally, in order to do that governments would actually have to go up against Pharmaceutical companies and changes in the healthcare system would have to be made.

Well........ you can be tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime at the same time. My perspective is Republicans just want to be tough as fuck on the criminals while giving 0.00 shits on the causes of crime. Whereas liberals unfortunately weight the scale too much on just tackling causes and think of drug addicted criminals as victims first, criminals second. Most of society will not tolerate that.

But to your larger point -yes. Major changes to the healthcare system would be necessary. And major changes are necessary. Healthcare spending was 17.6% of TOTAL US GDP in 2023. This is WAYYY more than any other first world nation, and probably more than any other 3rd world nation that is not a war torn region like Afghanistan. And our outcomes are meh by comparison. I know Americans love their capitalism, but profit and optimal medical outcomes are not always aligned and are often diametrically opposed.

 

[F1980]

Yes.

This has been the case since the Enlightenment, 300 years ago.

The libs want to deter, rehabilitate. They're the ones that were against capital punishment, torture, etc.

Conservatives want to punish and exact revenge. These were the one pouring molten steel down throats of criminals.

If someone raped and murdered your daughter, would you want him to be rehabilitated, taught a new life skill so he can get out of prison with less chance of raping again and have a fruitful life making good money and live happily ever after with his new family?

Or do you want molten steel poured down his throat?

All the money and rehabilitation in the world isn't working with the migrants in Sweden and Germany.

Meanwhile, Bukele's hardline approach pushed El Salvador to change from the murder capital of the world to one of the safest countries in South America.

 

[Darkavius]

Well........ you can be tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime at the same time. My perspective is Republicans just want to be tough as fuck on the criminals while giving 0.00 shits on the causes of crime. Whereas liberals unfortunately weight the scale too much on just tackling causes and think of drug addicted criminals as victims first, criminals second. Most of society will not tolerate that.

But to your larger point -yes. Major changes to the healthcare system would be necessary. And major changes are necessary. Healthcare spending was 17.6% of TOTAL US GDP in 2023. This is WAYYY more than any other first world nation, and probably more than any other 3rd world nation that is not a war torn region like Afghanistan. And our outcomes are meh by comparison. I know Americans love their capitalism, but profit and optimal medical outcomes are not always aligned and are often diametrically opposed.

In reading your statement is it safe to say Repubs and Liberals actually suffer from the same problem? The problem being that neither wants to actually go after the parts of the system that could actually fix the issue. Repubs and Dems only attack the lowest hanging fruit of drug addicts and pushers (i.e. The War on Drugs and The 3 Strikes Law).

This might be the reason why the Dems are struggling internally. I have read that people that are more to the left want not only significant changes to the healthcare system but that white collar criminals in corporations actually face criminal justice and prison time for what they do. On the other end I do not know what conservatives want other than a really strong police presence in America. I would love to know but the only conservative policy towards crime the past 50 years has been more police and more military.

 

[Natural Order]

Well........ you can be tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime at the same time. My perspective is Republicans just want to be tough as fuck on the criminals while giving 0.00 shits on the causes of crime. Whereas liberals unfortunately weight the scale too much on just tackling causes and think of drug addicted criminals as victims first, criminals second. Most of society will not tolerate that.

But to your larger point -yes. Major changes to the healthcare system would be necessary. And major changes are necessary. Healthcare spending was 17.6% of TOTAL US GDP in 2023. This is WAYYY more than any other first world nation, and probably more than any other 3rd world nation that is not a war torn region like Afghanistan. And our outcomes are meh by comparison. I know Americans love their capitalism, but profit and optimal medical outcomes are not always aligned and are often diametrically opposed.

It'll be a funny story for the history books. Best country on the face of the earth tanks itself in a few hundred years by allowing capitalism to hold court over common sense. Shame we always need to learn the hard way.

 

[Possum Jenkins]

If someone raped and murdered your daughter, would you want him to be rehabilitated, taught a new life skill so he can get out of prison with less chance of raping again and have a fruitful life making good money and live happily ever after with his new family?

Or do you want molten steel poured down his throat?

I'd want to tap dance on his chest in golf spikes while I poured the steel down his throat.

But that's irrelevant.

The gov't and the law aren't there to fulfill our revenge fantasies. They're there to keep society functioning with as least harm as possible. Abolishing the death penalty (this doesn't mean abolishing punishment or even incarceration) serves this end.

 

[F1980]

I'd want to tap dance on his chest in golf spikes while I poured the steel down his throat.

But that's irrelevant.

The gov't and the law aren't there to fulfill our revenge fantasies. They're there to keep society functioning with as least harm as possible. Abolishing the death penalty (this doesn't mean abolishing punishment or even incarceration) serves this end.

The government's primary goal is to protect its citizens. If Sweden and Germany can't rehabilitate criminals with all the money and resources they pour into it, then we sure as shit can't. Meanwhile, El Salvador is getting unbelievable results with a very small percentage of resources compared to that of ours and Europe's. I know 2 people personally who are planning on retiring in El Salvador after decades of me hearing from them horror stories of what they've witnessed over there.

 

[DoctorTaco]

Liberals and Democrats ultimate goal is rehabilitation for criminals. Republicans and right wingers focus instead on punitive measures as a deterrent.

 

[lowlife]

Yes. Name one where it’s better for the criminal to have a conservative judge presiding

the criminal is white and the defendant is a poc. the defendant holds a position of power. that was easy.

 

[Scott Stapp]

 

[freakroor]

I'd say libs are more tolerant on blue collar crime and the right are more tolerant on white collar crime.

sounds pretty accurate

 

[nhbbear]

Oh man, soft on crime policies disgust me a great deal, but there has to be something in conjunction with harsh sentences such as a focus on rehabilitation and education as well as harsh punishments. Liberals want to excise the behavior and blame society and have some lofty notion that they can fix society when they cant-it’s just too far gone for the most part. I teach my students that one of the most important aspects of the criminal justice system is incapacitation to keep criminals away from average citizens. Conservatives want to throw people away while liberals want to hug them and tell them it will be ok. There has to be something middle ground.

 

[HereticBD]

I'd want to tap dance on his chest in golf spikes while I poured the steel down his throat.

But that's irrelevant.

The gov't and the law aren't there to fulfill our revenge fantasies. They're there to keep society functioning with as least harm as possible. Abolishing the death penalty (this doesn't mean abolishing punishment or even incarceration) serves this end.

Is the death penalty truly abolished if LWOP still exists?

I just find it interesting when left leaning folks(or anybody, really) thinks that life in a cage isn't just a death sentence with extra steps. Do you believe everybody, no matter what, deserves a chance at rehabilitation and freedom, or no? If your answer is "no", then what's the point of keeping people alive in a cage until they croak? Other than slave labor of course.

 

[Rob Battisti]

the criminal is white and the defendant is a poc. the defendant holds a position of power. that was easy.

Yawn

 

[Rod1]

"Are Democrats soft on crime?"

Buddy the GOP made a felon their Dear Leader...