Perry, I couldn’t agree more about the need to legalize drugs. The current laws actually encourage crime by making drug dealing so profitable. But as Barnaby says, there are also many other factors driving crime.

I don’t agree about poverty causing crime. As the recent corporate scandals show, crime is caused more by loose morals. The probability of being caught and convicted also affects crime.

I’ve noticed that, at least in developing countries, the poorest people are seldom, if ever, involved in crime, except perhaps for pick pockets and purse snatchers. In Latin America, for example, serious crime is often committed by former cops or people who have or could have a “day” job. Which brings us back to the issue of morals. (By “morals” I’m referring to the Golden Rule: don’t do to others what you don’t want done to you or your loved ones).