If you are seeking to be more interesting at your next dinner party or at the water cooler, let me recommend the book I just read: "Freakonomics- A Rogue Economist Explored the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt.
The book's forward explains "As Levitt sees it, economics is a science with excellent tools for gaining answers but a serious shortage of interesting questions. His particular gift is the ability to ask such questions. For instance: If drug dealers make so much money, why do they still live with their mothers? Which is more dangerous, a gun or a swimming pool? What really caused crime rates to plunge during the past decade? Do real-estate agents have their clients' best interests at heart? Why do black parents give their children names that may hurt their career prospects? Do schoolteachers cheat to meet high-stakes testing standards? Is sumo wrestling corrupt?"
While I was amused and entertained learning about real-estate agents and the naming choices of blacks and whites, the chapter that grabbed my attention was the one entitled "Where Have All The Criminals Gone? The chapter goes on to explain why the usual explanations for falling crime such as a good economy, larger police presence, prisons and capital punishment are not the true reasons. The actual reason, according to Levitt and others quoted in this chapter is ABORTION. Since abortion became legalized and more "affordable" to the masses, any woman who does not want her child can do away with it (my term, not the author's). And following Levitt's thinking, "Unwantedness leads to high crime." Since legalized abortion led to less unwantedness, abortion therefore led to less crime.
Statistics show that black women abort their children at a higher rate than white women. Since many of the women who abort are from poorer neighborhoods and/or are not in a situation that would make a good environment for raising a child, many of the children who might grow up to become criminals are killed in the womb- the ultimate crime prevention program.
Levitt, while trying to steer clear of the moral implications of abortion, does admit that the loss of 1.5 million lives per year due to abortion is a "terribly inefficient" way to curb crime considering the homicide rate in the U.S. is around 15,000 a year.
I realize that the discussion of statistics in this book is an academic exercise, but how can one not take the implications of these facts, whether they be on cheating, safety or culture and not have them be analyzed through the lens of one's worldview as one reads? My heart bleeds when I read "When a woman does not want to have a child, she usually has a good reason" and "Abortion leads to less unwantedness".
What reason is "good enough" to terminate the life of another? Who determines the "wantedness" of another person? And, sadly, in a Hitler-esque ridding society of the undesirable, it would appear that these statistics tell the truth (at least in part).
While I am grateful for falling crime rates, I cannot help but think of those lives never given a chance. Yes, many of those children probably would grow up to lead destructive lives. Maybe one of them would have grown up to hurt me or someone in my family. But according to the Bible, each life has worth. God gives each of us a choice to choose the right or the wrong. Think of those children who would have chosen the RIGHT. What eternal impact could those children have had on the world? Why were these people never given the chance to choose their path?
Many thoughts are swirling in my head after reading this book. One underlying theme to me is how fallen we all are and how much we need a Savior. It is our human nature to look out for ourself first or cheat if it's to our advantage. I'm sure many of the people who read this book won't be struck by humanity's fallen condition after being entertained by the statistics presented (and really, it is a fascinating read!). But the chapter on abortion hammered home the reality that ideas have consequences and some of those consequences are eternal.
I have enjoyed reading several books this year that have helped me understand our culture better. One book I have read is "Unhooked", about the current s*xual culture of young adults. I have to admit to skipping a couple of chapters in this book as the "muck" got a little much for me. I appreciated the author's conclusions as to the causes of the current s*xual culture, though. Also fascinating was "A Framework for Understanding Poverty" on how difficult it is for someone in generational poverty to rise above their circumstances. "Freakonomics" was another interesting look for me into our society.
And finally, if a real estate agent describes your house as "well-maintained" or "charming", run and find yourself another agent!
