Why violent crime is so rare in Iceland (BBC) {Can you guess ?}

[eppur_se_muova]

***
First - and arguably foremost - there is virtually no difference among upper, middle and lower classes in Iceland. And with that, tension between economic classes is non-existent, a rare occurrence for any country.

A study of the Icelandic class system done by a University of Missouri master's student found only 1.1% of participants identified themselves as upper class, while 1.5% saw themselves as lower class.

The remaining 97% identified themselves as upper-middle class, lower-middle class, or working class.

On one of three visits to Althing, the Icelandic parliament, I met Bjorgvin Sigurdsson, former chairman of the parliamentary group of the Social Democratic Alliance. In his eyes - as well as those of many Icelanders I spoke with - equality was the biggest reason for the nation's relative lack of crime.

"Here you can have the tycoon's children go to school with everyone else," Sigurdsson says, adding that the country's social welfare and education systems promoted an egalitarian culture.
***
more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25201471

[NYC_SKP]

1. Indeed.

This is an argument I often make to those who think that banning firearms is the solution to American violence.

Better management of gun rights is certainly a part of the picture, but the holistic treatment of the base causes of crime (and suicide) must address the inequities of our society and culture first and foremost.

[area51]

8. +1 n/t

[madinmaryland]

2. As long as a majority of this country believes that guvmint is the problem, we will

never have the advanced society that many European nations enjoy. We seem intent on living the Cowboy west, with every person for themself and the whole "I got mine, fuck everyone else" mentality.

[historylovr]

4. +1

[kristopher]

3. The same argument is made about Japan

The self identification follows the same profile and the violent crime rate is remarkably low.

Thanks for the post.

[Doctor_J]

5. No guns, good education, banksters in prison

sort of an un-US

[CTyankee]

6. Socialism. And etc....

[adirondacker]

7. They also never lock their house doors. The door locks are primarily for ornamental purpose.:)