Pride, Homicide and Income Inequality
During this conversation with Jordan Peterson and Martin Daly the
relationship between the homicide rate in Chicago and income inequality (i.i.)
was discussed in some detail. Martin Daly was explaining a study he was
involved in during the 1990’s trying to find the best predictor of homicide
rates and discovered that the Gini index or Gini coefficient was very good at predicting homicide rates even
to the individual neighborhoods; second only to male life expectancy. Most of
the homicides were males killing each other over street reputation (e.g. dissed
in a bar, etc.). After a multi-varied analysis it was determined that nothing
else was significant to predicting the homicide rate except i.i. It wasn’t poverty but relative poverty; indicating it wasn't coveting alone. Basically in areas where i.i. is not a
significant factor as in mostly rich areas or working class areas there were
fewer homicides. So, what was driving male homicides was the existence of a
steep economic dominance hierarchy that makes it difficult for young men to
obtain status through conventional or socially productive means. (And or, envy becomes magnified in such situations.) So, instead
they turn to violence as a means of establishing status among other young men
jockeying for status. (Or, 1 Jn.3:12-15)
Daly explained that men are driven by status and maintaining face in
competitive milieus. The willingness to use violence in these neighborhoods to
escalate competition is an indication of a lack of hope for future opportunities.
If you are a young college kid you have good life prospects of eventually
becoming well paid and married. But if you are in the ghetto with 48%
unemployment and little stability for the future, you are more willing to take
risks for money and sex now rather than later. Plus the one resource you have
is your reputation on the street. If you have other resources you can walk away
from disrespect and gain it later. If all you have is street respect it becomes
important to defend it. Daly applying evolutionary logic sees this as a
rational response and survival strategy to environmental uncertainty with high
competition. Maybe then we shouldn’t make homicide illegal in such cases? They
are just trying to spread their genes after all and eliminate competition for
their posterity. Evolution is morally blind as a guide, and if the blind lead
the blind… (Mt.15:14, Lk.6:39) Needless to say Daly seems to think that
socialism is at least part of the solution (Mt.15:14, Lk.6:39). I’m sure gun control will also fall in there as part of the solution for leftists.
Men having a stronger spirit by design are more easily provoked by pride and reputation and in general have less emotion than women as we explained here and here. But when you have the rawest form of the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes mingled with the pride of life (1 Jn.2:16) you can understand the homicide rate and income inequality (i.i.) more perfectly. When your worldview excludes any hope in the world to come then why lay up treasures in heaven? (Mt.6:20) Why take heed and beware of covetousness? (Lk.12:15) Apparently your life only consists of the abundance of the things you possess. Eat and drink for tomorrow we die! (1 Cor.15:32) When you tell men street pride is valuable and that’s all you have then what do you expect? When you spoil men (Col.2:8) of their eternal hope by teaching them they are animals and there is nothing when they die, how do you expect them to act? Then, when you tell them this is a rational evolutionary response to the environment they can feel justified in their actions (like the ridiculous rap video at the beginning)! (Mt.15:14, Lk.6:39)
Paul prayed “that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.” (2 Thess.3:2) When men have the faith of Christ they have no excuse for sin (Rom.6-8). They have a future hope because- If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Col.3:1-4) But why be righteous and just if tomorrow we die and that’s that? The evolutionary justification for this wanton “reproductive strategy” and acquiring a gangster reputation is like throwing accelerant into a fire. When you conclude that homicide in behalf of street status is a reasonable evolutionary strategy you are calling evil good and good evil (Isa.5:20). A rejection of Christ and his gospel leads men to destruction and perdition along with their nation that forgets God. The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. (Psa.9:17)
What is the cause of homicide? No doubt pride (1 Jn.3:12) and envy (Prv.27:4, Ac.7:9, Gen.37) which is related to pride as well as covetousness. (It seems envy is directed at the person where covetousness is directed at things.) Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? (Jam.4:5) From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. (Jam.4:1-2) Men commit crime and sin because they are sinners and need to repent. This is not a thought out strategy, it is impulsive and lust driven like animals. Until psychologists acknowledge the existence of sin and the base impulses in the flesh of men and the Saviour from sin they will continue to lead the blind into the pit.
Your reputation and having a good name is a blessing from God (Prv.22:1, Ecc.7:1). If you are a Christian for long you will eventually have friends and family (Jn.7:5, Mt.13:57, Mk.6:4, Jn.4:44) disrespect you and dishonor you and even slander you as they did Jesus himself (Mt. 9:11,34, 11:19, 12:24,27:18, Mk.2:16, 3:21-2, 15:10, Lk.7:34, Jn.8:48, 9:16). When people slander you they are stealing the value of your good name. But as followers of Christ we do as his example and make ourselves of no reputation (Phil.2:5-7). But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. (Jam.4:6). You can’t stop people from slandering you but you can commit it unto God and let him establish you and exalt you in his time. There is no reason to be hasty of spirit and try to magnify yourself with ghetto glory, or follow evolutionary sophistry. Just seek ye out of the book of the LORD and read (Isa.34:16).
Interesting history of 'street culture':
The Origin of Black American Culture and Ebonics | Thomas Sowell - YouTube
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