I, along with all of you, have watched the videos of mobs looting Apple and Nike stores, as well as jewelry stores and luxury goods. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez reassured us that what we were seeing was people stealing bread … from the Apple Store. The New York Times even gave Hasan Piker an entire op-ed column to argue in favor of "microlooting." It's not stealing if you steal from a large, profitable corporation.
This nameless poster argues that poverty creates crime, and you reduce crime by eliminating poverty. Does he mean all crime, like homicide and rape, or just stealing? We guess that to eliminate crime, we just need to eliminate poverty. The government should declare a war on poverty and invest trillions of dollars over decades to do it. It should have started a long time ago, and we'd certainly be seeing the results by now.
You REDUCE crime by eliminating POVERTY. The reason so called nice neighborhoods have lower crime rates is because people’s basic needs are being met. It is not because of police, alarm systems, or neighborhood associations. Poverty creates crime.
— ً (@omgsidewalks) August 7, 2026
No.
You get out of poverty by getting up and going to work and not being a criminal.
— Eupeptic Joe (@jmotivator) August 8, 2026
Crime isn't caused by poverty. There are plenty of poor people that don't commit any crime. Crime is caused by lack of impulse control and inability to weigh the consequences of one's actions.
— Utah_Cajun (@Utah_Cajun) August 8, 2026
You reduce crime by locking up the serial criminals
— Reason Bites (@ReasonBites) August 8, 2026
No man, you reduce poverty by eliminating crime.
— Scion of Boutevant (@Cannieyoungman) August 8, 2026
No it doesn't. There are thousands of people that have been poor and never commited a crime. These people still mowed their lawns, kept things clean. They had pride. Giving people stuff created poverty. Ignorance creates poverty.
— maureen (@bean841000) August 8, 2026
White collar crime is a thing. You have no idea what the fuck you're talking about.
— Henry Defense (@HnryDefense) August 8, 2026
You have it backwards. Poor life choices creates poverty. And crime is one of those bad choices.
— GwinnettWit (@Gwinnett_wit) August 8, 2026
Debunked decades ago, pedantic, hackneyed excuse. Do better when whining
— CW Jensen (@captaincwjensen) August 8, 2026
This has been proven false time and again. Yet you repeat it because you are stupid and it absolves you of bad behaviour
— Poseidon (@GodMaxxing_) August 8, 2026
"Poverty creates crime."
— Right Edge Media (@RightEdge_Media) August 8, 2026
...or the dysfunction that produces criminal behavior also isn't very conducive to generating wealth. Have you considered that possibility?🤔
I can't believe people are still saying this. Then how do you explain all the white collar crime committed by the billionaires you no doubt love to criticize?
— Undeceptions (@Undeception) August 8, 2026
Poverty is a relative concept, its impossible to eliminate. In first world countries, which needs exactly aren't being met? Is there no opportunity to work and buy food? Are there no social programs for those in need?
— Alex Paguis (@alexpaguis) August 8, 2026
Do people have a basic need for other people’s cars?
— Innocent Bystander (@supertolerant) August 8, 2026
This has been disproven by every single socioeconomic study ever.
— Uncle Heem the Han Impregnator (@HeemeyersRevenj) August 8, 2026
And nothing will be solved until everyone admits it.
If you're looting an Apple Store and stealing iPhones, it's not because your basic needs are being met.
Criminals will be criminals. I've seen enough Instagram posts of idiots posing with all the stuff they got from looting Target during the George Floyd riots. They looked pretty well fed, not to mention they had camera phones to post their haul online.
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