There may be another view of the new crime statistics: That increased violent crime in the U.S. is reflecting a fundamental change toward violence in our country (a cultural change led by the Bush administration and the neoconservative movement).

Could there be a correlation between the War on Terror and a tendency toward violence in society at large? For example, does para-militarization of local police cause a hardening in criminal culture? Do increasingly belligerent and violent government policies set the tone for the rest of us?

Stanly Sporkin gave an ADL speech in 1993 called “The ‘Meaning’ of America” where he suggested that harshness in government is reflected throughout the country.