Crime in America

In In Pursuit of Happiness and Good Government (Simon & Schuster, fall 1988), Charles Murray focuses on some of the considerations that permit individuals to pursue happiness—what he calls “enabling conditions.” One of these is safety. In this excerpt, Mr. Murray breaks new ground as he reflects on how different “the crime problem” looks when we ask just what constitutes “enough safety” to go about our daily lives. What gets lost in our preoccupation with crime statistics? People’s need for “lawfulness” and public civility.

—MG

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Charles Murray

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In In Pursuit of Happiness and Good Government (Simon & Schuster, fall 1988), Charles Murray focuses on some of the considerations that permit individuals to pursue happiness—what he calls “enabling conditions.” One of these is safety. In this excerpt, Mr. Murray breaks new ground as he reflects on how different “the crime problem” looks when we ask just what constitutes “enough safety” to go about our daily lives. What gets lost in our preoccupation with crime statistics? People’s need for “lawfulness” and public civility.

—MG