I just discovered this study ( although it's a few years old, but i never heard of it ).
********papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=174508
Basically in short it argues that the main reason for a dramatic drop in crime in US that started in the 90ies is legalization of abortion.
That future criminals were just not born.

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Человек, который почувствовал ветер перемен, должен построить не щит от ветра, а ветряную мельницу

Mike, Olga and I read thatstudy, like, 10 years ago. It put a lot of things in perspective. Every time I mention it to my "liberal" friends, they start fuming like chimneys. Let's see what's going to happen here.

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Хочу лето (или нормальную зиму)

Yeah, it got released in 2000 or so.. but probably was not publicized much.. or just skipped my attention at times.
I downloaded the full study and went thru it in details and it seems valid. I have also read some critique on it and it still seems valid.

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Человек, который почувствовал ветер перемен, должен построить не щит от ветра, а ветряную мельницу

Mike, son of a drug dealer might be pre-disposed to violence? Unwanted daughter of the prostitute might inherit the skill?
NO WAY, you liar you

Oleg, i would expect both liberal and conservatives to freak actually..
they religious nuts are against abortion all-together..

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Человек, который почувствовал ветер перемен, должен построить не щит от ветра, а ветряную мельницу

why do you guys expect "liberals" to start fuming over it?
abortions need to remain legal, period.

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Happy New Year to all! Virtual hugs!

The liberals are ( and have been ) fuming on the subject of this research as in their minds it encourages eugenics.
As poor black single mothers are most likely to produce future violent criminals this research could suggest encouragement of abortions for specific group.

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Человек, который почувствовал ветер перемен, должен построить не щит от ветра, а ветряную мельницу

yeah i nuked the rant about us typing in english..
i am just not comfortable with any scientific terms in russian at all.
anyway, Ira i did not mean specifically you, or even Julia.. i was just reading about the reception this study got, as abortion is so politicized.
Other things that effect crime rates ( according to Levitt research )
- Longer prison terms ( stricter laws )
- Large police presence
Weaker correlation with
- Capital punishment
- Economic cycles

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Человек, который почувствовал ветер перемен, должен построить не щит от ветра, а ветряную мельницу

Ira & Julia, I'm glad that we see eye to eye here. I did have a violent argument with someone about it, long time ago. That person's premise: you can't predict what kind of person will that unaborted child become. Echoing Slavik: Yes We Can!
Unwanted children are usually fall into the life of crime faster than IVF babies. (IMHO)

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Хочу лето (или нормальную зиму)

i think it depends on demographics... kids of "decent" population, whether wanted or unwanted have more chance to stay more or less on the right path than kids, wanted or unwanted of, as you put it, crackheads.
eugenics is genetic selection based on... well, genes. Selecting whites vs blacks or yellow vs brown. Not based on social status. If the social status is low, abortion would be better than raising a poor human being who'd be forced to the streets at the age of 8 to feed themselves selling crack cause their parents are drunk somewhere. This would be the case for all races and eye colors and statute, etc... I don't see the connection of this with eugenics. But in allowing parents to choose gender and eye color of the future kid while going thru IVF - there i see it:-@