Im reading “The Man of My Life” by Manuel Vazquez Montalban and there is a passing reference to Catharism. I need to read the Wiki in more detail, but I’m surprised I never heard of this before.
Day: December 15, 2024
Crime Clearance Rates
A good post from Statistia on Crime Clearance Rates (which seems to be another word for “convictions”). I was mostly interested in murder, which seems to be about half. However, my understanding is murder is usually a crime of passion between people who know each other. So 50% seems pretty small.
Some searching gives numbers on the single digits of convictions for “random” murders in the US. Which brings me to my real subject of interest: the apprehension of Luigi Mangione for the killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
I continue to be very skeptical that kids behind the counter of a McDonalds in Altoona, PA identified the killer from somewhat poor surveillance images. My best guess is our modern Surveillance State quickly kicked into gear and all of the mechanisms put into place for our long running War on Terror quickly tracked their target. The McDonalds kids were explicitly or otherwise given the information. Or maybe that wasn’t even necessary. I haven’t seen any interviews of these young heroes. Normally I would expect to see them on every TV screen and eventually, perhaps on Dancing With The Stars. But nada.
Of course I do expect our extensive (and expensive) Surveillance State should do it’s job. I’m just not clear exactly what that job is at this point. I heard one commentator call the killing a terroristic act. Maybe. But I do know this. If I were shot in similar circumstances I would not expect similar treatment. Is the Surveillance State just here to protect the wealthy and their property? Some say that is the purpose of all police. Not a bad thing, but if it’s the only thing, it may be less a tool for justice and more a tool of repression.
I found myself re-reading an old book review of Thomas Pynchon Inherent Vice. Maybe Doc Sportello was on to something after all (Drugs to Do, Cases to Solve)
Steven A. Guccione 