Police, Crime and Government

 Alex Tabarrok writing about "Police, Crime and the Usefulness of Economics" writes:

Using a range of reasonable elasticity estimates from the new literature and a back of the envelope calculation, Klick and I argue that it would not be unreasonable to double the number of police officers in the United States. At current levels, it’s also my belief that police are much more effective than prisons at reducing crime and with far fewer of the blowback effects. Chalfin and McCrary do a more detailed cost-benefit calculation for individual cities and they also find that many cities are severely underpoliced (and some are overpoliced–the police force of Richland County, South Carolina probably does not need a tank).

It seems to me that more police are not only more efficient than prisons at reducing crime but might be more efficient than more welfare, more school spending, food stamps etc. at improving social welfare.

Dorm rooms are often small simple block rooms but are nicer places to live than slums because you don't need to fear aggression nearly as much.

So police are one of the few things that 99%+ of people agree Governments should do, and yet they spend little on it and seem to do a poor job of it!

Simeon and Anna

Simeon and Anna

Luke 2:21On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.

22When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”^b), 24and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”^c

25Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

29“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,

you now dismiss^d your servant in peace.

30For my eyes have seen your salvation,

31which you have prepared in the sight of all people,

32a light for revelation to the Gentiles

and for glory to your people Israel.”

33The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

36There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.^e She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

39When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

James Dobson  once spoke about a pastor that he knew who would who when a young family joined his church would be extra pleased saying these are the type of people that will be the backbone of the church but he (James Dobson) said that we should resist thinking that way. 
 
Simeon was an old man waiting to die and Anna was an old widow but they are mentioned in the bible for greeting Jesus as his (I am assuming) circumcision.  God is no respecter of persons.  God wants the old, the  widow, the poor, the handicapped, the blind, the mentally ill and even those with dons syndrome.  He takes them all and sees none more deserving of his respect than any other.  And we should try to do the same in all parts of our lives.