There certainly is a lot of merit in the inequality argument when it comes to crime in general. I correlate that particular aspect with expectation.

One of the things that struck me a little while ago is that on a poverty index, we're really not that bad off in comparison to some recently far more lauded nations. Our average per capita income is far ahead of China or India for example. (And I'd have to hunt where I noticed that - but the difference was surprisingly significant). And neither of these countries are noted for a serious crime problem - certainly not to the extent that we are.

Without expectation of more, the desire for more is not nearly as acute. People are basically happy with what they've got because there isn't an inherent expectation that they should (or are able to) have much more. Here, we have career criminals who still hold down fairly well-paying jobs too. It's not need in some instances - it's greed. Expectations.

And having great wealth right in the face of the impoverished simply has to fuel desire.

When it comes to the violence in our crime - well here I think we have to talk about role models.

Who are the role models of our society? Particularly the disgruntled who have been fed a diet of insatiable expectation for some time now. Mahatma Ghandi or Jacob Zuma?

Get me my machine gun! Without so much as a please or apology.