Overlooking the Obvious

Charles Lane writes an editorial in The Washington Post asking the question of why our U.S. crime rate is dropping? Somehow he cannot bring himself to mention one of the two most obvious causes.

Increased incarceration of criminals is undoubtedly a major factor, as Lane notes. However most crimes, especially violent crimes, are committed by the young.

We are an aging society with fewer young people. Ipso facto, the crime rate will decline. This isn't rocket science, it's demography.