Polling data released this week shows that Americans' views on nationwide crime rates have gotten closer to reflecting reality. But it's less likely that we're coming to our senses than that partisanship is skewing the data in a more accurate direction than usual.
"Americans' perceptions of crime in the U.S. have improved," writes Megan Brenan at Gallup, "with the percentage saying national crime has increased over the past year falling by 13 points, to 64%." The number of respondents saying crime in the U.S. was "extremely" or "very serious" also dropped 7 points, to 56 percent, over the last year.
