4 ms·

It's really interesting to me at how sensitive Americans (in particular) seem to be when it comes to property damage or theft while being completely uncaring wh

by jmyeet 4y ago

It's really interesting to me at how sensitive Americans (in particular) seem to be when it comes to property damage or theft while being completely uncaring when it comes to people starving, getting bombed, getting shot, living with violence, being literally killed by our health care system (eg insulin), dying in the streets or people being denied life-chaning or life-saving medical care. I don't support stealing but there are different kinds of stealing. There's a difference between stealing cars and stealing diapers and baby formula. Property crime (and many otehr kinds of crime) are a symptom of extreme poverty and wealth inequality. Policing here isn't the answer. Nor is incarceration. If it was, the US would be the safest place on Earth since it has the highest rate of incarceration in the world (4% of the population, 25% of the world's prisoners). At some point you have to realize this issue will only be dealt with by addressing the underlying material conditions of the nation's poorest and most vulnerable. The link between poverty and crime has been known for thousands of years yet Americans in particularly doggedly refuse to acknowledge this.

josephcsible 4y ago
If people were stealing diapers and baby formula because their own kids needed them, that would be one thing. But in practice, it's to fence them and then use the proceeds to buy drugs.
decebalus1 4y ago
> It's really interesting to me at how sensitive Americans (in particular) seem to be when it comes to property damage or theft while being completely uncaring We like 'stuff' in general and we love our 'stuff' in particular. Property is very big around here. Also, not to excuse shoplifters but wage theft is a way WAY bigger issue in America than petty theft. But it gets less visibility, it's less visible in general, doesn't make for good TV, doesn't have that 'dystopian I need to buy more ammo' vibe and it can't really be used as a political wedge issue. We made this! Also, to add the the general thread, I couldn't give two shits about this. We have a heavily militarized police force that looks like it's about to invade a foreign country and people still shoplift. A bunch of rent-a-cops are surely going to drive the shoplifter numbers down, right? It's almost as if the whole stealing thing happens for a different reason..

by jmyeet 4y ago

josephcsible 4y ago

If people were stealing diapers and baby formula because their own kids needed them, that would be one thing. But in practice, it's to fence them and then use the proceeds to buy drugs.

decebalus1 4y ago

> It's really interesting to me at how sensitive Americans (in particular) seem to be when it comes to property damage or theft while being completely uncaring We like 'stuff' in general and we love our 'stuff' in particular. Property is very big around here. Also, not to excuse shoplifters but wage theft is a way WAY bigger issue in America than petty theft. But it gets less visibility, it's less visible in general, doesn't make for good TV, doesn't have that 'dystopian I need to buy more ammo' vibe and it can't really be used as a political wedge issue. We made this! Also, to add the the general thread, I couldn't give two shits about this. We have a heavily militarized police force that looks like it's about to invade a foreign country and people still shoplift. A bunch of rent-a-cops are surely going to drive the shoplifter numbers down, right? It's almost as if the whole stealing thing happens for a different reason..