3 ms·

This is mostly a function of policies that explicitly allow and tolerate this sort of behavior as a sort of “pay back” and “release valve” for the poor, addicts

by fosk 4y ago

This is mostly a function of policies that explicitly allow and tolerate this sort of behavior as a sort of “pay back” and “release valve” for the poor, addicts or generally speaking under represented social classes. As the wage gap and opportunity gap widens in the US, allowing shoplifting is actually an intentional release valve that is being tolerated and even outright legally permitted (California Prop 47), because - without it - we would see more home break-ins, kidnappings of wealthy people and more severe offenses. Instead, shoplifting is relatively harmless and prevents this type of escalation of crime. “Panem et circenses” said the Romans, shoplifting is a form of “panem”. I think many don’t understand the incredible pressure pot that is the US at the moment with vast negative social pressures and inequality. If it explodes, all bets are off: the US could look a lot like South Africa and Brazil than what it is now. This plus some political survivorship too: votes are all equal, and when most people are disadvantaged or about to become disadvantaged, politicians cater more and more to them (populism) in order to survive and dominate in the political arena.

Gareth321 4y ago
> As the wage gap and opportunity gap widens in the US, allowing shoplifting is actually an intentional release valve that is being tolerated and even outright legally permitted (California Prop 47), because - without it - we would see more home break-ins, kidnappings of wealthy people and more severe offenses. Instead, shoplifting is relatively harmless and prevents this type of escalation of crime. What a wild theory. I've seen no evidence of this mechanism existing.
- WeylandYutani 4y ago
  I lived in slums and he's not wrong. You have no idea how some people have been left behind by society. And you expect them to care about the community?
_xnmw 4y ago
What you are saying is literally insane.
- fosk 4y ago
  I find Prop 47 is insane, and I find lack of law enforcement insane, but to each its own.
throwaway4aday 4y ago
This is an idiotic rationalization even if it is true that this is the motivation behind allowing ransacking to go unchecked. You're essentially funding the creation and expansion of criminal gangs. Training up a whole generation of people to become looters with little fear of the law. Take this a few steps further, the article mentions that retailers have begun keeping product off the shelves or even completely shutting down outlets in problem areas. What happens when this becomes general policy and there are no more easy targets to loot? Do you think that every person who has grown accustom to this lifestyle and has forgone legal work in favor of this more profitable option is just going to look around and say "oh well, it was good while it lasted. Guess I'll go get a job at McDonald's and be a law abiding citizen", fuck no, they're going to look for other targets but now they have possibly years of experience and contacts with other criminals allowing them to go after other options that they wouldn't have considered before. This isn't hyperbole, just look at what happens in other countries that lack the ability to enforce their laws.
- hotpotamus 4y ago
  > This isn't hyperbole, just look at what happens in other countries that lack the ability to enforce their laws. Well, given that we seem to lack the ability to enforce our laws, what do we have to look forward to?

by fosk 4y ago

Gareth321 4y ago

> As the wage gap and opportunity gap widens in the US, allowing shoplifting is actually an intentional release valve that is being tolerated and even outright legally permitted (California Prop 47), because - without it - we would see more home break-ins, kidnappings of wealthy people and more severe offenses. Instead, shoplifting is relatively harmless and prevents this type of escalation of crime. What a wild theory. I've seen no evidence of this mechanism existing.

WeylandYutani 4y ago
I lived in slums and he's not wrong. You have no idea how some people have been left behind by society. And you expect them to care about the community?

_xnmw 4y ago

What you are saying is literally insane.

fosk 4y ago
I find Prop 47 is insane, and I find lack of law enforcement insane, but to each its own.

throwaway4aday 4y ago

This is an idiotic rationalization even if it is true that this is the motivation behind allowing ransacking to go unchecked. You're essentially funding the creation and expansion of criminal gangs. Training up a whole generation of people to become looters with little fear of the law. Take this a few steps further, the article mentions that retailers have begun keeping product off the shelves or even completely shutting down outlets in problem areas. What happens when this becomes general policy and there are no more easy targets to loot? Do you think that every person who has grown accustom to this lifestyle and has forgone legal work in favor of this more profitable option is just going to look around and say "oh well, it was good while it lasted. Guess I'll go get a job at McDonald's and be a law abiding citizen", fuck no, they're going to look for other targets but now they have possibly years of experience and contacts with other criminals allowing them to go after other options that they wouldn't have considered before. This isn't hyperbole, just look at what happens in other countries that lack the ability to enforce their laws.

hotpotamus 4y ago
> This isn't hyperbole, just look at what happens in other countries that lack the ability to enforce their laws. Well, given that we seem to lack the ability to enforce our laws, what do we have to look forward to?