Eric Takabayashi wrote:

> Kevin Gowen wrote:
> 
> 
>>Eric Takabayashi wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Kevin Gowen wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>>>And maybe the government should give out money to people so there aren't
>>>>>>any muggings or bank robberies.
>>>>>
>>>>>In effect, yes the government should.
>>>>
>>>>That would certainly give everyone an incentive to work.
>>>
>>>Work and materialism are not the most important things in life.
>>
>>Yes, that is true, and not responsive to my statement.
> 
> 
> So what if not as many people worked by choice, yet were able to serve some useful
> role in their household or society? 

It's very nice to make themselves useful. However, if the govertment
gives money to a person for do nothing, they have very little incentive
to go change bedpans at the old folks' home.

> If more freeters in Japan were doing volunteer
> work, or had means to take care of themselves if and when their parents no longer
> supported them, I wouldn't be as concerned.

I'm not very concerned about Japanese freeters, but I don't think people
who don't make enough money to support themselves should concern
themselves with giving away their time.

>>>We're talking crime.
>>
>>What do wages matter, then?
> 
> 
> That comment was about giving out money to prevent muggings and robberies.
> Employment is one way to reduce crime.

I'm not convinced of that. People do not commit crimes because a lack of
gainful employment leaves them with a lot of spare time.

"Since I have a job, I won't rape that woman"

>>>>>Japanese may not do
>>>>>the speaking themselves, but the Japanese social structure with relatively
>>>>>little difference between rich and poor, and a very low rate of people
>>>>>considered poor, is also promoted over the US system, to reduce social
>>>>>friction and crime.
>>>>
>>>>This must be why rich people never commit crimes. I knew OJ was innocent!
> 
> 
> Speaking of OJ, despite any personal feelings about his actions, do you not believe
> that the points raised by the defense constituted reasonable doubt? 

There was not a reasonable doubt in my mind.

> Has he not been
> acquitted?

Yes, he has been acquitted. Today he could say, "Suckers! I killed those
people!" and nothing could be done about it.

>>>Yes, Japanese murder rates and prosecution rates are certainly appalling. The
>>>US would never tolerate 1,200 murders a year and claiming to solve 96% of them.
>>
>>Very impressive.
> 
> 
> If there were only 1,200 murders a year in the US, and they mobilized a thousand
> personnel or more in the investigation, the US would get better results, too.

Well, don't get me started on law enforcement in the US. The people have
paralyzed the state. John Ashcroft is criticized for both being a
jackbooted thug and for not doing enough to prevent terrorism by the
same group of people, depending on what day of the week it is. These
same people criticize him for being a Christian no matter what day of
the week it is.

>>I wonder why Japanese crime is so low,
> 
> 
> It is not low, rates of certain crimes may be similar to or exceed British and
> European levels. Reports of murder, assault and rape are quite low.

That is because Japanese are so Zen.

>>since it is hardly a Shangri-La with a paucity of poor people.
> 
> 
> I have heard a number of cultural factors discussed, some of which seem reasonable
> despite racial or nationalist overtones.

I think there are cultural factors as well as the fact that the Japanese
state is more authoritarian than the US. If you were accused of a crime,
whether or not you did it, where would you want to be tried?

- Kevin