AMF,
Sorry if I left the wrong impression. Yes indeed we have
a huge crime problem here in the U.S. as well. In particular
violent crime is a big problem but most of that is related
to gang turf wars fighting over drug markets. It is unfortunate
that my impressions of the U.K are tainted by my own personal experiences and based on comments from my colleagues at CAT-PERKINS. Another impression is based on the observation that about half of the folks who work for CAT-Perkins in Peterborough use The CLUB to lock the steering wheel of their auto. The use of the CLUB is almost
non-existent here in central Illinois but it is used quite
frequently in the San Diego California area. This is also
based on a personal observation. I do agree with you that the U.K. is a lovely place and I would love to go back sometime
with my wife and visit the countryside. I live in a rural area
here in Illinois and even here we have crime problems.
I have frequently directed deputy sherriffs who drive
to my house by mistake with arrest warrants for the
teenaged neighbor kids who live about 1000 meters from me and who have done several crime
sprees in our rural area. Once those kids spent several
months behind bars, they cleaned up their act.
I am also ashamed as an American because we are perceived
by events such as the unabomber and by the guy who bombed the federal building in Oklahoma City and by the shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado.
Another observation I made from travels to Japan is that
they have almost no petty crime. In fact, at the hotel
I stayed at in Akashi, most Japanese folks stored their
suitcases in the hallway as the rooms are quite small.
Japanese society is based on honor and it is a huge
social faux pas for someone to steal something.
