I'm currently trying to understand to the thinking of an average American. I live in Europe and it appears to me that Americans have completely different attitude towards the law from the people in my country. For example, I see the law as something that is here to keep order, while Americans tend to see the law as something holy, from what I've noticed. But morals the can be sometimes very different from the law, law is something that was created to be transgressed. People around you are more important than some law so the police are contacted only in cases when something bad happens. For example: I cross the street at a red light when I see that there's no car in sight I wouldn't report anyone having a consensual sex with a minor I would not turn in any of my friends in case they stole or vandalized something, beaten someone, possessed child porn or did drugs Likewise, I wouldn't turn in any of my relatives over anything. And I am not even required by law to report these things, only selected serious crimes are notifiable and your relatives are excluded from it entirely. And what about you, Americans, how would you react in these situations? What does your law say about this?
It is said that in Germany, when a law is passed for a new slower speed limit, all Germans obey the law and next election, vote out the offending party. In America, a speed limit is just a benchmark for opportunity.
The law in the United States is used as a political weapon, and when it cannot be used it is ignored. Case in point is the recent Libyian invasion by Obama. Under the War Powers Act he was obligated to consult Congress in the first 60 days. He did not and no one makes a peep. Another example might be the federal laws on the books for illegal immigration. The laws are for the most part ignored by the federal government because they don't wish to enforce them for various reasons. In fact, the state of Arizona went to enforce the federal laws and the federal government and Obama sued them for doing so. The problem here is that the issue is a political hot potato, and they don't wish to suffer the politcial fall out for creating an illegal immigration policy that they like so they just continue to ignore the law on the books. In the interim, Obama passes Executive Orders that conflict with federal illegal immigration laws and no one makes a peep. Conversly, the federal government makes myriads of regulations every day to control people via laws. If they don't comply then the powers that be will make them suffer and are used for political and ideological reasons. Usually, this power is exerted over political foes and not over political allies. For example, Obama allowed many unions to opt out of Obamacare so they don't have to pay the high fees because they are a political ally. Also, one of his biggest political contributers, the corporation of GE, did not pay any income taxes last year. Yet another example would be the Catholic church. The Catholic church dared to oppose him regarding the whole mandatory contraception issue. The next thing you know, the federal government is investigating the financial dealings of the Catholic church in the US. Understand?
GE did pay taxes last year.. and GE employs 300,000 people world wide with 100 overseas operations for the past 80 years.
I suppose we can agree to disagree that GE is shown preferential treatment regarding taxes. Perhaps this is a better example. http://gillreport.com/2011/01/what-is-the-obama-general-electric-connection/
No need to write a massive wall of text to remind me that this topic is in a bad cathegory. Bah. Anyway, I think that the American perception of law influences your domestic politics in a whole lot of of different ways, different from what you wrote and as a result your post is completely off topic.
1. So did the guy that hit me on my bicycle with his car. 2. Minor? 6 years old? 3. Boy, I sure hope you are not talking about relatives of yours. 4. In case they share. 5. So your crazed father could kill your mother and you would not say a word?
If you know information and do not report it you are a accomplice in their crimes. If the crime isn't violent or violating some one else rights I would mind my own business. If it was more serious I would do as I would hope someone would do for me if they witnessed a crime against me or those I love. This make me curious if more european citizens share your views. If so that might be why the crime rates are higher than America's.
That would be the whole of Europe, would it? A population of 732m against 308m Americans? Manipulation is easy, isn't it?
America is filled with a plethora of different types. Some who would never think of breaking the law. Some who think the law is a joke. Some who would turn in anyone, for anything. Some who would never "snitch". Most just pick and choose the laws they fallow based upon what they perceive to be important vs non important. I personally think it is scary that there are still 230 nations of people outside of America where the entire populace basically thinks the same. One can tell by the generalizations of Americans. You simply have no clue how diversified my society is. Yes, our greatest weakness. But also our greatest strength.
Don't care about jobs for foreigners. Repatriate all jobs. Don't make any silly arguments in response or I'll get the pitchfork crowd out after you.
I've been thinking a lot about the differences between europeans & americans & their view of not only law, but govt. I've developed a bit of a theory that americans, in general, have more of a history of (*)(*)(*)(*)(*)ing about their govt.. it is a normal, citizen thing to do. Europeans have had to deal with less forgiving govts over the years.. some even jailing or arresting dissenting voices. Current politics in europe are more open, but still less so, in general, than the us... from my limited perspective. But this history & culture of criticizing govt is more common in the us, & i think euro observers misunderstand it somewhat. They think it reveals some deep seated dissatisfaction with our system. It doesn't. We might complain about a particular politician, or a party, but in general we think the system works. From a very historical perspective, & depending somewhat on where you are from, laws are sometimes viewed as suggestions. Americans have a deep sense of morality, & that will at time trump a govt law. Most americans i know would not have a problem with jay walking, but they would with not reporting someone having sex with a minor.. many in high places have fallen for that crime.. it is not taken lightly by most here. Most of us are not snitches.. we would not rat out friends who cheat on taxes, or break minor laws.. but more serious moral laws would be addressed, imo.. child porn would probably be reported. Not claiming a tip on your taxes would not. I think it is the nature of the american heritage. We are a motley crew of disassociated people from other countries whose ancestors came here for a better life. Those who stayed in the motherland decided to deal with the problems & adapt. Our ancestors did not. We are perhaps a little less tolerant of injustices & oppressive govt, for that reason. We champion the individual & mistrust the state. That is changing, as the us is becoming a nanny state, with statists promising us a euro style utopia, but our heritage is individualism. America has also had a history of moral conviction that did not depend on law. We 'felt' what was right, & lived by that, in spite of what politicians might do. We are more likely to ignore laws.. prohibition, for example, than most europeans, imo. This is an interesting topic for me.. i'm a 12th generation american with roots in the uk, mostly. But there is a little bit of everything mixed in me as well. Thanks for the topic.
Crime rate is per capita not total crimes. The OP refered to his values as European that would be why I made the comparison. The US crime rate is much lower than the major European countries that is a fact. I have never researched the smaller countries so I can just assume that would be the case there as well. I manipulate nothing you simply misunderstood. Would you share the OP's values on not reporting child molesters?
Well I am proud to hear you do not protect predators. The information I was referring to came from the UK home office. I will be honest and admit that information was from 2000. Yet if you look at the total crimes committed in a country and use simple math you will see it is still correct. The US has a worse homicide rate but our overall crime rate is better than most other countries. If you look at the numbers you will see I am correct. Take any countries total crimes and divide that by the population you will see I am being honest.
So if you caught some 29 year old friend having "consensual" sex with a 14 year old you would just let that pass?
I didn't see any such statistic, I only know that the murder rate in the USA is many times higher than in any European country, same as with rape, and the USA have the highest incerceration rate in the world. I'm afraid that what you're saying is far from truth. Of course. Turning him in would be a serious moral crime. The age of consent here is 15, but who cares...
Apologies for waking you up, but at the risk of being pitchfork pleasured , I think your point is wrong in at least one key area :- Highly technical/professional areas . A relatively unskilled labour shortage can be changed by free market pressures -- wages rise to meet applicant demands and the solution is quickly solved --- less than a year , probably .Though lack of competitiveness will rise and might depress exports in some areas . But what happens if , for example , you need more Dentists or Architects and supply is close to zero? To fill that gap could take up to 10 years before you had new and useful/ experienced extra numbers via the existing production system --- higher and specialised education .Despite pretended indifference , such a situation could knock back a country in key areas . Surely that avoids being impaled?
Well for rape, Sweden beats us by almost twice as much and the US and the UK are close to being tied. Maybe we have hotter women, I know Sweden does.
How dare you contradict me! What you suggest is the free movement of specialized labor. You are employing a scalpel in the realm of sledgehammers. Yes, you are correct. Well educated foreigners are welcome to come to American because they bring something to the table. I have personally impaled a number of people. All of them female.
Well I disagree in America not turning him in would show a complete lack of morals. Age of consent in the US is 17 at the youngest. Some states 18 is age of consent any younger is rape by our standards. I would argue that even being legal does not make it moral. I am 38 to me having relations with a 19 year old is immoral it would be legal. A child molester is the worse kind of low life scum. Even our most violent criminal agree with that and usually show them what justice is at the first opportunity.
