The news is bad. Some is worse than others but it's pretty awful out there. That's a given.
What has really upset me this morning is an article about shoplifting which is reaching epic proportions. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/sep/15/its-organised-looting-uk-in-grip-of-a-shoplifting-epidemic-say-store-owners?
What I'm finding it difficult to understand is while I get that there is a rogue element of society who shoplift for profit there is a much larger group of people who buy the goods, knowing that they are stolen. This is supporting the criminal gang activity and encouraging more. And it gets worse and worse and worse.
I know that people justify theft of many forms as only being against big companies. What I am struggling with is the knowledge that it is all joined up. Not only is not every shop owned by big business but even if it is, at the end of the day the money lost will be clawed back from individuals. It's the same for 'fronting' on insurance, lying about your age or status to get a discount you are not eligible for or even fly tipping. We, the individuals suffer and always end up paying in some way at the end. We're all part of the same society.
So - my AIBU - Why don't we see this as a spiral into lawlessness similar in danger to climate change and, as a society, do something to change it? Something fundamental that starts with reinforcing social codes and stops passing blame and responsibility to the government or institutions like the police. Just like doing what we can to stop climate change we can all do our bit to support each other in reinforcing right and wrong and the basic values of society.
What's going wrong?