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| Thursday, 18 November 2004 |
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Getting-rich-quick is no quick fix
The widening social inequality accelerates the crime rate. Opulence topped with flatulence is being watched by the deprived social segment. Sociologists are bewildered over Sri Lankan's thirst for wealth-display. Not for them the plain living and high thinking concept. In a vain attempt to exhibit whatever acquisitions, they would not hesitate to let all that extravagance and pomposity into discomforting that social class to whom such lifestyle is, to say the least, beyond reach. Socially-conscious nation Netherlands, reportedly a socially-conscious nation, has its well to do classes leading the most simple lifestyles. In fact sociologists say the affluent there even feel ashamed to pronounce their wealth. Well to do folk there are believed to be on the street getting about their business in shabby clothing as well. Welcoming the idea of taxes, they wait for government decisions to impose such realising the future benefits to them in their old age as well as to the dividends it would bring to their deprived countrymen. Being socially conscious certainly helps reduce what may come by way of hurt to classes with least access to resources. Resourcefulness and the wanton show of such certainly then is springboard to crime. Root cause unattended Clever as we are in treating wounds on the surface devoid of root attack, we hold on desperately to the law's long arm to do the 'needful' while the root cause goes unattended. Elitism that earlier found full length societal acceptance is now disfavoured by certain sections of the 'non-resourceful' - a state that was once accepted as 'Ape Karume' is now being challenged. Exploitation awareness Deprivation today has kindled the wrath of many in that societal category. Awareness on exploitation has set in. The poor feel the affluent riding on the misery of downtroddenness. Besides, the easy access to easy monies, the elite are being watched. Little wonder then the rise in crime. Robbery and theft neatly categorised as crime only fosters elitists' existence. Flashy externalities Mitigating flashy externalities would go a long way in arresting what comes as crime. In the hands of business, bureaucratic, political and religious elite, lies the answer for more egalitarian thinking. Expecting the police to combat crime is akin to asking milk from the wrong cow. Instead getting the help of sociologists to bring about public awareness would be an excellent mechanism in moving towards the prevention of flashy elitism - so necessary to avert what is now called crime. |
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