LIKE THE RIVERS SPILL INTO THE SEA
The nature of humans is criminal if looked at from a purely legal stance, where even parking in a disabled-only space, is considered a lack of integrity and dishonest. There is a particularly dry place where the legalists dwell and they are not realist in understanding or scope. And when it’s just about money? Oh, well…
I have known criminals in my time. Both male and female, and yes, they had certain “values”. I’ve known corrupt business people, for example who were so well mannered and attuned to social circumstances, that they wouldn’t dream of parking in a disabled-only space.
The values linked to crime are relative to human interaction. The values are gradual and relative to the individual. That in essence is what makes up the complex nature of society. Who is capable of what, and how do you know until you know? Sure, in some cases it is broad-daylight obvious. But not always.
In a largely religious area, like the one I live in, there is a common value called “work”. The work ethic is held in high regard. A man or woman who works particularly hard is held in high esteem, regardless of their personal morality, and the general consensus is that doing business with that person or working for or with that person is okay. There is a high tolerance for certain crime. Prostitution is allowed, but kept at a very low and obscure place.
So that, the question, ‘How are values linked to crime?’, would be answered best in a word. Money.
Money is a necessary component of life, whether the life is lived ethically or amorally. It is a vital requirement of survival. People must eat, have a place to live and they must have transportation. Based on their level of intelligence and personal preference, the needs increase.
There of course are levels of crime and there are laws on the books which many people do not consider “criminal” when they do it. It has become a part of their way of life.
Once a person has graduated their schooling and must enter the workforce, they enter a certain reality where survival means, often times, adjusting one’s values. They will work for or with people who’s lack of values are repulsive to them. They will work with or for people whom they admire and might even want to emulate, as far as values.
In other words, people who work hard and show up every day have not garnered the market on “values”. But they do have the values of hard work. Does this create a better society? No. But it does create a situation where people are too busy to cause too much tragedy.
