We are not Japan: "Looters, flimflam men plague tornado-torn South"

[Logical]

Why is it that Japan's people do not loot and we do? I heard the Japanese people would not even hoard food and only took what they needed from the stores. What a selfish country we have.

APISON, Tenn. — The crooks walked up to Kenneth Carter's tornado-damaged property with the purposeful air of relief workers in need of an all-terrain vehicle like the one he had parked out back.

"They said, `Excuse us, we've got to get this four-wheeler out of here,'" said the 74-year-old Apison resident. "I said, `I don't think so _ that four-wheeler belongs to me!"

Carter avoided becoming a victim, but authorities say the South has been plagued by a variety of swindles since the twister outbreak last week that ripped apart houses and killed 329 people in seven states. Looters have carried off televisions, power tools and prescription pills. Elsewhere, there are unscrupulous businesses are charging double for a tank of gas or jacking up the cost of a hotel room. Authorities also warn of construction workers who leave with the cash before opening their tool kit and the danger that identities could be stolen off wind-blown documents.

http://www.rr.com/news/topic/article/rr/9000/40394201/Looters_flimflam_men_plague_tornado-torn_South

[RKP5637]

1. It's America. Capitalists, Opportunists and Swindlers at work. And Greed rules. Disgusting! n/t

[Logical]

2. +1

[lunatica]

3. I hope they're being arrested.

[snooper2]

4. If you don't think there was any looting in Japan or bad shit going on

You are living in some kind of bubble World where only 'merican's are capable of being assholes

[Logical]

6. Read the stories about even lack of hoarding. Shit, here people would be....

guarding their stuff with guns and shooting people needing water. n-t

[robdogbucky]

16. Let me know when the KKK starts handing out lunches in Alabama

Even Japan's Infamous Mafia Groups Are Helping With The Relief Effort


Even Japan’s infamous mafia groups are helping out with the relief efforts and showing a strain of civic duty. Jake Adelstein reports on why the police don’t want you to know about it. For more coverage of Japan’s crisis.

The worst of times sometimes brings out the best in people, even in Japan’s “losers” a.k.a. the Japanese mafia, the yakuza.

Hours after the first shock waves hit, two of the largest crime groups went into action, opening their offices to those stranded in Tokyo, and shipping food, water, and blankets to the devastated areas in two-ton trucks and whatever vehicles they could get moving.

The day after the earthquake the Inagawa-kai (the third largest organized crime group in Japan which was founded in 1948) sent twenty-five four-ton trucks filled with paper diapers, instant ramen, batteries, flashlights, drinks, and the essentials of daily life to the Tohoku region...

http://www.businessinsider.com/japan-yakuza-mafia-aid-earthquake-tsunami-rescue-efforts-2011-3

[northoftheborder]

5. our society is plagued by materialistic values, dishonesty, and greed.

Supposedly this area is the "Bible Belt". Wouldn't you think the values might be higher? The predominant Japanese religion is Buddism. Somehow the Southern version of Christianity is lacking in empathy, a sense of community even in disastrous events, and legitimizes and promotes economic injustice. I feel sorry for the people in these states, but their attitudes towards the poor are not to be admired. Racism is also involved.

[RKP5637]

7. I would take being around a bunch of Buddhists any day in a crisis before Christians. n/t

[MedicalAdmin]

8. I've been in natural disasters with groups of each.

Buddhists win, hands down. The score isn't even close.

[tnlefty]

18. Yes, it is in an area of the most hypocritical 'bible belt'...

Racism is also involed?? I'll bet that the folks in Apison trying to take the ATV's were as lilly white as the owner, 'cause most of the folks in that area are lilly white. Yeah, it's not that far from where I live.

The values seem to be higher among the non-believers, and there were instances of looting in Japan, but the reports that I saw were for water, food, etc. and I'm okay with that.

Attempting to take an ATV, without asking, and sifting through prescription drugs is totally out of bounds....

Would you at least please stop with the blanket accusations 'racism is also involved'. How about assholes were involved?

[readmoreoften]

9. Because they are more confident their system will not abandon them.

[Odin2005]

10. Japan is a communitarian and collectivist culture while we are...

a viciously selfish and competitive culture.

[RKP5637]

13. Often I've told people in meetings we need more cooperation and

less competition in our culture and I get the deer in the headlight look.

[Left coast liberal]

11. That is so damn sad.

:-(

[Blue_Tires]

12. This is a sad, but common case in the south

after major storms -- Con men swoop in from hundreds of miles to cash in ...Seniors are huge targets for the tree removal/roof repair/painting/gutters/siding/etc specialists who demand payment in full only to leave their job after a couple of hours for "supplies", never to return...

[tnlefty]

14. Here's one report of looting in Japan from the WSJ

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703410604576216293024644156.html

I remember seeing others, but I do remember that in one particular account a police officer witnessed it did nothing. A reporter inquired about it and the officer said something to the effect that the people weren't stealing, but trying to survive.

That in no way excuses trying to take an ATV or prescriptions or flat out ripping people off. Years ago something happened in the Atlanta area and I don't remember if was an ice storm, flooding or exactly what, but gas stations and hotels were raising prices along the GA/TN border into the outskirts of Chattanooga. Those businesses were shamed on local radio and in the papers and they quickly changed their ways.

It makes me sick when people try to take advantage of people in crisis.

[LanternWaste]

15. It seems to be an end result of American self-image of rugged individualism.

It seems to be an end result of the American self-image of rugged individualism in an era that has already discarded such notions.

Gotta go West somehow, young man... even when there's no west left, every rat in the cage is clamoring over each other to be an individual at everyone's expense.

Yeah... individualism. Gotta love it. Look at me.

[Generic Other]

17. Looting and scavenging for survival happen everywhere

Valuables disappear. Food and water may get taken. People hoard. People do what they have to do. No culture is immune to it all.

It will be a big job to rebuild in the ravaged areas. Good people will be the ones who put their communities back together. One has to assume that is the majority of the residents.

[eppur_se_muova]

19. Yeah, they're "soft on crime" around here ...