Crime Does Pay

Ron Miller

1991?

Published in:

This article was given to me some time ago by the author. I'm not sure when or where it was published. I will update this as soon as I find out.

Criminal activity has now become a major segment of the U.S. economy. A report from the House Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control states: ``More than 20 million American use marijuana regularly, approximately 8 million to 20 million are regular cocaine users, about 500,000 are heroin addicts, a million are regular users of hallucinogens, and 6 million people abuse prescription drugs.'' Marijuana is reportedly the nations largest cash crop with sales approaching $14 billion annually.

Not to be outdone, the take of financial swindlers is said to equal that of the drug traffic. It seems that there are swindles for every segment of society rich or poor illinformed or well informed. The sophisticated prefer tax shelter schemes, victims include Woody Allen, Erica Jong, economist Arthur Laffer, and columnist Jack Anderson. The May issue of Forbes magazine reports that every year estimates are that some 500 abusive tax shelter schemes are uncovered. Religious congregations are excellent targets for bible quoting con men ready to lead the flock to a fiscal shearing. Stock swindles are enjoying and enthusiastic resurgence. Penalties for the financial swindlers are usually relatively light.

Laws are enacted by society to protect the peace and tranquility of the society and to permit its members to conduct their affairs in an orderly and predictable manner. The framework of a society is outlined by the structure of its laws. The organization of society itself exists so that people can work together in harmony for the mutual advantage of all. When a substantial percentage of the people within a society feel that the society offers them no advantages they often choose to operate outside of its laws. When the percentage of people operating outside the law becomes large the other members of the society are forced to divert a substantial portion of their income to defending themselves. As the process continues the society begins to crumble.

Criminal activity provides the clearest evidence of just how much the operation of a Price system is at odds with the best interests of the citizens of North America. Probably no other economic sector provides such a high return on investment: taxes are non-existent, labor problems don't occur, retirement plans are highly cost effective. But what is socially redeeming about swindling a widow out of her inheritance or providing teenagers with drugs? Open an economic niche and some creature will crawl into it.

What kind of a society do we live in? Tranquility is virtually non-existent. Many members of this price system society feel that they are living on the edge of a precipice. Bank robberies according to a report in the Wall Street Journal have leveled off at 6000 last year, 70 to 80% of these people get caught and the banks loose little. This is up from the hundreds that occurred during the 1950's. Teenage suicides have reached epidemic proportions and more Vietnam veterans have died by their own hand than died in the war. Criminal activity may well account for 15% of the activity of our whole gross national product. Large corporations collapse suddenly with little warning. Whole industries shudder and began shedding workers who have depended upon their employment for a lifetime. This is a society that is tearing itself apart.

Technocracy Inc. has been stating for over 50 years that the impact of technological advance would be the destruction of the price system no matter what what the form of society. Rather than viewing this as a disaster Technocracy realizes that the human race has the opportunity to advance to a whole new level of social development. Technocracy is the only plan for the operation of a social system on a non-price basis and this is the only base upon which a new society can be built.