Prevention Better Or Cure?

Last morning, I don't know why, but I was driving in the car with you @Kamla. Not that I wish to jeopardize your well being. Not that I drive much either. Later morning I was on my way to class (yes, I am back to being a student now for just one semester , trying to improve my skills) and was caught in a traffic jam. Many scooters overtook us on the wrong side of the divider, heading towards to a signal where there is normally a policeman waiting. Nothing happened to them. Murphy's law. You can drive as carefully as you like, but they'd catch you if you infringed the law in the smallest possible way and inadvertently at that. (Some people probably have it painted in caps, bold and italics on their foreheads "I am a soft target. Aa bail mujhe maar). Such blatant infringement, however, is acceptable. Just then I saw a policeman walk out and stand there visibly. The moment one scooterist saw the police he turned around and went back. A mean streak in me prompted me to wonder why the cop did not hide himself and catch them red-handed. The question is "is it more important to prevent crime or to catch criminals?" Logic tells us prevention is better than cure. So it was good that the police made himself visible.

So why don't all our police prevent crimes? Simple, it does not pay them. They have to justify their existence. They have to ensure that they get their promotions and medals for yeoman service rendered in interest of the public. Now how do they prove their service if they prevent crime? What will they prove? Who stopped the crime? Where? Who were the potential criminals? What proof did they have that this crime (even as 'small' a one as infringement of traffic rules) would have occurred without them? Now consider the crime done. The police catch hold of the criminals. They have done a job that can be proved as well as commended. So why would they prevent crime? Food for thought.

 

LOL. Now I need to get the other side before I pass judgment!

 

YM, I totally agree. The sight of that so and so turning back when he saw the policeman made me feel so ashamed at out attitude. Basically we only obey laws if there is a danda. There is no concept of self-discipline.

 

Yes, road rage is going to ridiculous extents. Stopping at a red light with nowhere to go, I have had people honking endlessly till I turned around and signalled to them to fly over my head.

The other day, had to let one such specimen go through the red light. As he overtook us, he turned around and shook his fist menacingly at the driver.

 

So true Viswa. How long is it before people started manufacturing crimes to increase their quotas? No crime is a crisis for them. Many crimes they MAY NOT solve. So where do they get their quotas from?