A Nation Defeated by Thuggery
In a country where the rule of law is supposed to govern, an invisible force operates in the shadows---thuggery. It seeps into everyday life, dictating who can do business, who can worship, and who can simply exist without fear. This is a nation that has lost not to foreign invaders or economic collapse, but to the unchecked power of street-level enforcers who impose their own laws.
Extortion as a Way of Life
For small business owners, survival is not just about attracting customers but also about appeasing the local thugs. These criminals demand "security fees" in exchange for protection---not from external threats, but from themselves. A shopkeeper who refuses to pay risks seeing their store vandalized, their customers harassed, or worse, their livelihood destroyed overnight. The police, either powerless or complicit, turn a blind eye, allowing this system to persist.
The Illusion of Work: Thuggery Disguised as Employment
One of the clearest examples of how deeply thuggery has infiltrated society is the so-called "parking attendant" profession. While some genuinely assist in managing parking, many use this label as a mere cover for extortion. They claim ownership over parking spaces that do not belong to them, demanding fees from drivers while providing no real service. If a business owner tries to introduce an automated parking system, these thugs retaliate---threatening staff, damaging property, and scaring away customers. Their justification? That automation "steals" their jobs, when in reality, their existence in these spaces was never legitimate to begin with.
Public Land as a Private Empire
The problem extends beyond small businesses. Public spaces---parks, sidewalks, even entire streets---are claimed by gangs who act as though they own them. When the government attempts to relocate them to more humane, organized areas, they refuse, using intimidation and violence to stay put. Meanwhile, legitimate landowners---those who have legally purchased and developed land---find themselves forcibly evicted. Compensation is either nonexistent or insultingly low, leaving families and businesses displaced while criminals continue to thrive.
Religious Freedom in Name Only
The constitution may recognize multiple religions, but in reality, worship is dictated by those who hold the most power on the streets. Certain religious gatherings are forcibly disbanded, not because they break any law, but because a group of thugs decides they should not exist. Worshippers are threatened, places of prayer are shut down, and faith becomes something that must be practiced in secret. The state, which should be the guardian of religious freedom, instead bows to the will of those who claim authority through force.
Is Thuggery the New Normal?