Trash and the Broken Windows Theory

Let me start by saying that I believe the "broken windows" theory of policing has some merit, albeit considerably less merit than its proponents tend to believe.

With that said, I was at the Speedway Supercenter yesterday and was disgusted with the trash that was blowing through the parking lot.

Someone posted on NextDoor the other day a photo of an overflowing trash can, which I have reproduced below:

If this doesn't evidence an utter disregard for the area, what does?

I understand that controlling litter is a shared responsibility. We, the members of the community, have a responsibility to not litter. The property owners have a responsibility to clean up the litter when they discover it and to report litterers when they see them. The police should be ticketing people for this.

What are the odds that you'd see this type of overflowing trash can in Clay Terrace?

I  know that this is not much more than a rant, but we, the members of the community, have to step up. The property owners are on solid ground when they say that they can't control people littering.

It's our community and our home. Not the owners of the shopping center.

It's our problem.

We're either part of the problem or part of the solution.

If those who would harm our community and break our laws see that we can't be bothered to pick up the trash, what do you think they believe about our willingness to do the heavy lifting of crime prevention?

If prospective homeowners see that we can't be bothered to pick up the trash in public places, what do you think they believe about our willingness to support our schools or control crime?

I was taught long ago that little things say big things. By that, I mean that, for example, a man who doesn't shine his shoes probably doesn't take care of much else in his life.

A community that doesn't pick up the trash probably doesn't take care of much else.

We're better than this.