What do you think of when you mention "0 Yuan Shopping"? Is it the discount promotions on major e-commerce platforms, or the money-making scams hidden behind the benefits? Today, Youlige will introduce you to the "0 Yuan Shopping" that is "popular" in the United States.

      With the advent of major shopping seasons in the West, such as Black Friday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, a type of "grab and run" crime has become popular in the United States. This "new shopping model" that does not require spending money is "affectionately" called "zero-dollar shopping" by American officials.

On November 19, a Louis Vuitton (LV) store in Chicago was robbed. At least 14 people broke into the store and stole goods worth a total of $100,000. The scene was in chaos.

Just in the past two days, a large "shopping" gang of about 40 people attacked the Hayward Mall store in San Francisco.

On November 24, the Nordstrom shopping mall in Los Angeles and a clothing store in Oakland, California were robbed almost simultaneously, and one of the suspects even used a chemical spray on the security guards.

      Soon, more and more shops were looted, from luxury stores to ordinary supermarkets, and even roadside restaurants could not escape. The night before yesterday, three men broke into a Mexican tortilla shop with guns. After robbing the clerk's mobile phone and money, they also asked the clerk to make tortillas for them to take away.

As expected, the American media "did not deceive me". In the United States, eating tacos and "buying" brand-name bags and new clothes do not cost any money. As long as you work hard, you can have everything.

With such a "free" new "shopping" experience, it is no wonder that Hong Kong rioters are following suit and mainland public intellectuals are yearning for it.

"0 Yuan Shopping" is an extension of the "Black Lives Matter" movement

Since the death of black man Floyd by a white police officer in the United States last year, the "Black Lives Matter" movement in the United States has quickly fermented. The protests and demonstrations initiated by the black community have intensified and soon become large-scale group incidents sweeping major cities in the United States, and violent conflicts have continued to escalate.

The "0 Yuan Shopping" was quietly formed at that time. Relying on the "righteous cause" of "seeking justice for the oppressed black people", the demonstrators followed the demonstration team to smash and loot shops along the street. The shop owners and other customers were afraid of getting into trouble and could only watch and did not dare to stop them.

As House Speaker Pelosi and a group of US officials knelt collectively in silence for Floyd, "preferential treatment" of black people has become politically correct, leading to the escalation of "0 dollar purchases". Many demonstrators have tasted the "sweetness" of snatching goods to "improve their lives" and have become increasingly immersed in the joy of "getting rich" and degenerated into professional criminals.

Behind this is the old issue of racial discrimination in American society. Black people choose to protest because they are discriminated against, protests lead to crimes, crimes are punished, and they fall to the bottom of society again. In such a vicious cycle, "Black Lives Matter" cannot be achieved at all.

Nowadays, black people have almost become synonymous with criminals, and the concept of "white supremacy" in the United States continues to deepen the gap of racial discrimination.

The craze of "buying for free" exposes the weakness of the US rule of law

In stark contrast to the United States acting as the "world police" abroad, American police are passive in enforcing the law at home, with negative news constantly appearing in the news, making it difficult to guarantee the safety of the people.

It can be seen from the relevant news that "0 yuan purchases" are basically organized crimes committed by multiple people, not simple individual behaviors. The timing of the crime, the tools used in the crime, the escape route and even the robbery list are all planned in advance.

Ben Dugan, president of the National Law Enforcement and Retail Alliance, said that this series of robberies and thefts were committed by multiple organized and planned groups. The gang leaders hired people at a price of $500 to $1,000 per person, and then provided them with a full set of robbery tools and logistical support, which enabled the crimes to proceed so smoothly.

Although everyone is aware of this, they are powerless to do anything about it because in the United States, the cost of such crimes is very low and the police generally do not prioritize them. For example, a local law in California raises the felony threshold for theft from $500 to $950, making the benefits of misdemeanors far outweigh the risks.

      For American police, robbers often wear masks or face shields, making it difficult to identify them through surveillance video, making it difficult to catch them. Even if they are caught, the criminals usually do not face serious consequences, and the police are reluctant to spend energy on such cases.

      What is even more ironic is that American prisons have been overcrowded all year round. In order to ease the pressure on prisons, some criminals with minor crimes become the lucky ones who are let off by the police and turned a blind eye by prosecutors.

        This ridiculous situation of "no crime for robbery, no one catches them if they are guilty, no one sentences them if they are caught, and no place to be imprisoned if they are sentenced" has led to criminals going unpunished and ordinary people suffering.

Supply chain crisis exacerbates the rise of "zero-dollar shopping" crimes

Affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, global trade has been greatly reduced. Due to the early contempt of the US government, the domestic epidemic situation has continued to deteriorate. Some people are unwilling to go out to work due to the government’s economic stimulus plan, while others can no longer continue to work due to infection with the epidemic. This has led to a surge in unemployment and a shortage of labor in the United States, which in turn has led to a supply chain crisis.

The United States is the country that is most dependent on globalization. Except for agricultural products, which the United States can be self-sufficient in, the raw materials and parts needed for industry and manufacturing are extremely dependent on the supply of external industrial chains.

So we can see the empty shelves, rising prices and riots everywhere in the United States today.

It is precisely under the continued impact of the supply chain crisis that the "Black Friday" that was originally a big sale at the end of the year is destined to have few discounts. How can Americans who have little savings or even lost their jobs due to the epidemic stock up? "0 yuan purchase" suddenly becomes the "best" option.

With the supply chain crisis, daily necessities have become in short supply in the United States. The daily needs of eating, drinking, defecating and urinating have also become the direct reason for many people to participate in "zero-dollar shopping". Therefore, we can see that the targets of "zero-dollar shopping" are not only high-end luxury stores, but also supermarkets, clothing stores and even roadside restaurants. Perhaps in a few days, we will see news about "zero-dollar shopping" crazy rush for toilet paper.

Racial discrimination, weakening of the judiciary, supply chain crisis, these American social problems exposed by "zero dollar shopping" are just the tip of the iceberg.

No matter how bright and beautiful the exterior is, it cannot hide the rot and decay inside. The sun is setting in the west, which may be the best description of the current America.