So in this way they're saying that the criminal is happy as long as he's not in prison. Now, children know that criminals are rarely caught, and those who are caught are out of sight-no longer seen by the children. So as far as the kids are concerned, crime does pay. Important sociologists, criminologists, and psychologists sit around doing million-dollar studies searching for the root cause of crime. But they just can't seem to find it, even though it's staring them right in the face.
Materialism is the root cause of the crime problem.
The fact is that the crime rate will continue to remain high as long as people are ignorant of their true identity and are bombarded with the message that more sense gratification will equal more satisfaction and happiness. As long as success in life is gauged by the amount of material goods amassed, the crime problem cannot be solved. The high rate of crime is a radical problem, one that requires a radical solution We. Nor is it likely that the powerful economic forces controlling the mass media would cooperate in the effort to produce such enlightenment. After all, these forces have a vested interest in keeping us materialistic.