> > > My idea is that American readers tend to
like the idea that
> > > a single individual can often succeed
where the bureacuracy
> > > (as represented in detective stories by
the police) can't.
> >
> > Maybe that's where I go "wrong". As a European
(and even more as a
> > North-European) I tend to think that bureacracy
- i.e. police and other
> > authorities - are the ones who should be called
to help, not some
> > individual.
> >
>
> As an American, I tend to think this is the funniest
thing anyone's said
> on this list in weeks.
>
> Metta,
> Ivan
As a Northern European (well, an Englishman, so we don't
consider ourselves European), I'll second that sentiment. As
someone who was mugged/stabbed recently, and had to endure
the incompetence of various bureacracies (police, hospitals,
courts), I'd go along with the individual every time.
Stephen
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