You're in Japan? How many people do you know there would refuse an order from the police during a state of emergency?
Can't imagine that happening, though I'll let you know if it does. Unlike many other countries, there were no stay at home laws in Japan during the State of Emergency. They simply urged people to stay home, and many didn't. Believe it or not, people are concerned about their rights here. Also, there is no particular respect given to police - people don't much like them. And again, that woman was shot on her porch, not in violation of any law. Many problems with the justice system here, but the police don't behave like thugs and don't treat ordinary citizens as criminals. Yes, if you are arrested and the prosecutors charge you here, you are pretty well screwed. But it rarely gets to that point.
If JB agrees with me, he's probably right.
A statistical improbability.
What makes you think getting arrested is common place?
Again, statistics. Something like 45% of all males will be arrested at some time in their life. Also, the US has more people per capita in prison than just about any other country in the world, democratic or not. If you want to go the anecdotal route, people openly talk about being arrested, are even proud of it if it's at a demonstration. Like it's a game. That's a very bad precedent.
If people in Japan seem obedient, it's not out of deference to the police or politicians, it's out of deference to society - to other people. There are plusses and minuses to that, but it shows that police are not needed to keep order. If a society relies on police and force to keep order, you will get exactly what they have in Minneapolis.
Obviously, I know both countries and have chosen one over the other for various reasons. No place is perfect, and people are free to choose for themselves. But the USA is the only country I know where people constantly repeat this myth that they are the "land of the free," despite abundant evidence to the contrary. I wish more people would wake up, and maybe put some meaning back into those words.
