Punishing the extortionists can solve 'to help or not' dilemma

People lift boards with Chinese to declare war on apathy and cold-heartedness at the hardware market where Yueyue was run over and ignored by pedestrians in Foshan, south Chinas Guangdong province, 23 October 2011. On Oct. 13, a van hit a 2-year-old girl in Foshan and immediately fled. A total of 17 people passed by during the next seven minutes, but absolutely no one reached out to help until after another car ran over her. The girl, nicknamed Xiao Yueyue, was finally helped and sent to the hospital by the 19th passerby, a garbage scavenger. A week later, Xiao Yueyue died in the hospital. [Photo/IC]

The Beijing government is expected to introduce a "good people" amendment to the capital's regulations so that people who fall in the street and then willfully incriminate passing strangers, who extend a helping hand, in an attempt to extort money from them, are duly punished. Comments:

Given the difficulties of legislating in favor of good people, a "bad people" law might be an easier and more feasible choice to protect good Samaritans. That being said, the laws that hold accountable those accusers who fabricate facts in an attempt to extort money from their helpers, may be the key to breaking the deadlock in legislation and reducing the number of such evil deeds.

Xi'an Evening News, July 28

When people believe that others are likely to behave unethically, many will walk away from those in need, and end up being detached from society. They will regain their good Samaritan spirit if anti-social behavior is punished and those getting help show due gratitude.

Guangzhou Daily, July 28

In fact, even if the "good people" amendment comes into effect, its significance still outweighs its effect. In other words, such regulations are unlikely to be a fundamental cure for the entrapment of good Samaritans. Apart from judicial justice and efficient legislation, Chinese citizens also need to be made aware of their legal and moral obligations, so they stop trying to take advantage of those with good hearts.

rednet.cn, July 28

The root cause of the "to help or not" dilemma is related to the difficultly in collecting evidence to prove whether the accusation is false or not, rather than the punishments and rewards in the aftermath. Attractive as it seems, an overly extensive law such as Beijing's "good people" regulation may not work at all, because it is only aimed at pandering to people's wishful thinking.

Xiaoxiang Morning Herald, July 28