THE JAYWALKING INDEX

THE JAYWALKING INDEX
This rates the rigidity of a country’s rules by using how crosswalk lights are adhered to and relates that to a lack of innovation and declining economies.
Japan, Germany and Australia are the three countries where I never saw a local jaywalk or walk against a no-walking light when there is no traffic. In Japan, it would be usual to stop at a small, one-lane side street (but with a signal) at 1 am with not a car in sight, and watch the Japanese stand there until the light changes to green. OMG, they actually think these arbitrary lights are significant??
I just came from India where not being able to cross a street would leave you stranded for weeks. In China, everyone breaks the walking rules. I routinely cross against lights and jaywalk – it is the only way to get around.
These three countries also have a lot of other societal rigidity. Japan still hasn’t opened several nuclear power plants after the Fukushima disaster and Germany has closed all theirs (because of public pressure over nuclear waste) at a time when non-polluting energy is at a premium. Read the Observations and Renting a camper van in Japan to see the unbelievable rules if you get a scratch on your rental car.
Japan and Germany have been economic powerhouses. They excelled at making things of very high quality, but have been eclipsed by China and others due to high wages, high prices, and lack of innovation. Companies and employees don’t take risks. Making mistakes and continuing to try are key to innovation (think SpaceX who launched 12 heavy rockets until the 13^th worked).
Japan peaked in the 1990s and their decline has no end in sight especially with their aging population and very low birth rate. Germany started losing ground with COVID and likewise will continue to decline.
Both started World Wars and exhibited unbelievable cruelty killing millions of civilians. Germany has offered a complete apology but Japan has not.

Australia, on superficial examination, should not fit with these two. It is resource based and has a fair economy dependent on world demand for iron ore. Besides the jaywalking rules, it has some of the most draconian policies. In COVID, they had extremely strict quarantine rules and were the last country to open up. I think of them as drinking, partying and sport-loving rednecks.
Rent a car to see the country. Not wearing a seat belt gets a $1,132 fine. Speeding for a foreigner costs a minimum of $5,000 (fines are heavy for Australians too but they also pay for points) as they can’t give points. The rental company had a $3,500 excess fee. Any accident results in immediate credit card payment of the total fee. I was hit by a kangaroo (he ran into the side of my car while driving 40 km/hour in a NP) – $3,500. If a second kangaroo hits you another $3,500 and a third kangaroo gives a total of $10,500. You start paying interest on the credit balance so I withdrew money from savings to cover the cost. The repair ended up costing $115!!!!!
Australia may not have started any wars, but they pride themselves in their war-like spirit. They haven’t missed a war since the 1880s and readily join the war mongering USA in any silly war they decide to start. There are hundreds of monuments all over the country, each one listing the many wars they have been in.