Cops Quote by Tom Robbins
““Hawaii once had a rat problem. Then, somebody hit upon a brilliant solution. import mongooses from India. Mongooses would kill the rats. It worked. Mongooses did kill the rats. Mongooses also killed chickens, young pigs, birds, cats, dogs, and small children. There have been reports of mongooses attacking motorbikes, power lawn mowers, golf carts, and James Michener. in Hawaii now, there are as many mongooses as there once were rats. Hawaii had traded its rat problem for a mongoose problem. Hawaii was determined nothing like that would ever happen again. How could Leigh-Cheri draw for Gulietta the appropriate analogy between Hawaii's rodents and society at large? Society had a crime problem. It hired cops to attack crime. Now society has a cop problem.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The New York Times Magazine, “The Mongoose Problem”, 1995
A solution that fixes one issue can create bigger, unintended problems, especially when the fix is indiscriminate.
In simple terms: Fixes can cause new problems.
Key Takeaway
Consider side effects before acting.
Themes
cause
consequences
policy
society
crime
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
analytical
warning
When to use this quote
- urban policing
- environmental control
- public health
- technology deployment
Key Concepts
Systems thinking
unintended consequences
trade‑offs
Questions to Reflect On
- What hidden costs might your solution create?
- How can we anticipate ripple effects?
A Different Perspective
A quick fix may worsen the situation if not carefully planned.
