The Trust System

This is just a quick thought I had and wanted to share with everyone. Something I have learned and admired here is Denmark's use of the trust system. The other day I took my first train ride as we went to Copenhagen. The process of getting on the train is quite easy. One would buy a small card and put it into a machine and the machine would print a date on it and a time and then the person would take their card back. No people involved and no crazy gates that you have to open. When I was on the train I realized that no one had come to check that we got our cards stamped (the way of knowing we paid) and I turned to my host sister and asked if that was normal. She said yes and that they rarely come and check your cards. I was surprised to hear that. I guess they can trust the trust system more then anywhere in the U.S. would, my thought was that most people would not pay if that was the case in the U.S. It was strange to me, the next thing I noticed was just a few minutes ago when I was walking by my local shopping center and saw about 20 or 30 bikes placed against the wall or in the bike racks. I looked for locks and them and noticed that there were none, on any of them! Such a weird idea, I feel like everyone back home would be so scared that their bikes would get stolen, and I'm sure some would. I guess no one in Denmark thinks that way.. it is a little bit refreshing knowing that a society is based around something like that. Well, I have to go to dinner now, my counselor is going to pick me up any second now.