That's where the Buddhist system of belief explains everything. If you're suffering in this life through no fault of your own, despite all the good things you've done, it must be because of bad things you've done in a previous life. Which of course can't be disproven. And thanks to the nature of incarnations, even cruelty against animals fits neatly into this system. Have any other belief systems tried to incorporate this catch-all explanation into their beliefs?
What specific system of Buddhism is this? Mahayana or Theravada?

Being a Buddhist/Shintoïst myself, I strongly disagree with this. I do not believe in "Divine Intervention", what I do believe in is positive thought and the fact that good and bad is different for everyone. A breaking laptop could be seen as a punishment, but also as an opportunity to go out and hang out more with friends or family. It all depends on how you look at the situation. With that in mind, there is no such thing as punishment. And punishment because of something you did in a previous life, for which people should not be made to suffer. It does not seem righteous at all. And animal cruelty is even worse, in my opinion.

Rhyfelwyr, if a predestined fates exist, what's the point of free will?