What country are YOU living in? Here in America (by which I mean the USA and Canada), punishment rarely fits the crime. If you steal a billion dollars from investors, you'll be asked to retire and pay a fine. Steal a hundred dollars from a liquour store, and you'll get twenty years in jail.
Pirating films isn't white-collar enough to warrant a light sentence. The only crimes that have stiff sentences are the ones that wealthy people don't commit.
Here in America (by which I mean the USA and Canada), punishment rarely fits the crime. If you steal a billion dollars from investors, you'll be asked to retire and pay a fine. Steal a hundred dollars from a liquour store, and you'll get twenty years in jail.
Ah yes, but most people who steal from liquor stores have commited many other crimes, and are likely to commit a lot more, whereas white collar criminals tend to only commit one crime.
most people who steal from liquor stores have commited many other crimes, and are likely to commit a lot more
I thought you could only be punished for crimes you have been charged for and found guilty of having commit. Not for crimes you may have done or are likely to do.
I thought you could only be punished for crimes you have been charged for and found guilty of having commit. Not for crimes you may have done or are likely to do.
That's just silly. There are plenty of US laws based on futurecrime. Just look at, say, drug law. You are charged with a crime because you may commit a crime under the influence in the future.
Police regularly create sting operations targeting drug users, johns, and pedophiles. There are no actual victims in these cases, unless you count undercover officers posing as decoys. Hence we are already punishing people for imaginary crimes. The only reason police don't use such tactics against other classes criminals (say, murderers) is that it's just not feasible. (Not that I see how any of this relates to video piracy.)
There are plenty of US laws based on futurecrime. Just look at, say, drug law. You are charged with a crime because you may commit a crime under the influence in the future.
What does that have to do with drug laws?
Drug laws are there because those drugs can't be patented and big pharma can make a tidy profit off of pimping their drugs.
I have never heard a single rational argument in favor of drug laws. Take any argument I've ever heard given and it is an argument that only applies when drugs are illegal
Preemptive punishment? See recent US activities in... shit... what's that large country in the Middle East... it's on the tip of my brain... Iraq???;-)
I thought you could only be punished for crimes you have been charged for and found guilty of having commit. Not for crimes you may have done or are likely to do.
Wow. You probably believe the "record will be expunged" thing for minors too eh? Perhaps once upon a time in America; but that time is, unfortunately, long, long gone.
"Be there. Aloha."
-- Steve McGarret, _Hawaii Five-Oh_
You'd get less time... (Score:5, Insightful)
I'm not standing up for the crime, but isn't the punishment supposed to match it?
Sickening...
What Country are YOU living in? (Score:5, Insightful)
Pirating films isn't white-collar enough to warrant a light sentence. The only crimes that have stiff sentences are the ones that wealthy people don't commit.
Re:What Country are YOU living in? (Score:0, Troll)
Ah yes, but most people who steal from liquor stores have commited many other crimes, and are likely to commit a lot more, whereas white collar criminals tend to only commit one crime.
Re:What Country are YOU living in? (Score:5, Insightful)
I thought you could only be punished for crimes you have been charged for and found guilty of having commit. Not for crimes you may have done or are likely to do.
Re:What Country are YOU living in? (Score:1)
The reason we put them away for so long is that they are a danger to others. They have offended, and will do so again.
Re:What Country are YOU living in? (Score:1)
That's just silly. There are plenty of US laws based on futurecrime. Just look at, say, drug law. You are charged with a crime because you may commit a crime under the influence in the future.
Re:What Country are YOU living in? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:What Country are YOU living in? (Score:1)
What does that have to do with drug laws?
Drug laws are there because those drugs can't be patented and big pharma can make a tidy profit off of pimping their drugs.
I have never heard a single rational argument in favor of drug laws. Take any argument I've ever heard given and it is an argument that only applies when drugs are illegal
Re:What Country are YOU living in? (Score:1)
Re:What Country are YOU living in? (Score:3, Insightful)
See recent US activities in
Re:What Country are YOU living in? (Score:2)
Wow. You probably believe the "record will be expunged" thing for minors too eh? Perhaps once upon a time in America; but that time is, unfortunately, long, long gone.