How do you propose we make fine-based punishment an equal punishment regardless of financial means?
Discussion
That's a good question, but I think the fine based punishment model within a monopolistic institution is a poor model to begin with. I admit it isn't an easy problem to solve, but the above method is crap, imo, and will produce extremely negative results for many more people over the long term.
I think privilege and access control with competing providers gives better incentives and results. Though it's not like we can just overnight implement something like that.
I’m not a fan of the $130k speeding ticket either, but what is a deterrent if it doesn’t deter? What is a law if it only applies to the poor?
Perhaps time is the great leveler? I could get down with more community service if properly randomized and administered.
You're assuming that the fines should be proportional to the wealth of the violator rather than proportional to the inconvenience caused by the violator as a result of the action being fined.
The question isn't how to make fines proportional to wealth, the question is how to make fines proportional to actual inconvenience caused rather than assessed arbitrarily by the state.
The goal of a deterrent is to deter. If it’s only a deterrent to certain classes of people, you’ve created a systemic problem.
I’m not necessarily in favor of the scaled approach. Dude said AMA so I did.
In a world where money earned actually represents value produced, I have no problem with people with more money having to worry less about fines. If something is really a crime, there should be more punishment then a fine anyway. A fine usually only applies to crimes where something inconvenient or reckless happened but nobody actually was a victim of.