Migwi,
a) Two wrongs don’t make a right. Every crime is a wrong and should be prosecuted and duly punished.
b) Some wrongs are so monumentally huge that they end up costing the tax payer huge damage. Retribution for such crimes should reflect their enormity.
Majority of those who steal milk and fullscaps are very poor folks. Most of those who steal billions are well educated, well heeled and influential people. Their crimes can’t be be equal in any known measurables. Their punishments therefore need to be commensurate to their crimes.
c) Our judiciary and Investigators are very poorly equipped in the art of Tracing at Common Law and in Equity. This weakness enables the well heeled get away scot-free with huge thefts and this ultimately discourages the populace by creating the illusion that ‘it’s ok to steal since everybody else is getting away with it’.
agree with you.
but remember, here a chicken thief can be jailed for 20 years and the monumental thief gets 2 to 3 years and an option of a fine.
why can't the poor seek to know why they are poor and try to change that instead of stealing?
the milk might be small, but others steal hospital drugs, get bribes from unroadworthy vehicles (which kill people), others take bribes to disappear evidence..... all of them will claim they are poor and their actions won't always lead to big consequences.
most of those who steal billions, started by stealing milk. (having a stiffer punishment for stealing billions is a good idea-like what happens in China)
BUT, if you were to look at the butterfly effect of any crime however small or big, there will be always those who benefit and those who suffer.
all am saying is let's nick this stealing behavior in the bud, when were are responsible for milk so that when we have billions, we won't have the urge to steal. (you can remove the Poverty from the thief but not the thieving from the thief)
