What Punishment Fits Bernie Madoff’s Crime?
Posted on | January 26, 2009 | 5 Comments
We have all heard the saying that “the punishment should fit the crime,” but opinions vary wildly when it comes to assigning specific penalties for specific crimes.
What is the appropriate punishment for Bernie Madoff? He has all but admitted to stealing $50 billion dollars, yet he is enjoying the comforts of his multimillion dollar New York penthouse instead of the claustrophobia of a prison cell.
(Meanwhile, a woman in Iowa got arrested for not returning a $14 library book!)
No punishment dreamed up will ever restore that money to the Madoff investors, just as assuredly as no amount of excruciating torture of a murderer will ever restore his victim’s life. So what should the goal of societal punishment be?
I am not a proponent of rehabilitation or of second chances for those criminals who have committed infractions that are irrecoverable. Furthermore, I don’t see any point in locking people up like animals for the rest of their lives, just because it is “more humane.” What it is is expensive and cruel.
The practical and truly humane option – though not politically viable – is to end the lives of these criminals. If they have received due process and have had a fair chance to defend themselves up to the highest applicable court, then they should no longer be afforded the privilege of living among us.
Is there really that much of a difference between murdering someone and stealing their life savings? If you maliciously take away the ability of another human being to enjoy the rest of his life, whether it be via bullet or Ponzi scheme, are you not destroying them either way?
I don’t see any reason for drawing a distinction. These perpetrators are of no use to society. Have the moral courage to admit it.
Death for Bernie.
Tags: bernard madoff > bernie madoff > capital punishment > crime > death penalty > execution > humane > madoff > murderer > Ponzi scheme > punishment > rehabilitation > torture
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5 Responses to “What Punishment Fits Bernie Madoff’s Crime?”
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My name is John. I have opinions about everything, especially about how to solve world problems. Most of my rants have to do with the runaway stupidity on this planet. If you don't agree with my views, that's OK - it's a free country (kinda). Just don't mistake this site for a democracy!
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January 27th, 2009 @ 2:07 am
If it were China, Madoff might actually be facing the prospect of the death penalty …
January 27th, 2009 @ 7:36 pm
Not that I would want the U.S. to become more like China, but you have to admit that the prospect of being executed would give white-collar criminals something to think about before pressing the ENTER key…
January 28th, 2009 @ 9:06 am
Yeah. I’m torn myself between admiration for China’s willingness to hand out the death penalty to those who criminally ruin lives of a great many people instead of just those who commit horrifying but ultimately minor acts in the great scheme of things, and horror at how casually the country hands out the death penalty. I can’t make up my mind between the two. ^_^;;
February 4th, 2009 @ 12:54 am
A suitable punishment for Madoff would be to leave him there locked in his penthouse apartment, remove all the food and shut off the water, electricity, telephone and heat. Maybe give him a few thousand dollars in cash to roll around in. The rest of his family can join him as they all slowly starve to death, surrounded by the luxury and the money that they love so much.
February 4th, 2009 @ 2:25 am
I like this idea, Richard. Teach him the old “King Midas” lesson that gold itself has no intrinsic value.