Although I am overdue to amend and update my site, icanfixamerica.com, I hope the reader will, at least, skim the site so I don't have to duplicate the 50-some pages here.  I owe you an abstract since it wouldn't be fair to ask you to read 50+ pages which might turn out to be of no interest to you.  So, I will attempt an abstract at this time.

 

Arsonists, rapists, thieves, and embezzlers do not pay for their crimes.  They pay a portion.  I believe they should pay for ALL of it.  I believe you do not want to subsidize the criminal behavior of your neighbor.  But, that's what you are doing.  In addition to being patently unfair, financing criminal behavior...perpetuates criminal behavior.  You might commit arson if you knew you would pay a small restitution if you were caught.  But what if you had to pay $100,000?

 

If your grandmother's house is identical to her neighbors, in value, should she pay the identical amount in taxes?  How about if she volunteers for every community project while her neighbors require weekly warnings from the police for loud parties, barking dogs, and domestic disputes?  Why is your grandmother paying for police and fire services when it is the neighbors who create a need for them?

 

Why do you pay 25% more for school clothes when you don't shoplift?  How about an annual review of the cost of shoplifting in the U.S. and divide it by the average number of arrests for shoplifting?  A steep fine?  Who cares?  Is it more appropriate to have honest citizens help thieves by paying a large portion of the cost of their crime?

 

I will follow up with much more.  But, my post has a start and I welcome the posts to follow.