What does your sense of honesty tell you here?
A person gets a traffic fine. About what isn't important - drove through a red light, drove too fast, ignored a "one way street" sign, you name it. No-one was hurt in the process, there even was no dangerous situation... but the person broke the law and should be punished!
How should this person be fined?
- Everyone gets the same fine for the same offence.
- A fine should be a percentage of the offender's income (I think this is used in Finland?).
First situation, pro: Everyone is equal for the law, and it's easy to implement.
First situation, contra: For many (rich) people the fine may be so small it is no 'lesson' to them. In other words, it's more a punishment if you're poor.
Second situation, pro: Because it's a percentage - or even a gliding scale percentage (the richer you are, the higher the percentage) it's a real punishment.
Second situation, contra: Rather difficult to implement, and it could mean people are not equal for the law.
Note that if you're saying "So if you're poor you shouldn't break the law" or something similar, is actually saying that it's OK to do so if you can afford it...
Edited by Legend (11/03/09 07:45 PM)
Edit Reason: clarified a bit
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