That’s why I advocate for fines and penalties scaled to income and net worth, both personal and corporate. If you’re poor you should still be able to eat after paying a speeding ticket, but if you’re a billionaire you should be knocked down a couple of million for the same offense.
They also have no capacity to pay whatever fine you might levy. This is not really a problem you can get around. It’s tautological. People with nothing to lose have nothing to lose.
The social contract flows both ways. If you’ve been left behind, you don’t owe jack to society.
But that leads to a surveillance state that is obsessed with how much everyone is “worth” at all times. That’s bullshit. I say we just take body capacity. You gotta wear a cast for a week. A month. You lose a finger. You lose your eyes. Those are things we all value equally (if you will excuse the ableism and assume it can be compensated for).
You do realize that “a surveillance state where the government knows how much money and holdings everyone has” describes the entire basis of the tax system, right? The government already knows that information. So, you’re saying that you are so concerned that the government would suddenly know how much money everyone makes, and that the better solution is institutionalized governmental corporal punishment leading to permanent disability and death?
It tongue in cheek, but the government absolutely does not have an inventory of Canadian’s assets. You do not report your net worth. Wealthy people don’t have employment income and while they do have to report most investment income, they don’t have to report assets unless income is being realized. If they can shelter it, they never have to.
I don’t really think that taking body parts is a serious solution to wealth inequity, but I also don’t think scaling fines is the best solution, though an improvement over fixed fines.
That’s why I advocate for fines and penalties scaled to income and net worth, both personal and corporate. If you’re poor you should still be able to eat after paying a speeding ticket, but if you’re a billionaire you should be knocked down a couple of million for the same offense.
a country in europe (maybe finland?) does this. I remember a dude getting a multi-thousand euro(?) fine.
Can confirm it’s Finland.
It was in the six figures if I recall correctly.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1759791.stm
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/06/finnish-businessman-hit-with-121000-speeding-fine
But if rich people can’t get away with everything (except for a light slap on the wrist) then people won’t be motivated to innovate and improve
Like trumps desire to rape children motivated him to bankrupt three casinos and become president
There should still be a minimum though otherwise people with 0 met worth or income can just doo whatever and not have any consequences.
We patch that loophole by making sure no one has 0 net worth and everyone has their needs met
They also have no capacity to pay whatever fine you might levy. This is not really a problem you can get around. It’s tautological. People with nothing to lose have nothing to lose.
The social contract flows both ways. If you’ve been left behind, you don’t owe jack to society.
A millionaire not working… has 0 income.
I’m not grasping your point.
0 income does not mean 0 wealth. I am sure I remember that Elon does not get paid a salary.
We’re talking about net worth.
But that leads to a surveillance state that is obsessed with how much everyone is “worth” at all times. That’s bullshit. I say we just take body capacity. You gotta wear a cast for a week. A month. You lose a finger. You lose your eyes. Those are things we all value equally (if you will excuse the ableism and assume it can be compensated for).
You do realize that “a surveillance state where the government knows how much money and holdings everyone has” describes the entire basis of the tax system, right? The government already knows that information. So, you’re saying that you are so concerned that the government would suddenly know how much money everyone makes, and that the better solution is institutionalized governmental corporal punishment leading to permanent disability and death?
It tongue in cheek, but the government absolutely does not have an inventory of Canadian’s assets. You do not report your net worth. Wealthy people don’t have employment income and while they do have to report most investment income, they don’t have to report assets unless income is being realized. If they can shelter it, they never have to.
I don’t really think that taking body parts is a serious solution to wealth inequity, but I also don’t think scaling fines is the best solution, though an improvement over fixed fines.