SEARCH BLOG: CRIME
Big crime makes headlines and has a dramatic impact. Small crime saps the moral and ethical foundation of communities. Big crime destroys lives. Small crime destroys trust. Bernie Madoff was a big-time criminal. These are small-time criminals.
So why bother to look at small-time crime? Unlike Madoff, there is a strong, cultural connection among these small-time criminals... a seeming culture of crime... some might say "victimless" crime. But I wouldn't say that at all. Madoff was, I believe, an aberration... an amoral, unethical individual who was willing to take advantage of anyone and everyone. The small-time criminals in the story linked above are more insidious. Madoff's actions were like large knife wounds; the small-time criminals' actions are more like a pernicious virus that saps the vitality of the community.
In today's economy, it might be easy to say, "Oh, well. They were just trying to survive." Yes, viruses try to survive, too. But that doesn't make any of us feel better... or be better off.
There are a lot of "sophisticated" people who scoff at "Midwestern" or "Protestant" ethics... hard work; playing by the rules; giving back to the community. They don't see an issue with "tweaking" the "intent" of the law. Sort of like Rep. Pelosi saying that illegal aliens... another group of "small-timers," were true U.S. "patriots." Is that like saying someone with AIDS is just a good "host?"
The Madoffs of the world are dramatic and devastating for a brief time. The small-timers are stealthy and devastating to the long-term health of our system. For some reason, we don't see the latter as really that bad.
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