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Should white collar crimes be prosecuted more similarly to violent crimes?

Asked by cockswain (15286points) October 15th, 2010

I’m of the opinion that most of the terrible violations of human rights in the world stem from greed. Clearly there is not enough of a deterrent to prevent US white collar criminals from continuing their selfish ways. Maybe if an inside trader knew they would likely go to Leavenworth or Folsom for screwing grandma out of her retirement, he would be less inclined to take that action. Currently it seems, with the exception of high profile cases like Bernie Madoff, a lot of these guys do a few years in minimum security prisons, maybe get out early for good behavior, and return to their somewhat diminished fortunes.

If these clean, white, well-groomed, soft-handed men were to be sentenced to 5 years in a really nasty prison, maybe this would diminish the frequency of the crimes.

We send someone who knocks off a liquor store for $200 with a knife to prison for a long time, or even a bank robber with a gun who gets $20,000. Why not nail the guys who grab millions?

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