• ApostleO@startrek.website
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    15
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    A big enough fine can cut the rich even harder than it can the poor.

    I guess, in theory, but I’ve never seen that happen. And even if you did take more from them, it’s only a “deeper cut” in the sense that they fell further to get to broke.

    A $10k fine might be more than a poor person’s entire net worth, forcing them into homelessness or extreme poverty.

    I’ve never seen a billionaire forced to pay over 100% of their net worth in fines. Hell, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a fine over $1B, except by a corporation.

    Billionaires only go broke when they mismanage their own money. Jail time isn’t even as big a threat if they are young, as they could well have more money when they come out, where any other Joe Schmo would come out broke and with limited job prospects.

    • Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      arrow-down
      6
      ·
      1 year ago

      Sure, it’s certainly better to be rich than to not be. You’re right when you are in the billionaire range it’s pretty damn hard to touch that. But trump is a low end billionaire with lots of financial needs. You start cutting hard into his reserves and businesses could start to collapse, debt can accrue and friends start to dissappear. This pos can’t keep his mouth shut and this is a major case with consequences for US democracy. 10million for any gag breech and we will start to see some behavior change after a couple mistakes.

      • ApostleO@startrek.website
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        9
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        Okay, but that’s still not a “deeper cut” than the single parent living paycheck to paycheck getting a fine that puts them on the street.

        Until fines are proportional to wealth, laws only apply to the poor. The rich can pay for an indulgence.