Quote:
Originally posted by Secret_Agent_Man
I can. Though I don't think this is really relevant to the discussion.
I have to pay part of the cost of cleaning up the government building -- as does your widowed Aunt Minnie. Also -- that money could otherwise have gone to buy body armor for our troops in Iraq or to help spy on Iran's nuclear program.
So, bastards like "Cool Disco Dan" are putting American soldiers at risk when they deface American government buildings.
The societal harm is (even) more attenuated when he defaces private property.
The degree of punishment is just a value judgment -- like the different punishments for 1 oz of pot vs. powder cocaine vs. crack.
S_A_M
[eta: dammit Burger!]
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I'm not persuaded. In fact, it seems to me my tax dollars would be better spent buying the body armor than prosecuting some little gutter-rat for tagging the local Social Security office. Plus, it creates more job security for the GSA guy who paints it.
