SF Giant Melky Cabrera will be allowed to retain the National League batting title, in spite of having been found guilty of using performance-enhancing drugs AND sentenced to a 50-game suspension.
Joe Shmo will be allowed to retain the proceeds from the sale of a 60-inch flat screen, in spite of having been found guilty of stealing it from your neighbor’s home AND sentenced to 50 days in jail.
Politicians, from both parties, remain in office, for multiple terms, in spite of having been found guilty of taking an ever-increasing amount of resources from you and your neighbor and delivering them to their supporters (individual and institutional) in other neighborhoods – AND do no time whatsoever.
Now you tell me: which of my three scenarios has the greatest negative impact on society?
MLB Commissioner Bud Selig is quoted in this video as saying “You can’t change records, because once you get into that, it would never stop.”
Apparently, according to Mr. Selig, it’s just too much of a hassle to return stolen property. So sorry “#2”, who shunned the needle, but please, stay clean.
And, according to the political powers that be, it’s just too short-term painful to cut spending. So sorry hard-working taxpayer, but please, keep working your butt off.