The whole point of punishment is that it's supposed to be disproportionate. If I steal $5 and get fined $5, that is not much of a deterrence or righting of the moral scales. It doesn't need to be draconian, but it has to be much greater than the amount that has been stolen.
I see a lot of suggestions that "it's not a big deal because it is a small amount". Now, is it preferable to live in a society where stealing is OK or at least not as much frowned upon if it's theft of small amounts? Also: if it's such a small amount, why did he bother stealing it?
The whole point of punishment is that it's supposed to be disproportionate
That's true.
If I steal $5 and get fined $5, that is not much of a deterrence or righting of the moral scales. It doesn't need to be draconian, but it has to be much greater than the amount that has been stolen.
The whole point of punishment is that it's supposed to be disproportionate. If I steal $5 and get fined $5, that is not much of a deterrence or righting of the moral scales. It doesn't need to be draconian, but it has to be much greater than the amount that has been stolen.
I see a lot of suggestions that "it's not a big deal because it is a small amount". Now, is it preferable to live in a society where stealing is OK or at least not as much frowned upon if it's theft of small amounts? Also: if it's such a small amount, why did he bother stealing it?
That's true.
That's correct.