The Very Nerve! A Justice System That Actually Works
Living in the United States and being told that this is the “best country on Earth,” it’s easy to conclude that this is true, and that any instance of injustice, unfairness, insanity, etc. that exists here also lives elsewhere–in spades.
Yet when we honestly look around, we see that there are dozens of ways in which this simply isn’t true. Perhaps the most obvious is the countries that have the highest “Global Happiness Rankings.” While their citizens pay higher taxes, they do so gladly, because of the array of benefits they receive, both tangible (free healthcare and education), and intangible (a spirit of community, knowing that no one is impoverished, hungry, dying of a curable illness, homeless, or uneducated because of the costs).
Here’s an enviable characteristic of some countries that commonly lie invisible to us: a justice system that works equally for rich and poor. Following the 2008 financial meltdown, when it was obvious that the “banksters” had committed crimes ranging from embezzlement to conspiracy to breach of fiduciary duties to market manipulation, the United States concluded that charges could not be brought, because these uber-wealthy people could hire the best attorneys who would get their clients off scot-free. Iceland took a slightly different tack: they sent 26 of them to prison.
Imagine the effrontery. An honest justice system.
Craig,
Honest ? Not really. Iceland was largely a tax haven for banks and it’s government was heavily integral to the misdeeds of the bankers.
Nearly all the money lost was no Icelandic but foreign so the domestic economy was largely unaffected.
Every system of Justice has flaws and faults. You have a habit of behaving like a member of a Puritan lynch mob without any regard for the fallout and misery created by your hatred.
When a Bank fails, it’s not just the wealthy or Bankers who suffer, but the wider community. Many innocent investors, depositors, creditors all lose their money and livelihoods. Whole towns, businesses, industries, farming districts witnesses terrible economic destruction and loss. Communities are laid waste. All that misery, just so you can gloat.
Nor do you care to take off your rose-tinted glasses when it comes to nations you idolize like Sweden.
The US President, Donald Trump offered to put up bail for an American entertainer,rapper A$AP Rocky, following his arrest for an alleged involvement in an altercation in Sweden. A$AP Rocky is an African-American held in a Swedish prison while the incident is being investigated.
Unlike the US, Sweden effectively denies bail to all foreigners and even it’s own citizens.
The President made representations on the entertainers behalf, but the Swedish Justice Minister has rejected any such arrangements. Only after President Trump sent a Special Envoy and warned Sweden of “negative” repercussions for continuing to hold Rocky in custody, was A$AP Rocky grudgingly released.
The President has instructed the State Department to investigate claims by many American entertainers and black American tourists after rapper Quavo and many others came forward with stories of racism and mistreatment at the hands of Swedish cops.
The President informed Sweden that any mistreatment of US citizens on the basis of race or religion would not be tolerated by his administration.
(Oh, he’s such a racist Ol’ Donald).