imported post
Mainsail wrote:
I think the answer is making prison a lot less fun than it already isn't.
That's only because you haven't thought enough.
Ok, so lets say you're Magic Mainsail and any policy you come up with gets applied magically if you want it to. Magic Mainsail goes ahead and decrees this new justice system into existence. What happens?
Drug dealers know that the first time they get caught, it's a cakewalk. They use this time between when they start dealing and when they first get caught to establish their business. Advertise, win clients, lock down their supply chain, etc. Do all the really risky stuff involved in starting a business.
Enter Danni Dealer. Danni Dealer has established a good business, is making lots of money, and has already done his cake walk. In fact, he remembers his cakewalk fondly, as it actually got him street cred among the other dealers as "the real thing" and it opened doors to new suppliers and clientele for him. After all, no cop would do the cake walk, and snitches don't have to do the whole thing, so everyone knows that Danni is clean to do business with. Getting caught for the first time becomes somewhat like getting your CHL: Not strictly necessary, but helpful. It's your "good guy" (or in this case, "bad guy") card.
Danni's business is more successful than ever. With his new connections, he's been able to expand his business beyond his wildest dreams. Unfortunately, today is an unlucky day for Danni. Today is the day he runs into Officer Friendly.
As Danni see's Officer Friendly approaching, he knows he's already done his cakewalk. He knows that, no matter what, he can't go back to jail, as the second time won't be so much fun. He's already made his millions, and he's ready to split town, but he has to deal with this Officer Friendly situation. As Office Friendly approaches, Danni is acutely aware of the fact that his risk of getting caught has just shot up to nearly 100%, and he doesn't want to pay out the cost of that risk. So Danni starts running through his available risk management strategies. Danni knows that the officer has already called in his location, but figures there's a good chance he hasn't called for backup yet, especially since his pistol is holstered. Danni outdraws Friendly and guns him down. Friendly wasn't even approaching Danni, he was walking past him to the Starbucks behind on his lunch break.
Danni knows everyone in the area is in the process of calling 911 and reporting the gunshots. He knows he's got only precious few minutes before the cavalry shows up. Danni spots a car he's proficient at stealing, hops in, and drives away, never to be heard from again.
As a result of the tragedy, the city went around collecting the handguns of everyone, so that they wouldn't have to have another officer shot for going to Starbucks. Danni retired in Canada, where he spends his days skidding around the icy roads in his Maserati. He opened a business selling the same plants he sold down here, legally, and employs several. The owner of the stolen Honda Civic was proud to get out of his piece of @#$% car. The Friendlys still mourn the loss of their husband and father to this day.
Net result of Magic Mailsail policy: Danni retires a millionaire, 1 cop dead, 1 car stolen. Some people smoke pot.
Net result of Grishnav policy: Danni is still a struggling, tax paying small business owner, who would never even think of stealing a car or killing a cop. Some people smoke pot.
Which world do you want to live in?
