Bernard Madoff, who pled guilty yesterday to a variety of crimes related to the decades-long Ponzi scheme through which he stole billions of dollars, woke up this morning in his new home – a lower Manhattan jail cell. Did he get what he deserved? Does the punishment fit the crime?
The disappearance of 60 billion dollars in presumed value from the markets sent shockwaves through our entire economic system, and in that way, one might argue that we are all victims of Madoffs’s misdeeds. Does that factor into your thinking? Should the social impact of a crime play a role in determining how we punish it? Is that really just?

How about the fact that all this is coming down during a week in which the stock market has rebounded 10%, does that make a difference in how we assess the situation? Are we more likely to feel merciful when we ourselves are feeling less beaten down? If so, can that really be called mercy?
Has justice been served in the case of Bernie Madoff?
To subscribe to “Windows & Doors” click here.
http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverifySubmit?feedId=1966354