Rich Man, Poor Man, Beggar
Man, Thief: A Satirical Essay
by Sam Aurelius Milam III
Part 2:
He Found A Crooked Sixpence
Beside a Crooked Stile
The
most obvious advantage to society of the Criminalized Recipients Iconoclastic
Manpower1
Exchange (CRIME) is one of cost. As Criminals,2
these individuals would represent a considerably smaller economic burden
to society than they do as welfare recipients, for two reasons. First,
although their per capita productivity and consumption would scarcely change,
they would be less numerous, since fewer people will voluntarily become
Criminals. This, however, is of relatively small importance when
compared to the second cost advantage of CRIME.
This advantage is that we would no longer need a large inefficient tax
supported welfare bureaucracy and we ALREADY HAVE a large inefficient
tax supported criminal bureaucracy. Thus no new costs to society
would accrue to offset the benefits achieved.3
This means that CRIME would provide a much needed boost to the economy.
The dollar resources previously earmarked for taxes to support the welfare
bureaucracy would instead remain in the hands of consumers, available for
the purchase of consumer products. The resulting consumer demand
would stimulate growth throughout the economy, particularly in the capital
investment necessary to meet such a groundswell of consumer purchasing.
The new economic vigor created by this growth would provide job opportunities
far beyond the needs of those individuals formerly filling the bloated
ranks of the welfare bureaucracy, as
well as the hoards of welfare recipients who didn't really need it, and
easily offset the negative effects created by the new Criminals, who after
all, were incapable of doing much anyway.4
This
discussion, even with the aid of footnotes,5
has barely touched the surface of the cost benefits to society that would
result from CRIME; more complete treatments will no doubt be published.
Now, however, I must turn to another benefit of CRIME, a more profound
benefit. That is, the effect of CRIME on the relationship between
society at large and the law enforcement sector.
Coming Soon:
Part 3:
He
Caught A Crooked Cat
Who
Caught a Crooked Mouse
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With all
due apologies to the ladies, if I said "personpower", the acronym would
be "CRIPE", and cripes, who wants CRIPE for an acronym!?! |
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In the current
context, criminal activity is assumed to be restricted to the various crimes
of property acquisition, as opposed to the so-called "violent crimes".
This is a safe assumption, considering the abilities of these particular
criminals. |
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The singular
opportunity to completely eliminate a bureaucracy without creating several
more to take its place is so unique as to be absolutely unprecedented.
It should be tried for the experimental value alone, even if no other reason
existed. |
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It can be
argued that the criminal sector has a beneficial effect on the economy.
That is, theft provides goods to folks who might not otherwise have had
them, and when the stolen goods are replaced, the market has been expanded
by the amount stolen, increasing sales. If the victim isn't insured,
stupidity is its own reward. And if the victim is insured, then the
victim will be reimbursed, and the insurance company can justify a rate
increase. Everyone benefits. |
![Webley](Images/Webley.gif) |