2LaneCruzer
Super Star Member
Today's news had a story about that 25 year old guy who set fire to the submarine USS Miami because he wanted to leave work early. The judge sentenced him to 17 years in prison and ordered him to pay 400 million bucks in restitution. I'm obviously not the sharpest tool in the shed, but when he serves his required 17 years and gets out of prison, how does a 42 year old convicted felon ever begin to earn $400,000,000.00? According to my Social Security statements, after working for 37 years at various jobs, I barely earned a million bucks BEFORE taxes.
It has always baffled me why judges order such huge sums to be paid in restitution by criminals who probably will not be able to repay a dime on the dollar owed, if that much. So why do they even bother to order the restitution?
Banker: "Well, Mr. Smurd, we've just been reviewing your application for a business loan. You're asking for $250,000 to start a roofing business. It seems you served 17 years in prison and have a $400,000,000 judgement (not counting interest) against you; aside from the rights to your memoirs, your only collateral is an appeal on a lawsuit in which you asked for back payment of unemployment. Let's see now...first we'll have to sign you up with an account as a new customer..."