Micro;
Usually you and I see eye to eye. But, I'm having a real hard time following you on this.
See, even the "good" people commit crimes with startling regularity. Things like driving infractions, cheating on taxes (including not reporting internet purchases on tax
forms, I bet every single member of this forum is guilty of that one. Tax evasions is a felony, is it not?), software and media piracy, gambling, smoking marijuana, etc.
Thing is, I don't really believe in this line between good people and bad people. The only difference between me and some guy in jail for one of a huge number of things is that he got caught.
Your argument tends to conflate criminals with non criminals.
You might start by recognizing the difference between "malum in se" laws and "malum prohibitum" type laws.
Yes, we all "cheat" on laws to an extent. This morning I did a "rolling stop" at an intersection instead of a full stop. Technically I am a criminal.
However, I am not a murderer, rapist, thief, pillager, or anything that could be defined under "malum in se."
There certainly IS a difference between "good" people and "bad" people. Unless you think the scuzz who, just ten minutes ago, raped and slaughtered your wife stands on par with Mother Theresa, if only, maybe, because "he hasn't been caught yet.
Yes, tax evasions are felonies ... or atleast serious crimes. Do I support tax evaders? No. OTOH I don't get as "offended" at them as I do murderers, mainly because (A.) murder actually deprives someone of the most important thing they have; their life, and (B.) [and I admit I am being a bit jaded or cynical here] because tax laws are made by a group of some of the most corrupt jackwagons on the face of this planet, in order to "spread wealth around" and get votes. These people (and you know who I mean) will whine to the cows come home about the
"rich paying their 'fair share,'" when they already pay much of the tax burden and the lower half of income earners pay little to no tax. They have a misbegotten concept of how to improve the economy (really think things are getting better??) and stuff laws down our throats so we can "find out what's in them" (re: Nancy Pelosi and the mammoth health care bill). Now this doesn't justify us breaking any law.... but when I hear about some sorry shlum getting pinched because he didn't pay a $15,000 tax bill, I don't get all "offended" I just think that was a sorry -- assed mistake, he should have simply paid it, written off the $$$$ and gotten on with his life. A serial murderer, OTOH, does fry my sensibilities.
SOME crimes really
DO make you a bad person ---- even an EVIL person. The rapist, the murderer. Those
ARE evil people. There's just no conflating those people with tax cheats IMHO.
The guy who doesn't pay taxes on an internet purchase? Technically he's a criminal, but that is malum prohibitum.
Can the government get all wound up about it? With so many doing it, I'd like to see how they could either enforce it, or imprison everyone who does it. Again, like the income tax, this is a way for kongress to express its control over the people. It's a "sword of Damocles" over our heads....not being used right now .... but how about the future, when they might need to tighten the ''thumb-screws?"