Some of you may wonder why of all the stories out there today I decided to focus on the $525 fine a construction worker in South Carolina received a for refilling his drink without paying. The reason is to highlight the difference between what happens when a peasant breaks the law versus when a banker does it.
In this case, citizen Christopher Lewis refilled his drink without paying at the VA Medical Center in downtown Charleston. For this horrific offense (a refill costs $0.89), he was hauled into a room by the Federal Police Force and given a ticket for $525. Even worse, he was told not to ever come back to the premises, so he ended up losing his job as well.
So for this undoubtably minor offense, Mr. Lewis received a fine almost 600x greater than the cost of the crime and lost his ability to support himself. Compare that to the slap on the wrist banks receive when they are caught engaging in criminal behavior that leads to the theft of billions of dollars. At the worst, they pay a fine that is only a fraction of the profits and no one goes to jail, so the law actually incentivizes major financial crime. Meanwhile, if a peasant steps out of line, even for the most minor offense, the full brute force of federal law comes down like a ton of bricks. This is one of the main reasons why the social fabric of society is being torn apart, and unfortunately, there will be a hefty price to pay for it in the future.
This is a theme I have written about time and time again, most recently in a two part series, which I suggest reading:
Some Money Launderers are “More Equal” than Others
Some Money Launderers are More Equal than Others Part 2 – CEO of BitInstant is Arrested
From WCSC News we learn that:
CHARLESTON COUNTY, SC (WCSC) – A North Charleston man was hit with a federal fine for refilling his drink without paying. The on-site construction worker says he didn’t know refills at the VA Medical Center in downtown Charleston came at a price, and Wednesday, during his lunch hour, he was slapped with federal charges.
The ticket was issued by the Federal Police Force at the VA Medical Center in downtown Charleston after Christopher Lewis refilled his soda without paying the $0.89. A hospital spokesperson called it a “theft of government property.”
“Every time I look at the ticket, it’s unbelievable to me,” says Lewis, who works construction. “I can’t fathom the fact that I made a $0.89 mistake that cost me $525.”
Lewis says he tried to pay the $0.89 right there, but wasn’t allowed to. He says he wasn’t given the chance to pay the cashier either.
“I never had an option to make right what I had done wrong.”
He says he was taken to a room, given the $525 ticket for shoplifting and told not to return to the property.
“I’m done there, at the VA hospital. I’m not allowed to go on the premises anymore. I asked him can I still work on the job site and just bring my lunch and not got to the cafeteria and he said he wanted me off the premises.”
Freedom.
Full article here.
In Liberty,
Michael Krieger
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This has nothing to do with justice. Those fine are regulated by the Charleston government. Conclusion, this Government is bankrupt and concerned only about their pensions. That is the only reason their brand of justice is imposed,… and it is with huge fines and taxes.
Citizens only saviors down the road is to get rid of all this corruption.
i.e, use you vote…wisely, you may be next.
Sounds pretty reasonable.
But, if you want to steal Billions in Fraud and even boast about it, get a Banking Licence……
Counter-sue for harassment and entrapment on the basis that they failed to notify you of the charge for a refill; therefore, you presumed that the price you paid for the drink more than covered the extra 2 cents in syrup that it would cost them to refill your drink. Their outrageous actions in alleging in order to impose a $500+ fine on you is using color-of-the-law to support a racket. So push for punitive damages on top of it all.
So where has the ACLU been lately? Sounds like cruel and unusual punishment to me.
This really struck a chord with me, because today I almost stole my lunch at work.
Our cafeteria has an “honors system”- there is an airport style kiosk & fridge where you pick what you want and just pay at the machine. No one mans a counter or register, but it is covered from every angle with cameras. I don’t usually eat there (the food is horrendous) but its Friday and I just wanted something quick, so after hemming and hawing I picked out a hot pocket and walked away. I think I only realized I never paid for it because I had to wait in line for the microwave- it was just one of those “its Friday and I have no idea where my head is right now” moments. I paid as soon as I realized my mistake, but it boggles the mind- could I have ended up like this guy- fined and fired- for stealing a $1.29 hotpocket??
I can’t help but think of the people that would read a story like this and inevitably respond with something like “Well that will teach him, next time he won’t steal. It doesn’t matter that its 89 cents, its still stealing” and wonder if this guy just didn’t have a ‘Friday moment’ like I did.
Government sucks …all the oxygen from every room. I’m sick of it. Most people I know are sick of it. Have you attempted to get services at the VA? Refills are the least they should give. Over a year ago I submitted an application for benefits for my father, a World War two vet, recently a letter came acknowledging receipt of the application and stating they were pretty busy right now but would get to it. Bastards.