Aohell

When Is It Ever Otherwise?

Hyundai's boss embezzled over $100 million from his company and got a suspended sentence. Sure, he looks sullen and beat down in his courtroom photo, but the fact is that he got off much easier than some random street mugger. It's always like that. He's paid off big politicians, so he's got close ties with government and he's head of Korea's largest automaker, so it's "bad for Korea" if he actually goes to jail.

It's like there's a script for super-wealthy people. Step one: get a lot of money through crime, fraud, or inheritance. Very, very few of the super-wealthy actually do ethical things to get money like that. Step two: subvert the government through massive bribes. Call them what you will, but the donations made to political campaigns are, in the end, bribes. Laws can be passed to make them legitimate in a courtroom, but it's obvious those laws were made by the bribers and the bribed to allow them and only them to carry one with their corrupt game. Step three: if caught, get off easily. Even super-wealthy murderers get off easily compared to other murderers. They're less likely to face the death penalty and more likely to get acquitted or a hung jury.

Korea, Nigeria, Mexico, US: It's all the same. Capitalism and democracy work. They're great systems and allow for the greatest possible expression of both personal and economic freedoms. The huge problems begin when the wealthiest people in society choose to subvert the economy and government to their advantage.

My suggestion? Quit giving people respect because of their wealth. If you wouldn't respect someone who cheated at Monopoly to win, don't kiss up to those who cheated at life to win.