Powerful dodge law
JUST recently I watched an ABC documentary ( Four Corners) program that reported on the millions of dollars embezzled from hardworking Australian people who had invested their money in superannuation with AMP.
While this is a very tragic story of distrust about a large Australian corporation once trusted by its consumers, it is now more about who the public can trust with their savings and the lack of prosecution of those greedy financial executives.
While those who have invested a lot of money in the AMP corporation are extremely annoyed with their loss, it is also just as important for all Australians to remember that these losses will inevitably benefit those corporate crooks.
What is perplexing to me is that the revenue embezzled by “welfare cheats” is a drop in the ocean in comparison to the millions of dollars embezzled from our economy by white collar crime and the rich entrepreneurial involvement in company misappropriation.
And yet, when someone steals welfare, unemployment benefits or taxes from the Gov- ernment it is so obvious how swiftly and ruthlessly they are dealt with by their legal administration.
The point I am trying to make is there is a paradox in the way the Government and the legal system go after the more vulnerable such as the unemployed and the working class whenever they are at fault.
I am sure there are a lot of people out there who question this inequity, and I guess the logic is quite simple.
The rich have the revenue to legally defend themselves against the crime they have committed, and the Government and the investors may well realise the legal ramifications in trying to prosecute these privileged crooks. It is the very reason why most avoid jail time.
Whatever way you look at this situation there is a law system that quickly prosecutes the vulnerable for a lesser monetary crime, while the corporate crooks who are ripping millions out of the economy and who are hurting the economy most are simply laughing all the way to the bank.
I know the Western world is premised on class which is as- sociated with economic, social and political power and how laws are formed is quite obvious. Therefore, it is easy to see how people are treated in this country actually impinges on one’s economic status, and if you are poor or working class you are vulnerable to these large corporations and what they do with your money.
As a young fellow growing up in this great country I was often told “no one is above the law” and of course, no one believes that philosophy any more. NEIL PATTEL, Heatley.