From: Cynthia (cyn386@flash.net)
Date: Fri Sep 17 1999 - 14:32:23 MDT
phil osborn wrote:
> Precisely: Now imagine a society in which there were no jails, just gates.
> You can go pretty much anywhere if you're bonded sufficiently, and the bond
> reflects the risk assessed by those in the business of making accurate risk
> assessments. Obviously, each individual would balance bond costs against
> the costs of building reputation, credibility, etc.
Anti-discrimation laws and privacy laws, are an obstacle here. Right now people
segregated by how much they spend on housing. And this has the perverse effect
of forcing poor people to chose between living in the same neighborhoods as
dangerous criminals, or spending 50% of their income on rent.
> The risks would also
> vary according to many different dimensions. A Hezbollah (sp?) member might
> find the bond prohibitive in getting into certain Jewish temples or schools,
> but very slight in getting into the local Mosque.
Yes, there are all kinds of factors that would end up being used to discriminate
against people. If you had a choice, you might well decide not to let wife
beaters in. It would be like a small towns where everyone knows everyone else,
and people act accordingly. OJ Simpson has big problems because everyone knows
who he is and what he did, and frequently avoid contact with him. He already is
in a prison without wall.
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