It's deplorable that so many stole from her. But as to the title, it's even sadder how poor people were systematically stolen from, historically and I'm sure currently to some degree.
Per the article, most of the money wasn't used for restitution, and many individuals are arrested for merely not paying fines and fees, no restitution given.
But as a matter of probability and human greed, some people understood the system and invisibly stole from it. How much of the money was mismanaged vs how much was stolen is debatable.
It's odd how the same people who are prone to excuse criminals on the basis of the criminal's poverty, so frequently accuse rich people of having obtained their wealth through illicit means.
Why do so many rich people scam others? They're rich! It's certainly not because of lack of economic opportunities.
Some said in another reply it was common to say in the USSR if we paid the police more they'd stop being corrupt. To which the response was, if that's so then how come the politicians, being paid ever more, are still corrupt.
Doing bad has nothing to with being poor and everything to do with culture. A culture of entitlement, a culture of selfishness, a culture of lack of responsibility. To see what I mean, go to Japan, notice the poor don't steal. Why? Because it's not part of their culture. (PS: I'm not saying there is no crime in Japan nor am I saying there is no theft. I am saying that the poor general don't steal there, at least no compared to whatever places you're making excuses for).
I presume you're opposed to theft, unless, of course, the target is a rich guy. It's a fashionable double standard to live by. Often, if not usually, envy is somewhere lurking in the background, and certainly some kind of utilitarianism.
The only licit way to confiscate that money is to show that it has been acquired illicitly, at which point it should go to those from whom it was taken, if possible. Even then, doing so may cause more harm than good, depending on the circumstances.
And mind you, living is an ongoing cost. Poverty is not a thing to be solved, but something we must continuously respond to, in healthy ways. The proverbial selling of the Mona Lisa to buy rice/housing/etc isn't the way to go. And human beings do not live on bread alone.
"Because they have never been poor, they had no idea what I might do. Why would I steal, when everyone clearly has enough?"
The assertion that "poor people are more likely to be dishonest" betrays a view of poor people that isn't very nice. Rich people are just as likely to steal if they think they can get away with it.
I have no doubt that most low-ranking government employees believe they are doing good and I don't blame them. But it doesn't matter and it doesn't change the fact that they are involved in extracting money from people with a threat of force. If you can't convince people to finance something, whatever it is, and you still collect money from them, you are stealing.
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