Former President Trump joked about fleeing to Russia after his bond was set at $200,000 in the Georgia case over his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Trump s…
(Apologies for yet another Trump post.)
But given his court appearance Thursday, just funny how he'd start joking about this. I wonder if he actually would, and what would follow. I mean, how would he try to spin it?
If bail is supposed to be a disincentive to flee, what effect is $200k supposed to have on a "billionaire"? A pauper would get that high a bond in this case, and no pauper has access to a private jet.
We need Swedish day fine systems for all levels of government.
If a fine costs a month's wages for someone working minimum wage, it should scale up and still cost a month's wages for people who earn more.
That said, cash bail is an incredibly stupid system. If someone is a flight risk, put an anklet on them. If there's a sincere belief they may flee the jurisdiction, then they need to be deprived of their freedom to travel. And if they aren't any kind of flight risk get them the fuck out of jail. The punishment should not precede the trial.
We have the same system in Finland, and it also accounts for income for capital gains. It does not, however consider assets or the increase of value in assets except during years when assets are sold (when the increase in value is converted to income).
Still, a better system than fixed fines.
We don't have the concept of cash bail and suspects and convicts do occasionally flee. It does mean their belligerence is no longer a direct threat to our society, which is something.