The older I get the more wisdom I see in early American draconian punishments for “simple” offenses.
Sure stealing someone’s circular saw doesn’t sound that bad…unless he is depending on it for his kids to eat that week.
This from the 1700s England, one would think the colonies were similar.
All punishable by DEATH. Maybe a tad too extreme but we have went far beyond the opposite end:
High treason, including offences against the Protestant succession and the Protestant establishment
Other offences against the State
Offences against public order, including riot and destruction of flood defences and bridges
Offences against the administration of justice
Offences against public health
Offences against public revenue, including smuggling
Petty treason and murder
Stabbing, maiming and shooting at any person
Rape, forcible abduction and other sexual offences
Simple grand larceny and allied offences
Burglary and allied offences
Larceny from the person
Larceny and embezzlement by servants, Post Office employees, clerks and other agents
Blackmail
Offences by bankrupts
Forgery of deeds, bonds, testaments, bills of exchange, stocks, stamps, banknotes, etc.
Falsely personating another with intent to defraud
Destroying ships to the prejudice of insurance companies
Coinage offences
Malicious injuries to property, including arson
Piracy
The thing is, if one has no moral compass at all, doesn't believe in the after life, it becomes necessary to have civil laws that strict enough to cause real pain. If not, no lesson is learned.
Some folks are just like little children, they don't know what the rules are, and some don't care. They must be taught how to behave. And some do it out of anger and hate and there is only one cure for that, it comes out of the barrel of a gun.
I agree with your basic concept where punishments must be so severe that most people would think twice about committing an offense.
My understanding of many Asian justice systems is that they treat drug users as harshly as the sellers. Imaging, heavy jail time or execution for using hard drugs. And actually enforcing this type of justice nation wide and on TV.
Imagine, a meth dealer and a meth user side by side on gurneys getting the needle.