It really is.
I'm absolutely for justice, law, and order. I'm also for mercy and redemption. I see them as distinct, but not mutually exclusive.
So my question is: our society, and our legal system, says "You did A, so you owe B." Then it exacts B, which the person pays.
But then all the little gods on this thread say, "Not enough."
So suppose someone commits a hellacious crime, is punished as society says he should be, genuinely repents, genuinely is a changed man -- what then? The little gods here pronounce that they aren't satisfied. So what standard obtains now? What is the order of our society? Vigilante justice? Or folks like these driving folks like this to utter despair?
I owe a story $47. I pay the store $47. Then I walk out the front door, and some little god says "$47 isn't nearly enough! You owe another $3854759098!"
Do I?
Or is that his problem?
Random thoughts... but not entirely. Things I wonder, but can't entirely answer.