This entire problem can be explained with one line from the above essay: >Punishable conduct is rarely punished. As long as judges allow landlords to break th

This entire problem can be explained with one line from the above essay: >Punishable conduct is rarely punished. As long as judges allow landlords to break the law without facing serious sanctions, they will continue to do so. Its the same behavior that encourages police officers to perjure themselves constantly on the stand and prosecutors to hide evidence and perform other misconduct in the pursuit of criminal convictions. In many cases throughout society, unfortunately, the law has become nothing more than a tool for the wealthy and powerful to punish and control the poor and powerless. Anyone interested in reading an excellent book on this subject should check out Glenn Greenwald's With Liberty and Justice for Some: How the Law Is Used to Destroy Equality and Protect the Powerful.