> If two applicants were the same except that candidate A committed a minor crime 20 years ago, it is rational for me to prefer candidate B Yes if that crime w

> If two applicants were the same except that candidate A committed a minor crime 20 years ago, it is rational for me to prefer candidate B Yes if that crime was defrauding money from employers. No if it was beating up cheating ex wife's lover. You skipped an important step, yet made a firm decision you mistakenly believe is educated. When confronted you'll respond that you don't have resources to look into details of every candidate's crimes. Well, there's the catch-22. > At the margin, removing a penalty for crime will result in more crime. Making penalty inadequately high has the opposite effect of making relatives miserable and angry; affected population growing in dissent.