3 ms·

Seems the comments here are mostly negative — saying his pardon is an example of corruption and that he should be in jail. Personally, I think that the ability

Seems the comments here are mostly negative — saying his pardon is an example of corruption and that he should be in jail. Personally, I think that the ability for gigantic corporations' ability to not only sue their former employees or influence justice to get them thrown in jail by the government is a much bigger problem. And generally I feel like prison sentences for white-collar and non-violent crime is in almost all cases excessive.

tsimionescu 6y ago
In general you may be right, but stealing code from one employer to give to your next, and explicitly being paid for this and advancing your career, is not a good example. His actions were clearly wrong, and this is just an example of the way white collar crime, even when it causes massive damages, is not practically punished as badly as blue collar crime.
gorgoiler 6y ago
I’m not really interested in seeing Levandowski sent to jail either. People like him are a menace to society and shouldn’t be allowed to operate companies or deploy capital. Society blesses individuals with the privilege to form a company and in exchange those company officers are expected to make a net positive contribution to society. Jobs, investment, progress. If you fail to do that — through stealing, fraud, corruption — the least you should expect is to never be allowed to run a company ever again.
- draw_down 6y ago
  Society blesses individuals with privilege?
- TuringNYC 6y ago
  OK, but so many people go to prison for theft of much, much less. Why shouldn't he face at least that much justice?
  - gorgoiler 6y ago
    It’s a good point. I’m resigned to the pardon happening, but won’t accept this person being allowed to run a business again in the future. That’s the line I draw in the sand, somewhat pragmatically. There are certain positions of trust that hopefully they will not be able to hold.

tsimionescu 6y ago

In general you may be right, but stealing code from one employer to give to your next, and explicitly being paid for this and advancing your career, is not a good example. His actions were clearly wrong, and this is just an example of the way white collar crime, even when it causes massive damages, is not practically punished as badly as blue collar crime.

gorgoiler 6y ago

I’m not really interested in seeing Levandowski sent to jail either. People like him are a menace to society and shouldn’t be allowed to operate companies or deploy capital. Society blesses individuals with the privilege to form a company and in exchange those company officers are expected to make a net positive contribution to society. Jobs, investment, progress. If you fail to do that — through stealing, fraud, corruption — the least you should expect is to never be allowed to run a company ever again.

draw_down 6y ago
Society blesses individuals with privilege?
TuringNYC 6y ago
OK, but so many people go to prison for theft of much, much less. Why shouldn't he face at least that much justice?
- gorgoiler 6y ago
  It’s a good point. I’m resigned to the pardon happening, but won’t accept this person being allowed to run a business again in the future. That’s the line I draw in the sand, somewhat pragmatically. There are certain positions of trust that hopefully they will not be able to hold.