On Sat, 14 Feb 2009 13:06:43 -0800 (PST), Oppressed Subject
 wrote:

>And by removing a very core principle in human groups - that of fear
>of retaliation, we have basically allowed errant members of the public
>to run rampant. The behaviour self-reinforces and they start becoming
>more daring in their crimes.

That is indeed a significant negative effect of our present system.
You will find that people who have no compunction about attacking
others, and know the system well enough to evade the law, are *very*
quick to call on the police and the law to protect them if they are
attacked in retaliation.

Unfortunately, because the original attacker is usually more adept at
evading the law than the person he attacked (and his victim's friends
& family), it is usually the victim who ends up in jail whilst the
attacker gets away with it.

(I have also heard police officers express frustration at that state
of affairs btw).

-- 
Cynic