This isn't a question that has easy answers. I'm glad to see posts here that show so much insight.

I have to disagree with Jim Carroll and side with Little Hawk. Sure, there are some laws in western society that are oppressive, but most criminal laws are based on common sense. Whether they are made by the "privileged few" or not, doens't make a lot of difference as long as they're lawss that people generally agree with. I don't agree with the current push for ever-increasing penalties for crime - but generally I agree with what the law defines as criminal. If you kill or rape or rob, you ought to be punished.

-Joe-