Universal Goodwill Points

[jgbackes]

Here's my latest idea...

All crimes are given point values.

When a crime is committed against you, you get a given number of Good Will Points (GWP). Just a few months ago some "low life" stole my brand new generator. In having the law broken against me, I should get to "bank" some GWP.

Whenever a cop pulls you over and gives you a ticket, you should be able to reach into that bank of good will. Granted some offenses like DUI would require LOTS of GWP.

Also we could come up with GWP for various community service projects, like cleaning the street, or feeding the homeless. You would not even have to go to court, if you had enough GWP in the bank.

I've never had a traffic conviction, but with the number of brushes with the law I've had since I got my Segway, it's only a matter of time.

[quade]

You shouldn't get GWP for the bad acts done against you. You should only get them for the good acts done by you.

Otherwise, we'd all just beat each other up. Think about it.

[jgbackes]

Beating up each other is net-zero, no one wins. The person that hits first probably gets charged an extra point or two. But hitting someone in and of itself causes a loss of GWP.

In my case I should get some GWP for getting my generator stolen and if it is every recovered (yeah right) then the perpetrator looses GWP.

Yelling out the window of a car at a bike/Segway rider should be at least -10 GWP!


You shouldn't get GWP for the bad acts done against you. You should only get them for the good acts done by you.

Otherwise, we'd all just beat each other up. Think about it.

[KSagal]

Unfortunately, you are too late.

A system like you describe already exists. It is very unfair...

When was the last time a Kennedy or Gore or Bush got convicted of a traffic violation like the one you mentioned? Surely it was not the last time they got caught...

I presume they must have pulled some kind of points out of their stash...

[quade]

Karl --

The rich and powerful are, well, rich and powerful.

This has nothing to do with good will points or any utopian dream we might have, but rather the true nature of the universe.

Even the moderately rich and moderately powerful suffer fewer indignities via the court system than you or I ever will.

[Sal]

Even the moderately rich and moderately powerful suffer fewer indignities via the court system than you or I ever will.

Unfortunate but true... but I'm a cynic!

Lets see how Michael Vick fares!

-Sal

[jgbackes]

OK, I give up, you win!

[gbrandwood]

Jeff - I like the idea. It's just that kind of out of the box thinking that comes up with new and better solutions for stuff. It's just as well no one said to the guy gliding on the back of the prototype iBot, don't glide around on two wheels like that, it's not safe or we wouldn't have had the Segway.

Your system might be similar to what already know as karma - if you believe in all that.