Response to Discussion
Name
Course
Institution
Date
Discussion 1
I agree with the discussion. This is because powerful crimes have been in existence for a very long time in many forms. One could not have earlier pointed out at an offense committed by people in high places and labeled it a crime. One can quickly identify a crime of the powerful from the different types of crimes given and call them out. The crimes committed by people in high places are not compelled by small issues like hunger in their homes or lack of food. Their cause has to be something big, just like their rank. They are crimes of the powerful because a poor man living in an underdeveloped location can’t cause sabotage of goods like vehicle fuel and cause a country’s economy to suffer setbacks. These crimes are committed by people who want to benefit themselves without giving back to the community they are working for. Instead, what they do is paralyzing the system for their own good.
Discussion 2
Indeed, no division in crimes of the powerful exists alone. One division has to be connected to another. It has to be a web for powerful crimes by influential people to be committed. One division forms an alibi for another. The perpetrators of those crimes have a common goal. They are driven to benefit themselves and those connected to them on the big web. Once committed, these powerful crimes cause emotional distress and economic crises, not to those who have committed them but to the have nots. Highly planned crimes ruin people’s lives indirectly. These powerful crimes also ride on national crises like natural disasters and pandemics. They again rise on advancement in technology in their countries and operate through hard to decode channels. The perpetrators also look for loopholes in people’s social media accounts and hack them and make money from people being careless with their information.
Discussion 3
I agree with the discussion that the web, which is formed by the perpetrators of the crimes of the powerful provides for an opportunity for them to work as one large unit to acquire monetary wealth and political power. There is no reason at all as to why they will not seek political power. Money acts as a catalyst to power. Once the criminal is rich, power gets into their minds, and they want to control everyone and everything. The crimes of the powerful are committed for the sake of gaining profit. The crimes always have a large and noticeable impact. Technology advancement provides a breeding ground for committing crimes of the powerful. Unfortunately, a country can’t stop technological advancement to curb crimes of the powerful.
Discussion 4
It is entirely in order as per the book to say that among all the types of powerful, white-collar crime takes the lead. The criminal knows how to go about a crime without leaving evidence that can be traced back. They are organized and have plans. The high and mighty act as a nest to their inferiors and let them commit such crimes. Powerful companies’ executives are never left behind. They are the backbones of the perpetrators of those crimes. They organize the crimes and wait for their juniors to execute their plans. They do this by altering prices for their profit, depending on the economic situation of their country. They abuse the consumers and their environment. They do not care about environmental hazards as long as the crime they are committing benefits them. Such criminals can’t be convicted since they run their countries. The victims get used to such a lifestyle.
References
Pearce, F. Crimes of The Powerful: Marxism, crime, and deviance. London: Pluto Press.