Shame and Consequences

In our society today, it seems there is no longer any uderstanding that "actions have consequences". We also do not utilize the powerful weapon of public shame. However, it seems that down in Alabama, they understand the idea of shame as punishment. According to the United Kingdom's Daily Mail, an Alabama judge ordered convicted shoplifters to stand outside the store from which they stole wearing signs proclaiming their guilt.

This is a brilliant idea. Instead of sending minor offenders to jail, let them be ridiculed by their peers, and maybe in future they won't do it. This decision, coupled with the media's favorite society slut Paris Hilton failing to squirm out from a jail sentence, may signal that we are seeing the return of sanity. Of course, considering our judiciary (and our useless media who loves the criminals at the expense of real victims), that remains to be determined, but this is definitely a step in the right direction.