[wbejuvbk] Fines to avoid political imprisonment

Let the punishment for any crime optionally be a fine in lieu of imprisonment.

The roundabout goal is to eliminate the institution of political imprisonment.  Political prisoners often have political supporters able to pay a fine.  The social calculation is that the good a person does (outside of prison) outweighs the harm of whatever crime the person may have been convicted.  Society gets compensated for the harm by the fine.

How can we avoid the fine being set to unjust and perverse values?  This is part of a larger question of the proper amount of punishment for a crime.

How can we avoid the wealthy from abusing this system?  This is part of a larger question of how do we avoid people from acquiring wealth through unjust and unfair means.

Force the questions.

Inspired by Julian Assange.  The criminal charges of sexual assault should have been quickly settled with a fine.  As a political figure against whom persecution would cause a chilling effect against future whistleblowers, it is important that he remain a free man (perhaps with poorer supporters believing the fine was money well spent).