The Marc Rich Pardon

“Everybody’s upset with former President Clinton’s pardon of Marc Rich, the financier who had been indicted by a New York grand jury under former U.S. Attorney Rudy Guliani for buying and selling oil at the wrong price and with the wrong country and for not paying taxes on the profits. Okay, it’s true that Clinton’s pardon came under suspicious circumstances. But if we glorify British colonial rebels in the 1700s for violating economic regulations and evading taxes, why do we condemn Americans who do so today? Remember the Sugar Act of 1764, which imposed duties on molasses? The Stamp Act of 1765, which imposed taxes on newspapers, customs documents, licenses, college diplomas, and most legal documents? The Townsend Duties of 1767, which taxed imports? The Tea Act of 1773 and the Boston Tea Party? Why are British colonists who deliberately violated those laws considered heroes while American tax-and-regulatory resisters today considered bad guys? Why not pardon all Americans accused of committing economic crimes? Think of the model it would serve for government officials in China, North Korea, and Cuba, where punishing people for economic crimes is the norm.”