Thanks very much, when I first saw the mailbox entry I thought "Oh no! somebody is going to roast me to death over this one!" I did that page when I was feeling quite brave, or drunk, or both. I have reviewed it several times and I have not felt the need to withdraw it, but it always is a close call.

I agree totally that criminality is not the exclusive preserve of the underclass but there are places that breed criminals. Areas where criminality is the norm rather than an aberration. I live in the north of England, and it is generally agreed by everybody around me that people from Liverpool, at least some parts of it, are more often than not criminals. To an extent this is an exaggeration and prejudice but it is very far from unfounded. Crime happens in all places and is committed by all kinds of people. But not evenly. Very far from evenly.

As for the death penalty I think it is being used too little. The deterrent effect of the death penalty is debatable, I doubt it deters many murders but I think it would deter burglars, rapists and muggers. The justice system should take a long hard look at each individual felon and decide if there is any real prospect of reform with recompense, a chance for the felon to become law-abiding and pay, literally, for their crimes. If not then an efficient execution is in the interests of the community. A hardened criminal is a cancer on society, capable of costing more to punish or incarcerate than the tax yield from a whole neighbourhood of law-abiding people. Prisons cost more per bed per night than most luxury hotels.

Capital punishment should become an option for far more crimes. But before this can happen the justice system has got to get a lot more streamlined and efficient. Prison costs a fortune, but courts, judges and lawyers cost even more. The time for computer based virtual courtrooms is surely getting near. I will leave it at that, I agree totally with your main point, crime can come from all parts of society.

I don't know if I am allowed to comment on things on your august website, being a mere Englishman but I will have a go.

I don't know much about baseball. I went to Cooperstown once and saw the field there, that's is my only contact. I suppose if you only see one baseball diamond that is a good one to see.

About deserving the money. Of course baseball players do not deserve the money. They are fulfilling a lifelong ambition. Think about it. Think about how much people are prepared to pay to own a famous bat or ball. Then think how much the Yankees or the Cubs could charge for a place on the team. Major League Baseball players are being paid to do what millions would pay to do. The money does not come from talent. It has no relation to talent whatsoever. If Babe Ruth had been twice as talented how much more money would he have earned? Who else was there to pay to watch him more? If he had been 10% less talented how much less would he have earned? If he had exactly the same talent but was overshadowed by thirty better players he would have earned much less. If he had lived in England instead he might never have become a professional sportsman, from what I have seen of him in old films he looked like a Trade Union leader.

Babe Ruth didn't earn the money, the crowd earned it. The enormous crowd paid modestly inflated prices to see him play. That money poured in to the commercial operation around him. Then greed and envy ensured that the lion's share of the money went to Babe Ruth himself. I have no doubt that if he had to pay to play he would have done. But he didn't.

Only a saint could see money being made out of his own talent without demanding a share. Anybody in the situation of generating money like that is going to want to believe that it is their talent that earns the money. They are wrong. Rap artists do not need three Ferraris to help them cope with the angst of having too much talent; they just need to remove their heads from their nether regions and wake up to reality. The world is big, there are a lot of people in it. If you have something that a lot of people are prepared to pay a modest amount for you can channel large amounts of money in your direction. Nobody paid $50,000 to watch Babe Ruth play. 50,000 paid $1. That is the reality.

Talent does not make people rich. People make people rich, and there are a lot of people. I think the people should ask for that money back, nobody needs to be a millionaire in order to want to be a famous sportsman, popstar, supermodel, President of the USA or of a major company. Tax them, take our money back.

Martin Willett