Elderon the Wise wrote:
If the bank cannot match it to a deposit, it becomes profit for the shareholders of that institution. I love how people have such a rosy picture of the banks that ***** them out of their hard earned cash every single day with record high surcharges, and record low savings interest rates. Did monopoly teach you nothing? "Bank error in your favour, you recieve $150". Ask anyone who lived through the depression what they would have done, I'm sure the answer would be very different.
Again, I'll attribute this to youthful naivity and ignorance. To prove my point, once I withdrew $60 from an ATM and for whatever reason left it there. The person behind me got the $60 because I returned instantly. They did not return it to the bank or anything. I contacted the bank, and about a week later after filing the approriate paperwork, my account was credited for the $60. Banks make mistakes and have a system to protect the little guy. If the people who deposited the $600 obtained a record, they are free and clear. The counts at the clearing house is what will be off. Bank errors happen everyday.
Ever see "Cinderella Man"? For those of you that haven't, there's a part where the boxer's young child steals a salami from a butcher. The boxer walks him back and makes him return it, although the family is borderline destitute. He tells him that no matter how bad things get, it's wrong to steal.
Granted, perhaps one day a starving person's urge to have a salami will win out over his inherent sense of right over wrong, and he'll opt to feed his stomach over his conscience. Is it reprehensible, immoral? Maybe not. There were extenuating circumstances that make it understandable, but it's still theft. What you're arguing is the difference betwen murder 1 and manslaughter--however you want to argue it, there's still a corpse.
