a car not belonging to you that you found open (commonly called "joy riding" or "grand theft auto") and you hit someone and you panic and you run.

That's DWI, grand theft, and hit and run. It's a felony a couple times anyway. Fortunately, the victim makes a full recovery, or vehicular homicide would be added. Or maybe they don't and it is...

You are caught and convicted. You do your time. You complete your education in prison. You are a model prisoner. You work with sobriety programs for youth. You continue this work after your release. After you leave prison, you find work, continue with your youth work, and are in general the kind of person we all hope for in a neighbor.

But you're a convicted felon. So you can't vote. You live to be 90 years old, and you can't vote, even though you never get so much as a parking ticket for the rest of your life.

Or even if you do get a parking ticket or two....

Now, if all those corporate execs under investigation are convicted of multiple felonies that involve theft of hundreds of peoples' retirement funds while sober, I wonder if their right to vote will evaporate as permanently. Maybe they picked the place they lived a little more carefully -- but that would be typical of someone whose activities are premeditated.

Regards--
Mary Anne